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!

CARDIO KICKBOXING? KARATE WORLD’S GOT YOUR BACK!

Since becoming all the rage in Hollywood, at gyms or “kickboxing” franchises around the country, lots of people have questions about this workout. Here, Karate World gives you some of the answers. Cardio or fitness kickboxing is basically an aerobic exercise. Everyone lines up facing the mirror and the instructor leads the class through kicks and punches like; hook, cross jab, upper cut, front, side, and roundhouse kicks as well as traditional aerobic moves. The punches are thrown into the air, similar to shadow boxing, not at a punching bag to the beat of loud, fast paced music. It’s not a martial art or self defense regimen, it’s more of an exercise program, but since it does use some of the moves of karate and Thai kickboxing, a professional martial arts instructor or an instructor with a martial arts background can teach you the proper forms to increase the effectiveness and safety of your workout.

What Can It Do For You?

It seems like every new exercise trend today is called “a full-body workout,” but cardio classes can come pretty close. If you do the punches with the right form and power and if combined with the use of free weights, you’ll strengthen your upper body and begin to see more muscle definition. The kicks will strengthen your legs, and firm your abdominal muscles; in fact all of the moves, when done correctly, will make your core a solid base that helps you do everyday things more easily, whether you’re lifting a toddler, heavy grocery bags or lugging loaded laundry baskets up and down the stairs.

It’s also good for strengthening the cardiovascular system and getting rid of excess body fat. Cardio kickboxing is a good choice if you’re looking to burn calories, (about 350 to 450 per hour or more depending on how much energy you put into your workout) for weight loss, or to improve stamina and heart health. People who become really bored with mindlessly plodding along on treadmills and stair steppers will enjoy the fast pace and new movements in a cardio kickboxing class. And you don’t need any martial arts or boxing experience or special equipment to take a cardio kickboxing class. Even if you feel a little clumsy or slow in the beginning, by the third or fourth class you’ll notice the progress you’re making, punching and kicking your invisible enemies like a pro.

What About Self Defense?

It’s important to remember that cardio kickboxing has no practical self defense training. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out Thai Kickboxing because you’ll actually be punching and kicking a heavy bag with all of your strength, which brings in resistance that helps you build powerful muscles and it burns lots more calories. This training CAN serve you well if self defense ever becomes necessary. Cardio or fitness kickboxing is a fast moving, calorie burning, heart healthy aerobic exercise. It’s not a boring dance class, an impersonal gym session or a fight club. It’s a FUN, friendly, effective workout that can improve your physical appearance, energy level, confidence, and even help you get better quality sleep!

Karate World’s Cardio Kickboxing training classes are always a welcoming place for beginners as well as veterans of cardio programs. If you’re a beginner, your instructor won’t expect you to perform every move perfectly. You’ll get the attention and help you need to be sure your form is correct so all of the moves, punches and kicks will deliver maximum results. So if you’re interested in aerobic exercise with the benefits of kickboxing, come to Karate World. See the difference in a martial arts setting and atmosphere compared to the franchise and gym locations. It’s a whole new experience for the body AND the mind!

IN MARTIAL ARTS, THERE ARE NO BENCH WARMERS!

Most parents want their kids to participate in some kind of physical sport. They know that It’s great for their health, learning teamwork, and making friends. Are you wondering what the best option is for your child? Baseball, soccer, and football are all good choices if your child is naturally talented and athletic. But, there is another activity that provides all of the benefits of physical sports with many perks that the others can’t offer and that’s Martial Arts! And NO, it’s not about violence or fighting OR even the sometimes serious injuries that can and do occur with contact sports. At Karate World, martial arts are taught to be used as a last resort, self defense, and safe ways to protect kids against bullying. So let’s compare:

MARTIAL ARTS VS TEAM SPORTS

One of the best parts about letting your kids train in martial arts is that they’ll never have to sit on the bench. If they train hard enough or want to compete, they’ll definitely get their chance to shine on the mat. So no one gets left behind. In team sports, coaches can pick from an endless supply of players every year, the big and strong get picked to play while the smaller, less physical kids watch from the bench and this leads to boredom and little playing time as the season goes by.

