Martial Arts for ADHD/ADD

[Judodad_karateson]

Listening to some old Joe Rogan Podcasts, when I can across

. Like most JRP, they jumped around topics, but around 34 minutes, they start talking about the subject of ADHD/ADD. I've been a sufferer all my life, on and off various pills (been off for a while not, I just don't like the come down).

He stated ADHD suffered have an underactive prefrontal lobe. There people may be prone to "create conflict" to light up that part of the brain. I would say MA is a health outlet for that conflict, personally.

Thoughts?

[Kyonovice]

I have worked with lots of kids with ADD, ADHD, Autism, Aspergers etc (they are all a part of the same "spectrum" as I understand it). Having worked very closely with these kids, a lot of them (I am talking probably 90%) get a lot of benefit from partaking in a form of sporting activity, not necessarily a martial art, just being active.

My young nephew (although undiagnosed), is on the spectrum somewhere (well, actually everyone is to a degree apparently). He plays rugby and does so to a good level as well as maintaining an interest in cadets, this keeps him occupied and engaged.

In this way, martial arts can certainly be a huge benefit to people with ADHD, ADD etc. It is a great motivator, it challenges people to excel and justly rewards them for progression, setting clear goals for participants to achieve. All the time it is doing this, it is teaching a valuable life skill in how to control temper and project a confident, yet humble attitude. It helps with self discipline as well as help to encourage a higher level of self esteem.

Where I live, there is a guy who set up his own association, it started many years ago as "just another school", but he has developed the junior lessons in such a way that he sort of promotes it towards aspergers. I don't know if I agree with it to the level he has taken it to, but he has got a family history with aspergers it seems and has certainly done a heck of a lot of research:

http://www.kentkarateschools.co.uk/home/4579501155

[sensei8]

I believe that the MA does help those who do suffer with ADHD/ADD!! I truly believe this, and I've seen it first hand for myself in my own students over the many years that I've been blessed to teach the MA.

I might be clinically incorrect, but I believe that if the CI challenges the students across a wide plethora of subjects within the core style as well as in the MA in general, that student that suffers from ADHD/ADD becomes that receptacle through with one can use.

The challenges must be possible; that's realistic! One more...five more...ten more of whatever technique...that's realistic. Teaching flying side kicks to beginners isn't practical nor is it realistic in the realm of challenges. Making the student accept that while it's difficult, no matter what the difficulty might be, it's doable across the board. Taking the drills and spicing them up where the learning curve is sparked and excited over the challenge that stands before them at that very moment.

Age is no barrier! Not in the MA, imho!! Challenging the student to see the possibilities, no matter how doubtful one might be at the moment, part of the challenge itself. The student can't hide behind age...being bored out of your skull because the CI doesn't challenge the student in a positive way, is a ticket to never darkening the dojo's door ever again. Who wants to be bored? I don't! Who wants to be challenged? I do!!

[Spartacus Maximus]

People who have ADHD can learn to concentrate. They just need to train for it longer than others. As each case is different there is a huge variety of activities that are beneficial and the key is for the ADHD to chose one he or she can enjoy. Martial arts is only one of these activities and has the advantage of also spending physical energy.

There are quite a few ADHD people who have overcome or controlled their condition and achieved great succes in academics and sports. If they like doing martial arts, take it slowly just like with children who naturally have shorter attention spans. As long as there is a challenge, they will continue.

[Shizentai]

I'm not big into labels, but truth be told, I am one of those "spectrum" people, so I would be glad to give you my perspective, from inside-out.

Before I trained karate, I was going through a period in my life where I felt like nothing about me was worthwhile. I was a small, frail girl, incapable of doing anything with poise, and who found dresses intolerable. I especially felt like a disappointment to my parents in my performance at school. My two older sisters, who are neurotypical, were pretty, good at dance and theater, and earned straight-A's. Meanwhile my parents were taking me to psychiatrists, calling me labels and acronyms, giving me pills that I did not want, and none of it seemed to help me be "normal" in their eyes. I always liked myself as a very young child, but as I got older, I just really didn't feel comfortable in my own skin anymore. I felt more and more defective.

It takes a long time to change from that way of thinking. Even martial arts didn't fix it right away. I remember as a 5kyu having a conversation with my sensei that marked a turning point for me though. He had let one of the higher ranks teach that night, and instead sat in the back of the room observing. I was the only non-black-belt in the intermediate/advanced class that night.

Sensei: How did you find tonight's class?

Me: Me? Oh, well it was very challenging.

Sensei: Were the combinations too difficult?

Me: ...well, maybe for me sensei, but I'm a little slow.

Sensei: What do you mean "Slow"?

Me: "I- I mean... everyone else is more-"

Sensei: "No, no, no- You don't need to be smart. You don't need to be strong. If basic things you can do, then over time with dedication to training, you can do anything. Basic ability is enough. Training is most important."

I remember being taken aback. Here I was in life, at a time when I was told that I was too weak to participate in PE, being told that I was too stupid to get math, being told that I was too awkward for ballet, .....and yet here was sensei, expecting me to go toe-to-toe with blackbelts twice my size, 10 times my experience. He was taking no excuses from me. He just believed in me.

It was like a light switch. Just then I realized that the only thing "wrong" with me was my attitude. Everything else was as fine a starting point as any. If sensei didn't seem to care that I was weird, then it must not be that important.

Last year I competed in the selection for the JKA's US team. This year I am preparing to defend my PhD thesis. It makes me laugh to hear people tell me how lucky I am to be born smart or strong. They have no idea that the journey is more important that the starting point. 11 years ago, who wold have even thought I would have made it through college? My sensei, that's who.

It's so important to have someone believe in you. Even if you're a very confident person, it can really make a difference. Discipline is all well and good, but my sensei's ability to see in me what other's couldn't (even me), was what really changed my life around. Kids on the spectrum actually get told quite often to "fall in line" and "shape up." What they don't get often enough, from my experience, is people having genuine confidence in them, and having opportunities to grow confidence in themselves. This, to me, was the greatest gift karate could give.