'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism

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Martial arts programs also give an opportunity for special needs boys to have positive role models in their lives. This is especially true given that many couples divorce due to the difficulties of raising kids with disabilities. A strong male mentor in their lives gives Autistic kids the support they need in their development:

…My son highly respects his instructors - (he did fear them when he was younger but not in a horrible way.) *This relationship or bond is growing as he feels more confident now to discuss situations that he experiences. He views his instructors as mentors and they are guiding him into phase of his adolescence that I can’t…

(source: Rise Up To Autism: TAEKWONDO LIFE LESSON)

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Martial Arts classes also teach Autistic children to be courteous and respectful to others. While the school classroom may try to teach the same lesson, there is not the same level of discipline and scrutiny as in say a 45-minute Martial Arts class. In Martial Arts everyone is expected to be properly respectful to others in the class all the time and to show honour in their behaviour. So the Autistic children are likely to be treated with the same kind of courtesy and respect (and when you are treated well then you are more likely to respond in kind)…

…In the Adapted martial arts class Michah had escaped such treatment. The instructor had been patient and insured the participants treated each other with courtesy and respect.

…In spite of his parent’s fears, his first day of regular class went well–none of the children diminished his efforts. Instead they showed him the same level of respect and consideration they showed each other–a lesson the instructor had reinforced long before Michah joined the class…

(source: Rise Up To Autism: TAEKWONDO LIFE LESSON)

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Another great aspect of Martial Arts for kids with Autism is that it gives them a place they belong to. The uniform and belt system make them feel that they are part of something special. Erik’s Martial Arts for Children With Autism (MACA), located in Roy, Utah, is another program catering for these special needs kids. Eric is an instructor in Hap-Ki-Do, which is another martial art (like Taekwondo) that originated in Korea…

Thursday evenings just can’t come fast enough for these energetic kids.

Some start the daily countdown on Friday morning, while others put on their “uniform” early Thursday afternoon and wear it around the house for a few hours before it is time to leave for class.

But this weekly martial arts class that the kids focus on is not the typical one full of punches and kicks. Just ask [Cody’s] mother.

“He’s never had anything,” Candi , Cody’s mother,] said. “He’s gone and watched his brothers do their sports and drums, and this is his own little thing. It’s just awesome that he has a place to go and he has his own uniform.”

Cody, 14, was born with a genetic condition that has affected his physical and mental growth. Cody does not stop smiling the entire hour, and said the thing he likes most about the class is his friends.

…The MACA class does more than help develop those skills. It gives those, who can sometimes feel like outsiders, a place where they know they belong.

“(The instructors) just want the kids to be able to fit in and do everything everyone else can,” said Tressa … whose 5-year-old daughter, Shay, is in the class…

(source: Martial arts helps children with disabilities)

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I mentioned little Sonya’s success in Taekwondo in an earlier post: 'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism - #131 by Visionary7903

Indeed part of the secret to her success may have been to do with having her older brothers (who do not have special needs as far as I am aware of) in her classes.

Erik’s Martial Arts for Children With Autism (MACA), located in Roy, Utah, has a policy of allowing siblings to join in…

…“(The instructors) just want the kids to be able to fit in and do everything everyone else can,” said Tressa … whose 5-year-old daughter, Shay, is in the class.

[Erik] allows siblings without special needs to join the class, so Shay’s 4-year-old sister, Roxi, gets to join her big sister. Each week the family make the trip … and as far as they are concerned, the instructors make the trip worth the drive.

“It’s not the karate I’m driving up for,” [Tressa] said. “It’s them”…

(source: Martial arts helps children with disabilities)

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While there seem to be quite a few martial arts classes around the United States for children with Autism, there seem to be far fewer programs for adults with special needs. The Aim High Academy of Martial Arts near Portland, Oregon offers a class for adults with special needs…

…For the last 10 weeks, up to 35 clients of the Edwards Center, a local nonprofit that aids adults with developmental disabilities, have been given one hour where all of those actions are entirely appropriate.

