AN AWESOME SOLUTION FOR AD/HD KIDS WITHOUT DRUGS….MARTIAL ARTS!

Did you know that today, between three and five percent of American children are diagnosed with AD/HD, with symptoms like impulsiveness, being easily distracted, and hyperactive or having an excess of energy? There have been many studies proving that martial arts training can help children deal with AD/HD issues without giving into aggressive and possibly harmful drug therapies, which is the preferred treatment of choice today.

The most popular of these therapies is the psycho-stimulant medication Ritalin, a drug that has a long list of side-effects and behavioral problems that come with its’ use on children. When some children developed depression, delusions, hallucinations, fears and other drug induced reactions while taking Ritalin, their doctors mistakenly thought that the children suffered from “clinical depression,” “schizophrenia” or “bipolar disorder” that the Ritalin “helped” to uncover! Instead of removing the children from stimulants like Ritalin, these doctors prescribed ADDITIONAL drugs like antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. Children who were put on stimulants for “inattention” or “hyperactivity” ended up taking multiple adult psychiatric drugs that caused severe adverse reactions!

But studies have shown that Martial Arts can be good for a child that has AD/HD. That’s because martial arts can give these kids an outlet for their excessive energy. In class, at KARATE WORLD, kids move from one activity to another so they don’t become easily bored. Martial Arts also focuses on their self esteem and self-image, respect, and discipline; all of which are so important for children with AD/HD. Kids who participated in Martial Arts were shown to be psychologically healthy and well adjusted and parents of young martial artists reported better behavior, and better school performance with continued practice.

COMMON SENSE FOR AD/HD CHILDREN

One of the benefits resulting from martial arts training is the benefit of exercise which contributes to a healthier body, and a better processing of the awful dietary cause of hyperactivity— processed sugars and high-fat junk food. Sugar makes the AD/HD situation worse. Many hyperactive children eat a lot of sugar and junk foods – when these are taken out of the diet and replaced by fruits or snacks containing protein, behavior improves dramatically. This is a very important factor in the treatment of AD/HD children so DON’T neglect their diet!

THE PHYSICAL & MENTAL BENEFITS OF MARTIAL ARTS

Just as children with AD/HD face greater challenges in their personal lives, they’ll also face greater challenges in their martial arts training. These children can be so energetic and spirited that their energy is sometimes uncontrollable. Their attention spans are short, they’re easily distracted, and they may not have the skills to mix and play with other children of their own age. Martial arts training has the power to change the negatives of AD/HD symptoms like: hyperactivity and distraction and turn them into the positives of focus, respect, self control, and confidence.

The physical demands of a martial arts class tires the body and takes the edge off the hyperactive child. Also, the exercises learned in class can be practiced at home, where the AD/HD child can “show off” his or her progress for their parents. If your child is “bouncing off the walls,” a parent can ask him or her to practice a form, work together on some punches, kicks, or blocks, techniques and exercises that are a part of each martial art and each martial art class. The AD/HD child needs to concentrate on one specific task for only a short time. In martial arts class, they move through a variety of tasks quickly so that during the hour-long session at KARATE WORLD, the child is practicing many different moves but they are done in short bursts that children can easily manage. Gradually, their ability to concentrate improves and these skills will be transferred to the regular classroom. With KARATE WORLD’S effective, sincere instructors, this will happen naturally.

THE AWESOME ALTERNATIVE

Martial arts training, not medication, increases concentration, one of the biggest problems for the AD/HD child. At KARATE WORLD we work to improve concentration in a number of ways, such as repeating one technique over and over again in order to perfect it and move on to the next goal. In the classroom, the ability to concentrate and really learn something is just as rewarding to the AD/HD child. An increased ability to concentrate is developed gradually, just as young martial artists learn in small steps and celebrate their accomplishments, so do AD/HD children! These “mental” benefits are the “icing on the cake” as each new lesson is learned in the dojo as well as in the classroom. Together, the physical and mental benefits of martial arts have the potential to treat the symptoms of AD/HD and other behavioral problems, without resorting to medications and their potential life-long, harmful side-effects.

