SHIRUDO & PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Shirudo Martial Arts Academy, offers numerous benefits for people with special needs. These benefits encompass physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects, making martial arts a holistic approach to personal development that teaches individuals how to compete with themselves and not with others.. Here’s how Shirudo Martial Arts can positively impact individuals with special needs:
1. **Physical Benefits**
Improved Coordination and Motor Skills: Martial arts training helps enhance fine and gross motor skills through repetitive movements and drills, which can improve coordination and balance.
Increased Strength and Flexibility: Regular practice builds muscle strength, flexibility, and overall physical fitness, which can be particularly beneficial for those with physical limitations.
Enhanced Body Awareness: Through martial arts, students develop better body awareness and control, which can translate into improved posture and movement in everyday life.
2. **Cognitive and Mental Benefits**
Focus and Concentration: Martial arts require attention to detail and focus on specific movements, which can help improve concentration and cognitive functioning in individuals with special needs.
Memory Enhancement: Learning and recalling sequences of movements or techniques can strengthen memory and cognitive recall.
Stress Relief: The practice of martial arts can be a great outlet for managing stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of calm and mental clarity.
3. Emotional and Psychological Benefits**
Boost in Confidence: Achieving milestones in martial arts, such as mastering a new technique or earning a belt, fosters a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-esteem.
Development of Self-Discipline: The structure and routine of martial arts training teach self-discipline, responsibility, and goal-setting, which are valuable life skills.
Resilience and Perseverance: Overcoming challenges in training helps build resilience and the ability to persevere, which are crucial traits for personal growth.
4. **Social Benefits**
Sense of Belonging: Shirudo Martial Arts Academy likely promotes an inclusive and supportive environment, fostering a sense of belonging and community among students.
Improved Social Skills: Training with others encourages communication, teamwork, and the development of interpersonal skills, which can be especially beneficial for individuals who struggle with social interactions.
Peer Support and Friendship: The camaraderie in martial arts classes provides opportunities to form friendships and build a support network among peers.
5. **Safety and Self-Defense**
Practical Self-Defense Skills: Learning self-defense can empower individuals with special needs, giving them tools to protect themselves if necessary.
Awareness and Safety: Martial arts training emphasizes awareness of one’s surroundings and teaches strategies for avoiding dangerous situations.
6. **Adaptive and Individualized Training**
Customized Instruction: Instructors at Shirudo Martial Arts Academy may tailor their teaching methods and techniques to meet the individual needs of students, ensuring that everyone can participate and progress at their own pace.
One-on-One Support: For those who need extra attention, personalized training sessions can be arranged to provide focused support and guidance.
By providing these benefits, Shirudo Martial Arts Academy can play a significant role in enhancing the quality of life for people with special needs, helping them reach their full potential both on and off the mat.
Practicing SHIRUDO martial arts gives people with special needs the opportunity to improve themselves every day at their own pace and at their own skill level.
SHIRUDO Martial arts training can even be an excellent complement to occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy in that it reinforces what they are learning from their therapists. Focus, concentration, balance, awareness, core strength as well as spatial awareness all play a huge roll in both therapies and martial arts training. When the two go hand in hand, the result is extraordinary.
SHIRUDO MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY Can help with …
ADD/ADHD
Studies have shown that multi-faceted physical activities, like martial arts, strengthens the brain and helps those with ADD and ADHD to practice basic motor and behavioural control. It also teaches consistency and repetition, which can have a calming influence.
Down Syndrome
The techniques in SHIRUDO martial arts are tailored to fit the student, rather than having the student fit the technique. Martial arts is excellent for individuals with Down Syndrome because it helps strengthen their muscles and improve their coordination
People on the Autism Spectrum
Consistency and repetition are cornerstones of SHIRUDO martial arts. These two components create familiarity. This way of teaching works well for kids on the autism spectrum. They tend to do well in classes because they respond well to this form of teaching. It isn’t just about the repetition found in movements, but also the repetition found in the location, the faces in class and knowing what to expect each time they enter the dojo.
The Visually Impaired
The martial arts training at SHIRUDO can be adapted and taught to those students that have visual disabilities. The other senses are utilized to overcome the visual impairment. Students that are blind or visually impaired learn through sensitivity drills and tactile aids. They are taught body awareness using their hearing and touch.
As they progress, they learn concepts that can help keep them safe, while developing skills that can give them an advantage over sighted students. Students that are visually impaired, like those that are sighted, need to have confidence in their ability to protect themselves both mentally and physically.