Edwards Center Executive Director Jessica … said the free martial arts classes have already had profound benefits for the clients and staff alike.

“This experience has been fantastic for them - building confidence, encouraging exercise, (and) teaching self-defense skills,” [Jessica] said.

…“I know for me it’s been the highlight of my week,” [Jessica] said. “It’s not hard to get infected when you see their smiles.”…

(sources: Edwards Center martial arts classes teach adults how to get physical; Edwards Center martial arts classes teach adults how to get physical)

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One great feature of the Aim High Academy of Martial Arts program is that it offers a 10 week trial period. The adults with special needs can thus get comfortable with the physical activity before they begin the Beginners classes. There is no doubt that, in many mainstream programs, many people with special needs give up these kind of activities in the Beginners classes. They might feel “I’m so useless, I cannot even learn the simple Beginners steps” and might not be able to keep up as the pace might be too fast and not geared for them in any way…

…Confidence grows
The members of the Friday afternoon class have difficulty verbalizing what it is they like about the class, but their huge smiles speak volumes.

“It’s good for your body,” client Dennis… said enthusiastically. “It’s good for you.”

“I like it and I like doing it with other people,” agreed client Paula…

Chelsea … an Edwards group home manager, said her residents look forward to the class all week and she has seen their confidence and abilities grow by leaps and bounds.

“It’s been pretty amazing seeing the difference,” [Chelsea] added. One of her residents used to complain that he felt like he was falling, even when he was just standing still, she said. Now, he will even get down and do push-ups without those balance problems.

The Edwards Center pioneers were Tony … and Kevin … who now proudly wear orange belts after breaking a board at a recent ceremony. The two started martial arts classes a year ago and now are integrated into regular beginners classes.

**[Jessica] said that’s what she hopes for any of the clients who wish to continue beyond the 10-week trial period–that they can continue on with it.

It might have been intimidating for them to jump into a regular beginners class at first, she said, “but after doing this for 10 weeks–no problem.”**

(source: Edwards Center martial arts classes teach adults how to get physical)

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One problematic aspect that Martial Arts programs might seem to have for some people with special needs who are prone to aggressive outbursts, are the increased capabilities to do harm to others after extensive training. However the experience of the Aim High Academy of Martial Arts program shows that, on the contrary, Martial Arts should help prevent harm being done to others. After all, discipline is a very important thing taught in almost all the Martial Arts…

…[Edwards Center Executive Director, Jessica] acknowledged that some of the clients’ families were initially worried that their new fighting skills might be used against them and their caretakers.

Noting that they have yet to have any such incidents, [Jessica] argued that the opposite might well be true: The students are able to get out their aggression in appropriate ways and instructors regularly reinforce the idea that violence is used as a last resort and then only in defense.

“To assume that people with disabilities can’t contain the information is silly. Of course they can,” [Jessica] said.

Danny … executive director of the academy, said the students are taught as much about the nonviolent philosophy behind martial arts as the movements.

“Attacking is not something that we teach. Defense is what we teach,” said [Danny], explaining that students were taught hand-release and other self-defense skills.

He added that predators might be more likely to attack those with developmental disabilities and he is glad to give them tools to fight them off.

“Honestly, I hope that they would be able to defend themselves,” [Danny] said…

(sources: Edwards Center martial arts classes teach adults how to get physical; Edwards Center martial arts classes teach adults how to get physical)

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Karate is a Martial Art originating from Okinawa, Japan, that has spread rapidly in the West through popular culture. Movies like the Karate Kid (1984) and its sequels really encouraged the growth of the striking art in the United States.

