Asperger’s Syndrome and Martial Arts

Asperger’s Syndrome and Martial Arts
written by: Master McCorry

Please note: Although Bruce McCorry's Martial Arts Academy has great success working with people under the Autism Spectrum, it is advised to  consult your doctor before participating in any form of Martial Arts.

A survey report by the Center for Disease Controls states the alarming fact that one out of every 88 children in the state are affected with Asperger’s Syndrome. The past ten years have seen a startling increase in the number of cases reported under autism spectrum in both kids and adults. Many doctors, psychologists and experts now put forth martial arts as a therapy for Asperger’s Syndrome.

Getting to Know Asperger’s Syndrome
Named after the Austrian physician Hans Asperger, Asperger’s Disorder (AD) is a neurodevelopment disorder that falls under the broader Autism Spectrum Disorders. The distinctive features of Asperger’s Disorder include impairment of social skills, difficulties in communicating with ease, patterns of behavior that are repetitive, and violent outbursts and tantrums in children called meltdowns by experts. Asperger’s Syndrome was discovered as early as 1944. However, it was during the 80s and 90s that the public started becoming aware of its complications and symptoms. Though early intervention and social training have been found extremely useful in Asperger’s Syndrome therapies, often the kids and adults in the spectrum have difficulties in mustering body strength, coordinating movements and communicating with ease. These are the areas where martial arts have been found effective.


Martial Art Therapy for Asperger’s Disorder
The relationship between Asperger's Syndrome and martial arts is a much debated topic among doctors. People with Asperger’s Syndrome are advised by doctors to take martial arts because martial arts can make some difference in the following aspects of their condition:

1. Through martial arts, patients can learn body postures and movements which are new to them. This will be useful in developing coordination and motor skills.

2. Attention deficiency is a common challenge for people with Asperger’s Disorder. Taking martial arts lessons will help them to concentrate their attention for longer.

3. Repetitive patterns of behaviors seen in people with Asperger’s (such as tracing and retracing the steps, obsessively arranging things in order and repeating simple tasks like washing hands) can be limited using effective martial arts training.

4. Martial arts can be an outlet that channelizes the excessive energy in a constructive manner. This effectively brings down chances of meltdowns and tantrums.

5. Martial arts provides a platform where children and adults under the Spectrum can interact with people who are similar to them as well as others. This will definitely improve the communication skills. It will also reduce social inhibition considerably.


Treating Asperger’s with Martial Arts – Choosing a Center
When people with Asperger’s Syndrome decide to take martial arts lessons, a number of things should be taken into concern. It is inevitable that the class should be under the supervision of professionals and experts. If not systematic, martial art lessons can make little difference to their condition. This is why you should choose an efficient academy like Bruce McCorry’s.

What makes Bruce McCorry’s Academy is its inclusive nature. From kids to seniors, everyone can find their own space at the academy and receive individual attention. When people under Autism Spectrum come to Bruce McCorry’s Academy, what they get is a chance to be at a place where they won’t feel out-of-place. Constructive lessons and friendly atmosphere helps them to interact with others. With four decades of experience in the field of martial arts, Bruce McCorry’s can be the change to your life that you have been looking for.

www.brucemccorrys.com

Martial Arts An Alternative for Boutique Gyms

Martial Arts Schools – A Better Alternative for Boutique Gyms written
by: Sandra LaRosa

Boutique gyms, a recent addition to the buzz of the day, are being heralded as the ultimate combo of fitness and aesthetics – an innovation hailed as an alternative to traditional gyms. The advocates of boutique gyms uphold them as a not-seen-before revolution in the fitness world. However, before jumping into the bandwagon, it is important to know that for years, the martial art schools around us have offered the same benefits as boutique gyms, in a more customized manner. Can martial arts be a better option in the face of the boutique gym frenzy?

 

Boutique Gyms and Martial Art Centers: A Comparison
Also called microgyms or bespoke gyms, a boutique gym is a miniature deluxe version of the traditional gym that focuses on a single fitness method such as Yoga or Spin. Proponents of these fitness studios highlight the following advantages:

-Unlike a traditional gym that mixes up many fitness styles, boutique gyms give us a chance to focus on a single fitness method such as Taekwondo or Kung-Fu.

-They offer an opportunity to choose a milder alternative for those who do not like the tough fitness training of fitness clubs.

-They blend athletics with peaceful martial arts like Tai-Chi

-Since they are smaller in terms of number of participants, bespoke gyms create a chance for like-minded people to bond and have fun. This also means more individual attention to participants.

-They charge almost the same fees as large fitness centers.

Since many of these highlights are put forward as unprecedented, it would be interesting to note how martial art schools have been offering the same (or even better) benefits for decades:

-Martial arts schools not only offer a chance to focus on a single training method, but also have a wide variety of such methods to choose from. You can pick anything from Taekwondo to Tai Chi, Kung-Fu and  Kickboxing, and you get to devote your attention to that particular art fully.

-In martial art schools, if you prefer lighter and milder arts like Tai Chi, you can go for them. If you prefer tougher and challenging varieties, you can choose those like Karate and Kickboxing

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-While boutique gyms claim that the fusion of athletics and martial arts is an innovation, martial art schools have been doing it for decades. They give you better fitness results than a boutique gym. According to research, an hour of martial arts can burn 800 calories or more - you can lose pounds within just a few sessions.

-Just like a bespoke gym, martial arts schools give you a smaller and intimate space where you can be friends with people who have the same interest and belong to similar age groups.

-Martial art centers give individual attention and professional care. Your martial arts teachers are not just trainers with a certificate, but veterans who had been in their field for years. At a good center, your masters can guide and mentor you to professional perfection.

-Martial arts schools are economic than fitness centers.

Bruce McCorry’s Martial Arts – An Alternative for Microgyms
A good martial arts institution can give you amazing results compared to boutique gyms. Bruce McCorry’s Academy (Massachusetts) offers special programs where you can get personalized martial arts lessons that suit your aptitude and strength. It is also open to people from all age groups. Everyone right from children to seniors find classes at Bruce McCorry’s enjoyable and efficient. Get your admission now at Bruce McCorry’s, where fitness dreams come true!

www.brucemccorrys.com