It’s a fact that some people are blessed with physical strength, and lots of athletic ability while others are strong in ways that don’t require great, physical talent. The kids who are naturally athletic get a great boost in their confidence from playing team sports. But the kids who aren’t gifted with that ability are more likely to lose confidence if they don’t get to play their sport. No matter how much effort they put into the game they’re playing, most of the time they’re failing; and when that happens, they feel like they’re letting the whole team down and soon they’ll want to quit. But the Martial Arts DO NOT discriminate… with our great instructors any child can build confidence in a Karate World program.

BIG OR SMALL, BOY OR GIRL, IT’S ALL GOOD

At Karate World our mats are full while the benches are empty, ALL of our kids get equal playing time. Naturally, some kids develop their skills and physical abilities quicker than others but we’ve seen that many kids who start out with less athletic talents like strength, speed and size, end up becoming some of the finest students we have in all of our programs. Karate World doesn’t discriminate by size. So smaller kids don’t have to feel shy when it comes to training with kids who might be bigger or have higher rankings. Another difference between team sports and martial arts is that there are no separate boys and girls teams. You won’t hear the boys saying, “she’s just a girl” or the girls complaining that “boys are stupid.” That’s because girls and boys train together in our martial arts classes, and they’re all treated equally. And unlike soccer, baseball, or football, the season never ends! We’re here whenever your kids need us.

If your kids really don’t want to try out for a team sport, it’s OK. Bring them in to visit Karate World in Kenilworth, NJ and let them see that there are NO benches here. We’re a family and your kids are our kids. We’re just as proud of their efforts as you are so come watch a class in action soon or call us at 908-241-0066 to learn all about our kids Martial Arts programs.

KICKBOX YOUR WAY TO A STRESS FREE LIFE!

Are you looking for a safe way to land a few satisfying kicks and punches? The urge might come over you when you’re sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, struggling with problems at work or home, or dealing with a house full of noisy, over-active kids. BUT, take some deep breaths and resist it unless you want to add legal headaches to your list of problems. Save up those feelings and put them to better use by taking kickboxing classes at Karate World! The combination of martial arts, aerobic exercise and boxing is a fun and healthy way to blow off steam while helping you feel great too. That’s a powerful one–two punch not many workouts can offer. Plodding along on a treadmill, lifting weights or repeating the motions on one of the many machines at the gym still leaves your mind free to think about all the problems in your life, but the fight back movements of kicking and really punching the bag helps you release all that stress before it causes you to blow your cool at the worst possible time!

WHAT IS STRESS?

Did you know that stress is actually the body’s natural response to danger? It’s meant to be felt in emergencies and serious circumstances – not something we should have to deal with every day. But nowadays DAILY stress has become “normal” for many of us.. It leads to inflammation and depression so it’s really very important to take steps to relieve it. Kickboxing has been PROVEN to do just that because hitting or kicking a punching bag can really reduce your stress levels.

Many of us have just gotten used to living with high levels of stress and that’s not a good thing. We brag about all the activities we’re juggling and all the “stuff” we have to do without having enough hours in the day. Today, it’s almost a badge of honor to burn the candle at both ends. Really though, we may also be creating future health problems for ourselves. Excess stress is directly connected to high blood pressure, heart disease and even obesity. Other signs of too much stress include angry outbursts, anxiety, insomnia, overeating, headaches and more. But kickboxing IS a powerful stress buster because it boosts the flow of endorphins, those “feel good” hormones that reduce anxiety and help us deal with life’s problems big and small.

SAY SO LONG TO STRESS!

Kickboxing is a fantastic way to relieve pent up anger as well. You don’t have to go to a therapist, an anger management class, or take dangerous medications when you could spend your time and anger kicking and punching a heavy bag. There really is no better way to relieve ALL of your anger than by getting a little violent and crazy without finding yourself in handcuffs. Punching and kicking a bag at Karate World is a safe and legal way to get rid of your built-up anger. You see, imagining a difficult situation or person in your life and punching the bag allows you to get that anger out instead of punching a real person and finding yourself in a cell facing an assault charge!

It’s time to find out why Karate World’s Fitness OR Thai kickboxing classes are SO much more than a great workout. Besides the physical rewards of a tight, toned body, a stronger cardio-vascular system, weight loss, and unbelievable energy, your MENTAL health will benefit as well. You’ll knock out harmful stress and anger with our kickboxing sessions, get those endorphins pumping, and make sure your health is protected from the damaging effects of stress now and in the future.

Join a Karate World Kickboxing class today to improve the quality of your life and see how great it feels to be in control of your emotions instead of letting them control you. Call us at 908 241 0066 and let the “feel good” process begin now!

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