Anything’s Possible Martial Arts in Braintree, Massachusetts focuses on Karate training for men, women and children with special needs…

…I [Traci, Director of the Center] been working with special needs children and over the years have found students who participate in a karate program exhibit increased mobility, memorization and self-esteem. These programs can help improve:

• strength, physical and motor skills
• awareness
• patience and determination
• sensory and speech

Specific exercises can be created to fit each student’s particular developmental needs. These can help those who may experience difficulties with walking, flexibility, overall range of motion or other concerns.

…Karate can also function as a form of therapy. It provides: 1) physical exercise - practicing karate is demanding and requires a lot of energy, and students can process information better and more quickly; 2) discipline - the rules and code of conduct which precede and finish any karate class; i.e. standing in a straight line, bowing in and out of class; 3) consistency - repeated movements and practice help organize and focus a student’s learning; 4) social skills - setting forth the boundaries of acceptable behavior and reinforcing achievable goals, i.e., the belt system.

Most importantly, karate is “fun.” It gives students with special needs a boost of self-esteem. The rewards of completing a technique, a kick, a strike or a punch, enables confidence and pride. Students are willing and excited to demonstrate something they have learned in class.

(source: Karate helps kids with special needs)

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Traci, Director of Anything’s Possible Martial Arts in Braintree, Massachusetts, makes a good point regarding the structured nature of Karate. Like other Martial Arts, the structure that is provided in the training of Karate, really helps people with Autism Spectrum Disorders to mix well with others. After all, Autistic people seem to naturally have a major deficit with regards to social skills relating to spontaneous conversations with people and a structured environment should largely eliminate this deficiency…

…Karate is also a great activity for kids who might struggle in team sports. In these cases, it helps fill a void for kids who in some situations might not be able to participate in sports because they have limited social skills. Structured physical programs like karate can have a positive influence in developing skills that can help with group participation. Classes help address these issues as students learn to pay attention, listen and work on the routines that are taught in class…

(source: Karate helps kids with special needs)

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Anything’s Possible Martial Arts in Braintree, Massachusetts indeed has some nice testimonials describing success with Autistic clients…

My eight year old grandson, Timmy, has autism. When I watched his first lesson with Traci, I almost cried because everything was so difficult for him - he couldn’t do the simplest kick or follow Traci’s directions. Within a few short weeks, he was able to follow three step directions and learn more complex moves. Traci’s patience and understanding helped Timmy gain confidence and strength. She is firm with him when he needs it and changes the pace and activities of the lesson to address his moods and sensory challenges. Traci is indeed a masterful teacher - I feel so fortunate that Timmy has the opportunity to study with her.

• Dayle … Grandmother and Legal Guardian

We found out about Traci through the internet and are so glad we contacted her. She is the highlight of our autistic daughter Maggie’s week. We can’t believe how wonderful Traci is with her. We would recommend her to anyone!
-Michael & Anne … Parents…

(source: Anything’s Possible Martial Arts)

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One especially experienced and accomplished instructor of Karate for people with special needs is Sensei Green of Green’s Karate, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee…

…Sensei Corey Green, founder of Green’s Karate is penning two books titled “Karate-Wise” and "Green’s Karate Methods: Addressing Special Needs Through Traditional Karate. Sensei Green, has taught nearly 30,000 classes and, according to CNN News, Green has made history (twice in 5 years) by teaching the first person in history (2006) with autism to compete in the U.S. Karate Nationals in the non-handicap division. He accomplished this feat again, with the first female in history with autism to qualify in the non-handicapped division, in 2010…

It was the 1984 film Karate Kid that I mentioned in an above post, that inspired Green to devote his life to being a true Karate Man…

…Take a shy 7-year-old boy and put him in a tiny town in the Alaskan wilderness. Give him three older brothers at home, the usual quota of bullies at school, and a middle name that has unfortunate rhyming possibilities. Then take him to see the new summer blockbuster, The Karate Kid.
In Corey Green’s case, those circumstances reached their natural conclusion when he watched Mr. Miyagi “wax on, wax off,” then announced to his mother, “When I grow up, I’m going to be a karate man.” He was good for his word. Now trained in nine martial arts styles and owner of Green’s Karate on Access Road, Green has practiced or taught karate ever since…

