My daughter, who is nine years old, began to take karate lessons at the age of six. Although generally neurotypical, she often has anxiety and suffers from attention issues. Last year, after moving from Fort Worth, Texas to a tiny town in the country, she had to start over from scratch, as the style of karate she was studying wasn’t available here. As I have followed her on this journey, I have come to realize how powerful this type of study can be for children.
Moving to the town of Mineola, TX (population 4,719 + the four of us) was an eye-opening experience. My older kids, well, step kids but I’m claiming them, already live here but I don’t know if they were counted in the population. Being a native New Yorker, Texas feels like a different country to me. But East Texas, and Mineola more specifically, is wildly different from how I grew up. The pace is slower, the people are friendly and they love to chat you up. The town has a main street about four blocks long with stores that sell antiques, fudge and accoutrements for worship at the variety of churches available to all that live here or are just passing through. Fashion is about 20 years behind, for the most part. So is hair color and styles. And if they don’t sell it at Wal-Mart, well, then, you just don’t need it.
So, imagine my surprise when we found The Dojo, where they blend a very modern attitude toward folks with special needs with the small town family environment that defines Mineola. Unlike team sports, which for most ends as childhood ends, studying martial arts can be a lifelong journey. It teaches self management, discipline, confidence and respect. If done well, martial arts classes can be adapted to different learning styles using music, rhythm, sensory materials and more.
Although I work from home now, I was a teacher for fifteen years in general education, grades pre-K-2. I have also taught Adult ESL. Then I became special education certified while staying at home with my son, who has special needs and is six years old. So, while I don’t know much about martial arts, I can say that I know good teaching. This place has it in spades.
As I have watched my daughter study Tae Kwon Do (a never ending quest for perfection and art of developing the mind and body to defeat your constant opponent, which is yourself), I have often thought of how such a discipline would affect my son, Kai. Kai is low functioning and has several diagnoses. These include PVL (periventricular leukomalacia), duplicate chromosome 16, autism, apraxia, SPD (sensory processing disorder) and delays in all developmental areas (he is also a joy and has a sarcastic, wonderful sense of humor). Or, if maybe not for Kai, could others with special needs that are more high functioning benefit from this practice? I decided to find out.
David Sheffield has practiced martial arts for 39 years. He launched the first Dojo back in 1982, in another town. After a couple of different locations, The Dojo arrived in Mineola. David is a Chief Instructor 8th Degree Grand Master in American Tae Kwon Do. Interestingly, he did not have his first student with special needs until 2010. No one asked him until then.
If you think about the history of people with special needs and special education in this country, it makes sense that special needs families didn’t feel that they could reach out for these types of activities until the last several years. A small country town doesn’t necessarily move at the same pace as a big city with new ideas, either. Since then, David has taught students with a wide range of diagnoses including cerebral palsy, autism and downs syndrome, as well as folks with physical issues, hip replacement, people who use wheelchairs and even the elderly. The oldest student so far was 89.
Having watched him teach many classes over time, I have seen the skills that I recognize as great teaching. Patience is consistent, presentation is varied for different learners, he makes it fun and engaging and spirits are always buoyed. Students are all taking the same class but working on their own levels (differentiation for you teachers). The higher level students support the lower level students, so everyone is teaching and learning simultaneously. And when my daughter feels anxious or overwhelmed, David has a way of honoring her feelings while lifting her up. He includes EVERYONE. But, for students who may benefit one-to-one or in a small group with other students with special needs, that is available too. As for David, he feels that teaching folks with special needs is an honor for him and he makes sure that they know it.
As one of the adult students and assistant to the teachers at the Dojo, Brian Moser feels this topic on a deep level. Brian has been on his martial arts journey for 24 years and has been at The Dojo for the last two years. But Brian also has a son with special needs, Brennan, who is ten years old and has Asperger’s (or, since this has changed, he would currently be considered on the autism spectrum). Brian feels very strongly that martial arts is for EVERYONE. He believes that things are changing for the special needs community because people are becoming more educated. He feels that social media plays a big role in this, as people freely share ideas and repost new information so others can also see it. So, even in a small town, new ideas are more available than ever and integrated at a faster pace.
Brian is a very hands-on teacher who makes students feel cared for and nurtured (my daughter has a lovely bond with him). When working with special needs students in a mixed group class, Brian goes out of his way to partner with them, model, use positive reinforcement, and build them up. He wants to encourage parents of children with special needs to investigate martial arts for a sense of community. And don’t count your child out because you don’t think they can do it. You will be surprised at what they can do with modifications and amazed at the power and pride that they feel with their accomplishments.
So what does this mean for you and your child with special needs? Who can benefit from training and what will the benefits be? Here are the takeaways:
- Students of almost any level of cognitive function may benefit from taking martial arts classes. David says that the minimum requirement would be control of at least some areas of the body. Brian went even further. He says if your child can show up, look at him and smile, that’s all you need. Obviously their path may look different than with typical students but the journey style is the same. You start where you are and move forward at your own pace.
- Classes can be adapted for different learning styles. If the teacher is good, presentation can have a huge range of possibilities and include a variety of sensory, visual and musical applications. David said that he would also make other modifications as needed such as changing doing a take down to doing a push off.
- Speed is not a factor. It is not a factor when learning to move and it is not a factor when moving up in belt ranks. Again, the journey is personal and different for everyone.
- In addition to learning self defense, taking martial arts classes is valuable in that it teaches the student to control their faculties as well as self management skills, discipline, respect and confidence.
- In the right class, your child with special needs should feel part of a community where everyone supports and encourages each other. If the presentation feels more like “Might is Right,” this is not the place for you. Go somewhere else.
You know how sometimes you need to go through a few different therapists or teachers before you find the right one for your child? I urge you to strongly consider this path and to persist if the first or third school isn’t the right fit. With the right teacher, a martial arts journey can make a world of positive difference for your child with special needs.
As for me and my house, we will attend The Dojo. I am so grateful that ALL of my children can benefit.
Has your child with special needs had a good experience studying martial arts? Please share in the comments below.