How martial arts can help with disorders and delays.

          Last time I wrote I talked about what martial arts does for your mental health, but this week I specifically want to focus on something else.  I want to focus on my own experiences with martial arts, and, the way martial artshas helped those who may not be on the same level as most of us mentally.    My little sister Maria was adopted, and, when she came to my family at the age of 5 1/2 she was so much farther behind than she is now.  She has and yet doesnt have ADHD.  She has to take the same medicine as a child who is ADHD for some of her focus issues, which, as I have mentioned in earlier blogs, is an issue that martial arts can improve greatly.  She is currently taking Teakwondo with my siblings and I, and, has acheived a deputy belt, which is one belt away from black belt. This is a very big accomplishement, from the little girl who spoke almost no languge, understood almost none of her schoolwork, and had very little muscle, to the blooming, slowly getting smarter, sweet little girl she is now.  Among the focus issues she has a few learning delays.  That is all mostly irrelevant except for the fact that by focusing on her ADHD http://tomywahl.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-parenting-child-with-adhd.html overlooks the deeper problem of her learning delays.  This condition, of not focusing can be helped, where as, even though my parents and my whole family work so hard, her learning delays will probably always be there. 
          http://tomywahl.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-parenting-child-with-adhd.html is right about how there should be a set rewards and cosequences  program in the childs life(Paragraph 9 under 'Discipline, Rewards, and Consequences').  We have that same sort of system with Maria but I believe that http://tomywahl.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-parenting-child-with-adhd.html is on more dubious ground when she says that major holidays and birthdays should never be completely taken away.  That is the piont where you start to ask yourself "Should you treat every child as a different case?"  The answer is yes. We have taken those steps before, and the thing is, that sometimes for the point of her punishment to really hit home, for her to say to herself "I was wrong", we have to do something really drastic.   Whenever my little sister does something terribley wrong like cheat on a test or come home with a note from the teacher saying she did not act nicely that day, we talk to the Master at teakwondo and he will take her belt away.  For another student this could bring their self esteem down or just make them mad, but for Maria, when she sees all of her fellow peers with belts on it really hits home that she has done something wrong.
          I agree with  http://tomywahl.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-parenting-child-with-adhd.html because, when we first went to doctors to get advice on how best to help Maria, the doctors said that to help her overcome physical and mental challenges that martial arts, yoga, and swimming were the best options for her. She has excelled in swimming and is fairly good at teakwondo.  I want to add that Maria has an enlarged cerebellum which means that she has amjor balance issues.  Taking martial arts has greatly improved that and http://afterthebridge.blogspot.com/2007/05/neurocutaneous-syndromes-are-genetic.html (Paragraph 25) talks about how when this occurs balance, speech, and lack of muscle control are a few important things that go wrong.  Maria does not have A-T but she does exhibit some of the symptons, though not all, which is why I wanted to shed some light on it.  She has slurred speech but it gets better day by day as she struggles. She can read and write but unless she is totally focused it may seem that she struggles greatly.   She has some lack of muscle control but compared to when she first came home, when we called her turtle for a while because she had such a lack of lower body muscles that when she fell on her back it was hard for her to get back up, and now she can run and jump and swim as well as any other kid.  If you have ever read a story called the "Scarlet Ibis", you will know that Maria is sort of like my "Doodle" in the way that I always push her hard to be better because I want her to fit in.  You know, be like everyone else.
          All in all martial arts has helped her to improve so much and Im very grateful for it, but, sometimes remember that although martial arts looks cool in movies it also helps many people day by day overcome their "inner and outer demons". 

Lets focus on that martial arts mind!

                    Okay, so my last blog was a lot about what teakwondo does for your body.  I am now going to explore what it does for your mind.   It is a great stress relief and anger management kind of sport.  It allows you to let go after a hard day of just about anything.  The sparring portion of it is great because it gives you the opportunity to just hit something.  I know that sometimes I have ones of those days where a good punch is about as good as a hot bath.   When http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin writes the stress can be relieved just by the fact that physical activity releases chemicals, called endorphins, into your body that make you feel good and like you have a second wind, it makes me think of how I feel when I take teakwondo.  I always seem to feel better afterwards.

                                                 I agree with http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=554844 's idea that teakwondo also helps your mind by working on focus and meditation/relaxation.  However it can be stressful when you are trying hard to memorize or remember something. As you do the forms( which means poomse in Korean), you have to develop a certain focus to do the right and really get in tune with the way your body works.  You also have to focus as you take class.  Your mind cannot stray and you have to perform crisply and smoothly.  As far as meditation goes, the master will sometimes have you sit in what is called body focus( Back straight, legs criss-crossed, arms straight and hands in fists resting on your knees, looking straight ahead not moving or talking) with your eyes closed and empty your mind.  It is a great way to develop a healthy way to unwind. 

               Another thing teakwondo does for your mind is teaches you great discipline. Engageing whathttp://bigwokkerssociety.blogspot.com/2008/08/whats-instructor-for.html  idea of how you cant always control a whole class I would like to say that discipline is a learned skill, not a snap of our fingers and you understand it for life kind of thing.  You are told to stand without moving, to not speak unless spoken too, and to obey all of your masters commands.  This sounds very harsh but it is very effective.  Especially with younger kids (4-about 8) or even adults who are so used to running things or multitasking.  You learn, as a young adult, how to control your emotions, how to respect and listen to authority, and just over all how to have fun and love physical activity. 
             I disagree with http://bigwokkerssociety.blogspot.com/2009/07/show-of-appreciation.html becouse sometimes it is the instructors fault.  I want to add that a few months ago I was ahving the same problem and it was because when I was there, the master never taught me anything new.  MY younger brother almost quit with me because we were so upset over it. 

                 So to wrap this up teakwondo is good for your mind.  It is a great stress relief and anger management sport, it works on focus and meditation/relaxation, and it improves and/or teaches you discipline.  Teakwondo is great and there are many reasons why you should try teakwondo. 

Anna

Martial arts and what it does for your health.

When Lun writes http://bigwokkerssociety.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-you-must-carry-on.html which makes me think of how we age so rapidly that we cant afford to neglect our mind and bodies.  To keep up our mental acuity we should be physically active.  Martial arts can help you stay sharp and keep the connection strong between mind and body.  When you are taking martial arts you are constantly learning both kinesthetically or via oral teaching. 

I agree with Lun's statement about how 'there is not disconnect between mind and body'. he is right when he asks 'Why should there be?'.   However for some it truly is a challenge to connect your mind and body.   That is where the learning comes in and once you've got it down you start to hone your skills and start to learn in a smarter way.  It isn't always an instantaneous connection. 


Engaging Lun's idea of 'just stay active' I want to add that being active is hard but it is worth it in the long run.   It can benefit you greatly.  Some types of great activities are of course martial arts, running, swimming, and kickboxing.  These all help prevent many diseases such as diabetes and colon cancer.


I disagree with Lun's statement about how his fellow colleagues seem more lethargic when they don't get up a lot.  I think that you really cant get a lot of exercise at work and if you get up a lot then you wont get a lot of work done.  you will not focus if you cant stay seated long enough to concentrate.
I want to add that I believe you should always be active and when you are active no matter how your built or who you are then you are healthy regardless of the size on you pants.


Anna

my very first blog!

i have never blogged before so this is way to cool! gotta luv english class with mr broer.  he totally makes my life fun.