(source: 2011 conference_list_exhibitors; http://chattanoogaparentmagazine.com/2009/06/karate-man/)

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Indeed Sensei Corey Green of Green’s Karate, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been so successful in his teaching methods to special needs children, that his methods are being studied. The hope is to spread his revolutionary approach to teaching Karate to special needs kids…

…Recently Mr. Green has worked with [Lee University’s Development Inclusion Classroom (LUDIC) program], and their research team is in the process of analyzing his work exhaustively. Over the summer, the documentation of his techniques will be analyzed and deciphered, both behaviorally, and scientifically within their published journals. This study will undoubtedly help validate his effective teaching strategy, thereby greatly improving the overall abilities and functionality with those that are diagnosed autistic and or have other special needs. Dr. Tammy Johnson, LUDIC director said on December 25th, 2010, “The students we had in [Green’s] karate class had more challenges than those he’s worked with in the past, but we just let him come and do his thing. He’s handled the children beautifully and they responded well to him”…

Green is in the process of writing several works which will first explain and introduce to the readers his initial findings. Instructors, though, will be sold a more specific textbook version pin-pointing exactly how to perform the techniques as well as proven methods for successfully teaching special needs students. Only after signing agreements with Corey Green in lieu of teaching the the owner/instructors will they then be certified by Mr. Green and be the only authorized schools and associations to use Green’s methods to teach. Schools will be listed on Green’s Karate website for verification and authenticity. Green’s formula will help the child, the parent, the community, and will eventually revolutionize teaching martial arts to people with special needs. Several schools nationwide have taken notice and are interested in Green’s instruction at their respected schools.

(source: Sensei Corey Green of Green’s Karate Revolutionizes How Martial Arts is Taught to Special Needs Students - PR.com)

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Below are some of the secrets to the success that Sensei Corey Green of Green’s Karate has had with special needs kids. In his own words, from an interview he did in 2009, Green seems like a hard instructor but fair as well. Someone who understands the unique situation of each special needs child, who understands the importance of balance and calming overstimulated children for success in Karate and in the classroom…

…When you work with children with special needs, you have to make sure that they calm their mind and they calm their body, because the mind controls the body. If you don’t get them to calm down when you first start off, you’re going to have a really hard time. A lot of schools will take a child with autism and put him in a class with 20 other kids, and it never works, because they’re over-stimulated.

…Yes. They get overwhelmed, claustrophobic in a way. There are too many things going on. You need to work with them one-on-one with no distractions, and then you get their focus, and you build them up to where they figure out the information, and then you put them in the class. Or you do what I do, teach a free class. That’s my favorite class to teach, the special needs class. The maximum I have in that class is six students.

…That’s something that’s a little personal for me. This kid came into my school, he had special needs, he’s under the age of 10-and his mom told me that he was a black belt. And I said, “Really? A black belt” Because in our school it takes three to five years. In our first class, I realized he couldn’t balance on one foot for more than two seconds. I felt he had been taken advantage of. You should be honest when working with special needs kids. Don’t just give them something; make them earn it just like everyone else.

…Karate also teaches them how to get better grades in the classroom. I ask my kids, how do you get your As in school. Most people say focus, pay attention, study, and work hard. **We say those things are all good, but what you have to have is a calm mind and calm body. **You have to watch the teacher and not move around, passing notes and talking to your friends. That’s the key to getting straight As. And when you get straight As in school, you get more choices in life.

…If a child is just naturally more aggressive, karate makes them more humble, and if they’re really shy, it makes them assertive, instead of being aggressive. ‘Aggressive’ means you don’t know when to stop. ‘Assertive’ means you know when to stop.