If your child has been diagnosed with AD/HD and you would like to try the mental and physical benefits that Martial Arts can provide, please give KARATE WORLD a call at 908 241 0066. Our instructors have the knowledge and experience to give your child the “awesome alternative” of the Martial Arts approach to dealing with AD/HD!

GO BACK TO SCHOOL…WITH MARTIAL ARTS!

It’s here….the time of year parents look forward to for most of the summer. But say the words, “back to school” and the most angelic of kids’ faces turns into a Frankenstein mask! They’re obviously not as thrilled as you are about going back to school. No more sleeping late, hanging out with friends all day, TV or video game marathons, or just doing nothing at all day after day. It’s a time of CHANGE and change can be hard for kids to deal with. And that’s where Karate World can make a difference because your kids WILL use their martial arts training to do well in the classroom.

FOCUS

It’s so very important that kids make a good first impression on their teachers. The first few classes of a new school year are the MOST valuable time for kids to start off on the right foot toward having a great relationship with their teachers. It’s a time to use their martial arts training to focus…their eyes, mind, and body to do their best. Focus helps to improve attention, to listen and to react to what they are learning. Their teachers will ALWAYS notice and appreciate this and that can lead to better grades, good study habits, and great report cards!

DISCIPLINE

Discipline is a tough one, especially when your kids would rather be anywhere or doing anything else than sitting in a classroom all day. But when they’ve learned to discipline themselves through their martial arts training; to listen to their teachers instead of talking to the kid sitting next to them, day dreaming or staring out of the window they’re well on their way to a rewarding school year. Discipline is like self-control…easy to say but hard to practice. Martial arts teaches kids self-control that can become the new normal in their classroom behavior and you won’t have to dread progress reports anymore.

RESPECT

One TRULY important value in martial arts training is respect. It’s all about respecting yourself and the people around you. Kids are expected to be silent in the dojo when their instructor is speaking or demonstrating a new form or technique. Because of their training, when they’re in the class room, this respect will naturally carry over to when their teachers are talking. They’ll also learn to respect the other kids around them and wonder of wonders, they’ll sometimes even listen to their parents as well! The fact is that kids who act respectfully aren’t likely to cause problems in school either so no more visits to the principals office.

BULLY PROOF

Although school is supposed to be a safe place for kids to learn and grow, that’s not always the reality. The truth is that BULLYING IS REAL and sadly, it’s on the rise. As much as you’d like to protect your kids from bullies, you can’t always be there for them. No parent wants their kids getting into fights which is why martial arts teaches that violence is to be used ONLY as a last resort. Karate World can give your kids the skills to react and defend themselves if necessary but they’ll also learn to keep calm and avoid situations where bullies have the upper hand. Confidence is an empowering tool and martial arts training will give your child good self-esteem and confidence and bullies don’t pick on confident kids!

FITNESS

Getting kids to drop their cell phones, tablets, and video game controllers to concentrate on school work often leads to a screaming match nowadays. Kids don’t even have to get off the couch to have a good time! But spending hours on the couch can have a really BAD effect on your kids health. Kids who don’t spend time in some kind of physical activity are more likely to end up overweight or out of shape and that can lead to much more serious health issues now and in the future. At Karate World, kids actually break a sweat while they push their bodies to master a new technique! They get lots of quality action without even realizing they’re exercising because they’re having a great time doing something they really enjoy.

FUN

It’s no secret….kids love to play and they do get restless sitting in a classroom all day. We learned long ago that kids learn faster when they’re having fun. At Karate World we have lots of FUN activities like Nerf Gun Wars, Jedi Academy, and amazing Birthday Parties that your kids will love to be a part of. Our kids have a great time in class making new friends while learning life-changing martial arts skills. Training in martial arts is also a great, safe way to release all of that bottled up extra energy so they have very little of it left; making bed time battles a thing of the past!

Signing you kids up for martial arts at Karate World will be one of the BEST decisions you’ll ever make. They’ll learn important life skills that will help them do better in school and those skills will stay with them even into adulthood. Call us today at 908-241-0066 and help your kids go “back to school” with Martial Arts.