Improve Sports With Martial Arts

Can martial arts training improve your sports?

Bruce McCorry claims in this great article that martial arts training can without a doubt help you to become better at regular sports activities, and I agree with him completely.

The article is focusing on how it can improve the sports abilities in children, however, I would also like to say that it goes for adults as well. This is one of the reasons why many team sports (soccer, rugby, football etc.) hire martial arts teachers and coaches to help them out with certain physical details of the game.

How can martial arts training benefit sports activities?

Master McCorry correctly points to a set of vital aspects which will enhance a child's chances to be better at any sport, such as enhanced physical capability, better reflexes, enhanced reasoning, improved self-confidence and sportsman spirit.

I'd also like to add to that how good martial arts training teaches any student to focus on what YOU can do something about (yourself), rather than blaming outside things like the pitch, referee, team mates, the weather and what not.

Learning and executing control is another extremely vital part of the core teaching of any serious/good martial art. The same goes for the ability to focus and staying focused...

As for the enhanced physical aspects, I'd like also to include learning how to fall without getting injured, how to get back up quickly, how to take a hit (within reason of course and there's no hits to the head or excessive force allowed in martial arts training for children!), improved balance, eye-hand coordination and so much more.

You should of course read the whole article referenced above.

Improving sports activities with martial arts training - Image from Flickr.com

Karate and Disabled Children

Illinois -- Karate is more than kicking, reports abclocal.go.com. It improves the mind and bodies of children, and that is especially important for kids with disabilities.

Karate and other martial arts teach children with disabilities how to focus, concentrate and set goals, while at the same time, to be cool and strong.

A karate school in Glenview, Chicago teaches children and teens with and without disabilities. "When we get these kids in the gym and they all put their karate suits on, they're not that different," said the sixth degree black belt and founder of the school.

He has been working with children and teens with disabilities for more than 25 years.

Hyperactivity and Martial Arts

Florida -- When 34-year-old Chad Houvouras was a child, he struggled with hyperactivity, according to seminolechronicle.com.

However, what another might be using as an excuse in life, this elementary school special education teacher turned into a passion to help others.

The Apopka dad started studying Kung Fu in Gainesville. "I have dealt with hyperactivity my entire life, and I found martial arts were a great outlet for my energy," he said. "It helped me to focus and stay calm. Now I study Kung Fu, Yoga and Tai Chi."

Houvouras is also a certified behavioral analyst and provides home therapy to children and their families.

Finding Focus With Karate

Canada -- Eighteen-year-old Duncan Wessels from Metchosin, BC was diagnosed with autism and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as a child and he took up karate in the fourth grade after sitting in on a class, according to bclocalnews.com.

Through studying karate he has learned to use the sport as an outlet. "When things are stressful, it relaxes me," he said.

"Moralistically karate has helped me out a lot," he said. "It has given me self-confidence, discipline and respect."

Martial Arts in School

India -- (Chennai) Timesofindia.indiatimes.com had an article on August 29 about the obvious benefits of having students do martial arts such as karate and taekwondo in school.

And all though a School Education minister stated that "any form of physical training was good for students" -- something which hardly can be objected to -- I have to make one thing absolutely clear:

Martial arts, properly taught, stands head and shoulders above other sports in one particular area - its inherent discipline.

Here are some of the sentiments from the above mentioned news article:

Revathy Bonns, a higher secondary school principal: "About 98% of the parents of children who signed up for the martial arts classes say their children have become more mature and confident. They have more self-control and are able to cope with everyday pressure. They also say that training has improved their personality."

J Abraham, a physical education teacher in Manali, said, "Now around 40 students are enrolled in the karate class. After joining the class, the students are well behaved and more focused. The parents are also happy seeing their children disciplined."

B Purushothaman, the principal from a higher secondary school in Kolathur: "The confidence level of students has increased. My students (...) tell me that the one hour of physical activity rejuvenates them when they get back to their books." He said 322 students had signed up for the taekwondo classes this year.

He Can Kick And Jump

Pennsylvania -- A year ago, he couldn't climb stairs without the help of another person, according to newage-examiner.com.

The boy, who was born two months premature, walked on his toes, had little control over the movement of his legs was and was always exhausted. A doctor indicated that Colin may have cerebral palsy.

Now, 6-year-old Colin Schake can kick and jump - and climb stairs without help from another person - thanks to a year of exercise and therapy at a martial arts institute in Tunkhannock.

And Colin's mother is grateful that her son now has self-confidence and a belief that he can succeed at anything."

She said that the school owner told her point blank that in a year her son would be doing better. "Kevin Robinson said he could help and he was the first person that said he could help me," the mother said.

Robinson, who also works as a nurse, noted that other people who have cerebral palsy and other physical challenges like it, participate in martial arts and do well."It's all about helping them focus," he said.

Take a Closer Look

Texas -- If you took a closer look, you'd see that El Paso karate instructor Miguel Valdez can't see. He is a fifth-degree black belt and runs his own school, according to kfoxtv.com

"Focus on what your abilities and assets are, the things you're good at - not your limitations." This is his message to young people today, Valdez says.

Just Trying to Fit in

California -- Fitting in one of the challenges autistic kids are facing, according to tampabays10.com.

Now, sensei Wayne Centra at a children's hospital in California is teaching kids social skills by using the art of karate. Many of the children in karate class have some form of autism, but an outside observer might not know it.

Centra, who's an occupational therapist, developed the program called "karate for all" at the California children's hospital. His goal is to help special needs children.

