Martial arts training aids children with ADHD

Attending martial arts class is about more than getting a workout and learning self-defense tactics. Each student can get something different out of his or her experience, but training can be especially rewarding for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Martial arts teacher Rodger Pyle knows this diagnosed with ADHD as a child, he told ADDitude magazine.

firsthand as he was

Pyle struggled as a child because his public school didn’t know how to deal with his condition, and it wasn’t until he found martial arts that he was able to overcome some of his mental hurdles. Now he uses his experience to help children with the disorder. After all, many studies show complex physical activity, like martial arts, helps students strengthen neural networks in the brain and learn how to control their impulses.

“My job is to look beyond a student’s diagnosis and find ways to motivate him while playing up his strengths,” Pyle told the magazine.

Martial arts helps children with ADHD find direction
Suffering through ADHD himself has allowed Pyle to feel rewarded as his students take steps to build their mental strength. Martial arts can be critical in the development of children as it helps them learn life lessons that they can carry with them after their time at the school is over. Here are some of the benefits that students with ADHD are able to take away from martial arts training:

• Improved ability to communicate: Not only does martial arts require students to work together on their craft, but it also teaches respect. This can be worthwhile for children with ADHD because they can often lack the patience necessary to get along with others. Learning how to work together in a team environment is a timeless skill.
• Higher self esteem: Children with knowledge of their disorder may feel embarrassed or have low self esteem. With martial arts training, students can get a sense of achievement as they move up the ranks. This will help with their self-confidence outside the school.
• Better self-discipline: Martial arts students must learn to control their brains before they can be successful in class. While this can be an especially difficult challenge for those with ADHD, learning self-discipline will help children start a path to coping with their disorder.

Learn how we can help support your child with ADD/ADHD.  Get your first month of martial arts classes for only $49 with a FREE uniform included.  Call 903-243-8767 or visit www.sulphurspringsata.com to register today!

Why Go To Tournaments?

As we approach this tournament season, I hear the question, "why should I go to a tournament?"  As an instructor, I see the benefits of competition far outweigh any negatives, but it's sometimes very hard to get past those thoughts. Here is a list of the five reasons students should go and compete. 

1. Competition shows you can use what you have learned. 

Imagine practicing every day of baseball season. You work so hard for months, but when the first game comes up, you tell the coach "no thanks. I'll sit on the bench."  Then repeat this for the entire season. Have you actually learned how to play baseball?

Competitions allow us to see how our martial arts is progressing and how we stack up against others. They allow us to use those techniques that we have spent hours trying to perfect in a real life situation. 

2.  Competitions help us to learn and grow as martial artists. 

After each phase of competition, you can step back and find what you are good at and what you need to work on to improve. Did you get a great score from the hand judge but a low one from the foot judge?  That tells you that you have room to improve on your kicks and stances. Maybe you fell for the same kick three times in your sparring matches.  Now you have the opportunity to come back to the school and have a training partner throw the sme kick at you in practice. This way, you improve because of what you learned. 

Even if you win 1st place in every event, you can find some area for improvement. 

3. Your fellow competitors become lifelong friends. 

A tournament many times turn in to a sort of a family reunion. The higher in rank you get, you begin to see the same faces each time you compete. These people quickly become your friends. 

You will learn to look forward to seeing your friends at each tournament. Many times, we have seen students stay with their competition, travel together, and stay in touch through Facebook long after the tournament is over. 

4.  You go to learn from others. 

When you come to class, most times you end up sparring the same few people every time. You learn their strengths, their weaknesses, and how to strategize only against them. Going to tournaments allows you to spar people you have never met before, creating a new and fun challenge. 

5. Tournaments help you overcome your fears. 

Martial arts training is all about learning control in the midst of chaos. Anyone who goes to a tournament knows that nervous feeling when the judge says to begin. Your heart starts racing. Your mouth gets dry. This is the effect of adrenaline in your system. 

The first time is ways the hardest, but you will learn how to control those fears and perform to your very best. Each time after that will become easier until you are an expert at competing. You will begin to look forward to that feeling of excitement when you are called to do your form, or to spar someone new. 

I hope that it is very clear that in these benefits I never mentioned anything such as medals, trophies, or Championships. Those things are wonderful, and we are proud of each champion we have in our school. But championships are available only to a few people each year. The personal benefits of competition are available to everyone whether you sweep the medals or finish last in every event. 

We look forward to this competition year. Be sure to sign up at the desk for the next tournament. Go to www.sulphurspringsata.com to learn more.