Month: December 2016

A martial arts instructor explains the many mental health benefits ADHD children experience when participating in this kind of sport. by Melinda Boring Martial arts teacher Rodger Pyle was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) as a child, but he didn’t let it hold him back. “The public school didn’t know how to channel my energy, but I knew I could learn. I needed direction,” he says. Pyle found direction in martial arts. It gave him the confidence to work toward his goals. Today, at the USA Seibukan Martial Arts Training Center, in Columbus, Ohio, he helps kids with ADD/ADHD achieve success. “My job is to look beyond a student’s diagnosis and find ways to motivate him while playing up his strengths,” says Pyle. Pyle knows from personal and professional experience that, with direction, students with ADD/ADHD can achieve exceptional results. ADD/ADHD-Friendly Instruction “I tell my instructors that they can’t just do what’s easiest for them, they must do what’s best for the student,” he says. Pyle incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic cues into his instruction, and keeps his directions and demonstrations short. When a child is distracted, Pyle redirects him by having him show a “ready stance.” The rapid pace of the classes — and the moves practiced — keep students alert and focused. Studies show that a complex physical activity, like martial arts, strengthens neural networks...