(source: Karate Man - Chattanooga Parent, llc)

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And below is a great story about the boy with Autism who was instructed by Sensei Corey Green of Green’s Karate. In 2008, Brandon qualified for his third straight national karate championship - quite a feat for someone with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (and for anyone for that matter). He gets to be really good at something, and Karate could become a springboard to other successes in life for him. Interestingly, he helped to assist with leading Sensei Green’s workouts which should help him develop a sense of responsibility and leadership…

When he first started studying karate four years ago, 12-year-old Brandon … couldn’t stand on one foot without losing his balance and falling. In July [2008], he’ll compete in his third consecutive USA National Karate-Do Federation national championship.

…“When he became the first autistic person in history to qualify, that was not anyone’s goal,” Mr. Green said of Brandon’s participation in his first tournament in 2006. “That he’s done it three years in a row says something about him, his training and shows the world that children with autism can do whatever they put their mind to, just like any other kid.”

…Alina … Brandon’s mother, said before he trained one-on-one with Mr. Green, Brandon was frustrated easily and had difficulty socializing. She said she was initially skeptical of seeing any results, but changes to Brandon’s behavior were immediate.

“After a couple of weeks of karate, his second-grade teacher asked if we had started him on a new kind of medication,” she said. “I thought something negative was going on … but she said that he was much more focused, calmer and less easily frustrated.”

…He now assists Mr. Green by leading warm ups and accomplishes tasks requiring skills that used to be beyond his ability, his mother said.

“He was shooting basketball recently, and he made the shot. I was amazed,” she said. “I have two other children who shoot basketball, and when they make it, I’m not jumping for joy, but with Brandon, that was hand-eye coordination.”

Just like other youths, there are days when Brandon asks if he can quit karate, but his personality drives him to keep pushing ahead, Mr. Green said.

“…That, to me, is the biggest benefit of us doing martial arts because it gives him … a sense of self-esteem and self-worth,” [his mother] said.

(source: Autistic 12-year-old qualifies for third national karate championship | timesfreepress.com)

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Below are more success stories of kids on the Autistic Spectrum who succeeded under Sensei Corey Green of Green’s Karate. Note the particular support of the parents (the mothers in this case) to support their Autistic children in what they choose to do and to try lots of things to find their interests. I think that has been a real theme in my posts on special needs kids and Martial Arts - the love of the parents in dealing with their challenged children, the interest in getting them into the right activities for them, and real pride in seeing their kids improve…

…And once again Green’s Karate is making history. In 2006 the school’s Brandon … became the first person with autism to compete in the non-handicap division of the USANKF nationals, and Alex … joined him the next year as an autistic boy from Green’s taking part.

This week Green’s Karate is taking the first female with autism to the nationals’ non-handicap division: Katie … The 12-year-old … is in her second year of study under Green.

Her Asperger syndrome autism is “high functioning” … and she has been mainstreamed throughout her life, “with accommodations,” her mother said Tuesday.

“She’s known that she was different, but we had never used that term,” Wendy … said. “Our focus is supporting her in whatever she chooses to do – and is successful at. She’s going to nationals, and that’s what we’re proud of.”

Karate has clearly stirred Katie’s interest with the discipline, focus and social interaction it requires, and her self-esteem has grown with her progress in the sport.

“She had done dance before, and baseball, but team sports seemed to be more of a challenge,” said Wendy … who heard about Corey Green from a co-worker … one of his adult students. “This is a better outlet for Katie. Karate allows them to challenge themselves, at their own pace.”

Another second-year Green’s student and first-timer in the nationals is Michael … an 11-year-old …

“He played other sports, but he kind of got burned out on the team sports,” his mother said. “We’re very big into our kids doing something, and he saw a sign about karate and said, ‘I want to try that.’ He had mentioned it before, so we gave it a try, and he loves it”…

(source: Karate history again | timesfreepress.com)

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While Sensei Corey Green of Green’s Karate was inspired by the original Karate Kid film to go into that Martial Art, it was something else that gave him the idea to focus on special needs kids:

…Sensei Green’s passion to work with special needs children all started when he was 18 years old and his 5th degree Black Belt instructor told him to teach a boy that had only one arm, one leg, and half a hip. The boy was outfitted with prosthetics for his missing arm, leg, & hip. The [Bosnian] boy was six years old … 4 months later he earned his yellow belt. Sensei Green had the idea that if this boy could do it then any kid or adult could do it…

…“Karate is not a cure-all,” he said. “Some (children) I cannot help.” But, “it’s a way to give back, to help people who can’t help themselves.”

