Anybody's AS/PDD kids doing martial arts
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| Fri, 02-10-2006 - 2:14pm |
Aaron, 5, has PDD-NOS, hypotonia, and sensory issues of course. I began thinking about what he can do sport-wise, to get him off the couch and improve his coordination and strength. All the little boys around here play soccer and t-ball, but I couldn't see Aaron doing that. He doesn't get the concept of games.... He would have to be prompted at every step on what to do. He had a HUGE meltdown one day just trying to bat the ball with his same-age cousin. I mentioned this to the Pediatrician, and he said Tae Kwon Do would be great. It is not a heavy contact sport. The OT also thought it was a great idea, and said there are studies on the good martial arts does for these kids.
He has been enrolled since late November and really likes it. His movements are a little slower than the other kids, but he is still making progress. His instructor says he is ready to test for the next belt. I have seen him go on sensory overload one time at a particularly busy moment in a large class. He just blanked out and the teacher had to tell him three times it was his turn to do his practice kick. But really, he does pay attention and participate.
I would have never tried this had the doctor not suggested it. I also called around to schools and discussed Aaron's issues. The instructor he has is a nice man who seems to really enjoy the kids. It is not a special needs class, but there are some other kids with similiar things.
Anyone have experiences to share?
Amanda

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I certainly haven't encountered this or heard of anyone else who has either. In fact, any martial arts is designed to channel and transform aggression through discipline and form. As I don't exactly know how aggressiveness is being acted out by your child, I am not sure what you are worried about, but I would bet the karate could actually have an opposite effect. Karate is mindfulness and control of body and impulses. It is very relaxing, centering and empowering, where rage and agression come from a different place of fear, anxiety and feeling out of control.
I suppose at first a child might try to throw a punch or kick learned in karate, but the teaching is done so out of the context of attack in anger, that it is hard to imagine your child using karate to add more aggression that is already there.
If your child would have trouble focusing to learn in a group, you might consider starting with private lessons and then moving into classes when the basic forms and expectations are learned.
Sara
ilovemalcolm
We have had some issues with it as Mike really has a hard time comprehending when it is appropriate, social interactions, etc. He is in a "self defense" class. The kids are taught they are only to use karate in "self-defense" which is all well and good but the whole concept of self-defense is rather abstract for my Aspie son. When he has nearly nil perspective taking how does he determine when someone else is trying to hurt him on purpose.t happened with his broken thumb incident a week ago. He determined he needed to use his self defense moves thinking the other boys where aggressing when they weren't.
That being said, he is also rule bound and knows he cannot use it on others in play or just because outside class. He will only practice on the punching bag we have or on nothing.
However, with the thumb incident I think a similar situation would have happened with or without self defense and I do hope as he learns more about social situations and self defense that it will help him with self control.
Renee
Amanda,
Those are precisely the kinds of teachers that haven't worked out for us unfortunately. Ones who were very rigid about the rules.
It started out good for the first couple sessions but then the class got bigger. Then what would happen was that there would be some sort of direction or verbal cue the instructor gave Mike that Mike wouldn't either hear or understand. Then he would be singled out for time out against the wall and/or pushups. Mike would start to go into distress and either shut down or become oppositional. The sensei would single him out more insistant that he was going to be in control and things would just escalate from there. This is what I have figured out after the fact. This only happened over the last few weeks and due to the other kids I often wasn't able to stay for the entire class at that time. I don't do that anymore. He goes no where without me there and this class is why.
Then each week following, Mike would go in already stressed making it harder and harder for him to follow and comprehend directions because he was already overwhelmed. He would become hyper or shut down and again get singled out for pushups.
Finally after 3 weeks of this we had a particularly bad week. My husband came home the 3rd week so I could go watch the class. 1/2 way through class the sensei put Mike in timeout again for the 3rd time that day and he had also singled him out other times to "dress him down". Well this time on the way out of time out sensei goes over and wants eye contact from Mike, which Mike won't/can't do. So he physically picks mike up and tries ot get eye contact and Mike shuts down further. So he is sent back to time out for noncompliance. Mike goes to the wall and starts to head bang. I promptly went over and took mike and left the building but I waited outside the class until after so I had my turn to dress down sensei. By the way, he had intimidated me too but you don't mess with the mama bear.
Dont want to scare you but wanted to share our story. Martial Arts can be great but often the instructors don't understand the needs of our kids. They think they are bad kids they have to control and that is when things can go bad depending on your child. You really have to have the right personality of instructor. I had given this instructor all kinds of information about aspergers and autism. He was really great with Mike at first, Mike was in that class for 4 months. But when the class got full the sensei just lost patience with Mike and couldn't give him 1:1 instruction anymore or deal with his behavior.
Renee
I am so sorry to hear that class has been so hard on Mike. Sounds like that sensei doesn't understand AS in spite of the info you gave him. It sounds awful. I am glad you had words with him after he treated Mike that way. Did he apologize or anything?
The only difficulty I have seen with Aaron so far is when he got overloaded and just did not hear the instructor tell him to do his kick. The instructor did not seem annoyed, he just repeated his request three times before Aaron heard him. I told the school Aaron has PDD, and they said they had some other kids like him who did fine. I did not go into detail about what that meant for Aaron. Maybe I do need give him more info on sensory overload. It is a huge class Aaron is in, but they also have two other teachers who break the class down into smaller groups.
My friend, who owns a Kung Fu school, says he does some private lessons, esp with spec. needs kids, for $50 per hour. That is not an option for us unfortunately! If this guy lived closer to us I might try his school though.
Amanda
As long as he is doing well and enjoying it then I say stay where he is at. But I would watch closely for any signs of stress what so ever. If it starts then perhaps some more info on sensory overload or Aaron in specific. Some quick tips or list of ideas.
I went to a conference yesterday and the big push was on including kids. The speaker was more experiences with kids with severe/profound special needs. I was talking to a few friends afterwards about inclusion and our kids. We all agreed that inclusion with kids with "invisible" disabilities that can cause behavior differences is very very hard. The world just isn't as understanding and it is so stressful for them. I know it is important, but it is hard.
Renee
Renee,
Yes, there are several other senseis at Malcolm's school we wouldn't go near with a 10 foot pole. This teacher we are working with is gifted! We explained about his dx, and I am not sure he has any real working understanding of it, BUT he naturally seems to get how to work with Malcolm AND his 2 buddies, firm, no aggression, repeat directions several times and not impatient, not too harsh a voice, doesn't brook too much silliness or inattention but keeps their attention simply by clarity and real command. He would NEVER try to use physical force to get eye contact, GASP! (and by the by, this mama bear would go for him, too, were I there).
We do have Malcolm in a small class. We pay more for it, and the kids get lots more attention. When we do put Malcolm in the bigger classes, it is usually with his own sensei or one other teacher, who is a little rough in demeanor for my taste personally, but he likes Malcolm and is proud of his progress, so SO far it has been just fine.
Just to say, I will go get coffee with girlfriends during little class and hover constantly during big class even after several successful times, 'nuff said.
yours,
Sara
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