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!