(sources: http://www.greenskarate.com/aboutus.htm; Karate history again | timesfreepress.com)

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Sensei Corey Green of Green’s Karate shares a birthday with probably the most famous martial artist of all time, Bruce Lee. While Sensei Green may joke about being the ‘Bruce Lee of special needs Karate’, judging by the amount of interest in his teaching methods and his success rate, it is definitely very serious, really worthwhile work he is doing. His book ‘Green’s Karate Methods: Addressing Special Needs Through Traditional Karate’ may become the bible of Special Needs Martial Arts instruction. And he will have work for as long as he wants to add to the 30,000 classes (!) he has almost completed…

…He later realized he had the same birthday as Bruce Lee, and now he jokingly calls himself the Bruce Lee of Teaching Special-Needs Children Karate. He’s taught students with many special conditions besides autism, and he’s in the process of writing books about how he does it.

And he keeps making history with his approach.

(source: Karate history again | timesfreepress.com)

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Here is a nice short video with a news report showing the benefits of Martial Arts for children with special needs: news clip - YouTube

The presenters sum up the great advantage that Martial Arts has over many other therapies - it is fun to do so that should increase long term compliance…

“…But now no doctors say that Martial Arts training can be great for children with special needs who are bored with conventional therapies”

“…Sort of like exercise programs, you know when you enjoy it, you go out there and do it more often”; “you don’t notice the workout”; “exactly”

(source: news clip - YouTube)

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Master Paul Del Sordo of Pediatric Martial Arts in Springfield, New Jersey lists several factors to consider when choosing the right Martial Arts program for parents of special needs kids:

…Here are a few things to look for when selecting a location for your child:

1. Reputation and experience in the industry

2. Programs specific to your child’s needs and not just “we handle special needs”

3. Adult and experienced instructors on the floor always

4. Ample assistants and coverage on the floor

5. Therapists or teachers on staff, or instructors with backgrounds of such are a plus

6. Small rooms, small groups and less distractions

7. Offer inclusion programs and advancement opportunities

8. Opportunities to attend two or more times per week

9. Private lesson packages (not semi-private) that provide an opportunity for the instructor and child to become familiar with each other prior to decision making

10. Rank advancement

11. Backed and supported by a national organization

12. Flexible tuition schedules due to changes in therapies and unforeseen personal issues

13. Studio events that provide social interaction with other students…

(source: Why Martial Arts Are Best for Special Needs | SpecialNeeds.com)

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I mentioned the following in an above post…

…“The kids love the training, and they love the sense of belonging to a successful group. Unlike other sports, in [Taekwondo] children with autism are not sidelined, never the last one picked, never yelled at by teammates for costing the game.”…

Indeed Master Paul Del Sordo of Pediatric Martial Arts in Springfield, New Jersey agrees on the advantages for special needs kids of Martial Arts as opposed to other sports:

…The unique component of martial arts for children with special needs is the competition within themselves, not with others. Children with special needs must work on life skills, not competing with others for a trophy. That’s not to say they shouldn’t compete and receive those same rewards, because they should! However, the criteria must be carefully considered and achievable. I am not a proponent of “everyone wins” because failure is part of life. Life skills are why you should consider martial arts, and if that’s all you receive you are a winner!..

(sources: American Taekwondo Association | Martial Arts, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tae-Kwon-Do; Why Martial Arts Are Best for Special Needs | SpecialNeeds.com)