The karate activities have been adapted to help the children maintain attention span and focus, according to Centra.

Martial arts training can help autistic children build self confidence, coordination and social skills, several studies have shown.

Therapeutic Martial Arts

Ohio -- Michelle Martin says therapeutic martial arts is working for many of her students.

The school psychologist is also an instructor at Insight Learning and Wellness Center in Cleveland. She teaches Tae Kwon Do to students who have ADHD, autism, Asperger's Syndrome and she has seen improvement in their focus and social skills.

She says the martial arts teach self control and concentration. She teaches children 6 to 18 years old. It is a combination of group therapy and martial arts.

Source

Tai Cricket

India -- Ancient Chinese martial art Tai Chi would form part of the regular training programme for cricketers from this year at the MRF Pace Foundation.

"Tai Chi helps in giving physical training and making people mentally strong. It helps players keep their cool on field during a match," T A Sekhar, chief coach at the Foundation, said yesterday.

Sekhar said the martial art had been introduced at the Pace Foundation last year.

The Indian cricket team had sessions on Tai Chi to help them focus and concentrate better and also improve their overall fitness and body control, he said.

Source

Mirrored movements

Judging by the effortless way he goes through each motion and by the smile on his face, he's done this routine a million times before.

The verbal and physical limitations that beset an autistic child do not keep 14-year-old Kyle Swofford from hitting the mat twice a week with Suzie Franz, his 17-year-old Tae kwon do teacher.

Family members say Swofford has become more verbal, focused and agile.

'I don't plan on stopping teaching Kyle. I plan on teaching martial arts as my career. When I open my studio, I would like to have a class set aside for people that need that one-on-one time,' Franz said.

Source

Dicipline, focus, passion

Besides being Verona's rock-solid No. 1 golfer and Badger South all-conference choice this season, Jen Engelke is also a second-degree black belt in karate. Ask her about combining the two sports and she'll tell you it's the best marriage since music and the iPod.

Engelke uses the same discipline, focus and passion to succeed.

"In karate you often deal with focus. That comes in handy in golf because when you hit a bad shot or have a bad hole, you use that focus to put it behind you and keep going," explained Engelke, who has that rare ability as a teen-ager to look adults directly in the eyes when she speaks to them.

"It's the same thing if you're doing a form at a (karate) tournament. If you screw up, you have to keep going and stay focused. You can't stop and start over again."

Source

Focus of energy

When he was a rambunctious 6-year-old, Michael White's mother, Debra, decided karate would be the perfect outlet for her son's energy.

Karate has allowed Michael to focus his energy in a variety of ways, his mother said.

"Michael was a wiggle worm at school," she said. "My husband and I wanted to direct his attention to something that taught discipline and allowed him to focus his energy in a positive manner. He took to it instantly."

Source

Positive effects

Antigua -- Her father said 9-year-old Ariel's success in karate has also produced a positive effect in her studies and other activities.

"The focus that you must have in karate helps to transform all aspects of your life, especially on the discipline aspect. For sure she is a lot more focuseded, she is a lot calmer although she has never been a very hyper person. You can see her growing and making wise decisions," he said.

"Karate has certainly helped her with the discipline of everyday life, getting ready for school in the morning, doing her homework, going to bed and it has translated in her studies because she is a straight A student."

"She is really excelling and enjoying school very much. She is also very involved in other activities. She does ballet, modern dance (Hip-Hop) and she has just started playing soccer as well."

"The karate certainly helps with the ballet and modern dance and even her ballet teacher is saying it is incredible what she is capable of doing since some of the stances she needs in karate are transported into balancing for ballet."

Source

Drawing strength from inside

Rhode Island -- Ms. Angers said she had to fight for her confidence, overcoming a childhood where "the first answer was always no."

"As a kid, my parents provided all the necessities of life, but we were never encouraged to try things. I think this (learning martial arts) actually gave me the ability to draw strength from inside me, and bring that out."

"I knew nothing about martial arts. My neighbor said it was good for focus and discipline, so I took my son for classes. When I first walked in the door, a chill came over me, I could feel it in my stomach; this was something I had to do."

Source

More than a sport

In December 2005, Francisca Alatriz and her two children, Leticia and Victor, qualified to compete in perhaps one of the largest and most prestigious martial arts tournaments. She intends to use the international forum to bring attention to domestic violence.

"A lady of her age and bullet wounds -- two near fatal -- to take up an endeavor such as karate is amazing," said Roscoe Dabney, Tonto Apache Tribe police officer.

Through the whole ordeal of the shooting, recovery, waiting for the trial and finally seeing Diaz convicted, the Alatriz family stayed positive and focused through martial arts.

"It (has become) more than a sport. It became our way out of domestic violence," Leticia said.

Source

Powerful words

Dylan O'Brien does not have to be nagged by his parents to complete his homework and be attentive to class lessons.

Dylan's etiquette is not common among many children his age, but he is ahead of the learning curve on using courtesy because of PowerfulWordsonline.com, an Internet character development program taught at Eema Fitness & Martial Arts.

Source

Healing arts

California -- It may have been in slow motion; it may have been just part of practice, but when Tammy first started taking kung fu, she cringed at every feigned kick and slow-moving fist.

"No matter how slowly we did them, I would hold my breath and close my eyes."

Eventually, however, she began to keep her eyes open, and the classes began to help her recover from a past of domestic abuse. Now, she's using her experience to give back to other abuse victims -- teaching them confidence and focus through martial arts.

Source