Martial arts have been considered a good solution for kids with behavior issues.
Veronica Lugo
The karate teacher Veronica Lugo believes that the activity decreases aggression and anxiety, and increase self-control in kids.
They have been working with children with ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and Autism, and the changes are visible.
“One of the main points of martial arts, in this case, is karate, is make all the students focus on what they are doing, a lot of discipline. We are working with kids with down syndrome, autism and we have an ADHD boy that is attending our dojo for more than two years, we can see the difference,” explains Lugo.
Lugo understands that the key benefits of traditional martial arts training for children are making them equal and always work with parents at the same time.
“We treat them like a normal kid. There is no difference for us. The only difference is the time that they need to get the goal and achieve what they need to do. Even when they say that they cannot do it, we say: yes, you can,” says Lugo.
The kid diagnosticated with severe ADHD that Lugo is mentioning is the 9-year-old son of Rosa Viane Ortiz. She is very satisfied with the achievements that her son is living through Karate.
“Karate has influenced a lot of on the way he acts outside on the karate dojo as well. His concentration on doing the karate it’s amazing, so karate has helped him focus more which is one of the things that he struggles with,” reveals Ortiz.
Veronica Lugo with Jacklyn Caveden and her family during a Karate ceremony
Another mother who is very happy with the sport is Jacklyn Caveden. She says that her two kids are developing coordination, focus, respect, and discipline.
“They have really grown in discipline also respecting the elders. When they go talk to them, they bow, they have to sit still. Even at home, I can see that been transfer over because it increased their attention when I am speaking to them. I see sometimes they even get in the same position as they would at karate.”
All of the skills and tools that are developed during martial arts training not only help improve a child’s behavior but enhances their performance at school and at home.
Allowing a child to take martial arts classes is maybe one of the best gifts a parent can give their children.
