Martial Arts with minimal kicking?

--amadeus--

Hi folks,

I'm looking for some advice from you guys if possible...

My little lad is 7 and has been training in Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate) for a couple of years. He is now 8th Gup (purple belt) and loves it, loves the training, loves the discipline, loves the confidence it gives him.

However he has a very mild form of cerebral palsy. He has no mental disabilities (bit too quick sometimes ) but he does have some physical disabilities. Principally his legs (one more than the other) are quite stiff so he has some difficulty with his kicking techniques and in particular he cannot currently kick higher than mid section. He also has some balance problems. At his last grading he was having a "bad" day (tight muscles) and so he struggled badly. The Master was excellent, reassuring him without patronising him and passing him even though it was very marginal. However it was clear that the little lad will struggle at the higher grades. My wife and I started a conversation with the instructor a few days later to get a better understanding of how far jnr could go so that we could manage his expectations and we were told that Green belt would be realistic but further advancement would be a challenge. Again he was reasurring, made sure that Jnr didn't hear any of this and gave an example of a current black belt who has overcome physical disability. I am first to stand up for the little fella if he's being short changed but I really have no complaints over the support the club and instructors have given.

This has obviously disappointed my little lad. To his credit he is planning on keeping at it and is going to work at it one grade at a time.

But I was hoping that there might be a martial art with less emphasis on kicking. Judo sprang to mind, as did JuJitsu (any comments?). I used to box but his mother has put a strict block on that! Any thoughts or reccomendations? Any links or info on clubs in Limerick particularly appreciated.

Thanks

Colm_OReilly

Firstly I've got to say what sort of dick is his instructor to deny a child advancement and won't make considerations for a disability?

Maybe I'm just crabby but to me that's just w@nky.

Dermot McGrath runs a children's martial arts program based around submision wrestling and his young lads have done exceptionally well in competition. I don't know the whereabouts but you can call him on 0863122933.

--amadeus--

Far from it - I've given the wrong impression. The instructor is top class and has made lots (and lots) of allowances for my lad. I can't stress strongly enough how good he has been and I would recommend the classes to any parent.

What he said was that there are things that my lad won't be able to do (high kicks, jump kicks) and his inability to do these will limit his ability to progress to the higher ranks. I assume this is normal and wouldn't want excuses made or gradings awarded from pity rather tham merit.

Colm_OReilly

Right so, rage retracted.

Still, don't let my reaction deter you from trying out Dermot's classes.

yomchi

However as it currently stands the Master thinks that he is not going to go beyond 5th or 6th Gup (Green belt).

Thats a crap, if you don't mind me saying.
His enjoyment and progress he's making SHOULD out weigh any stupid belt or test laid down by unrecognised bodies and/or self appointed guardians of the art.

I have a lad in my Taekwon-Do class with mild cerebral palsy. He started about 3 months ago and the improvement in his flexibility is great, he too could not lift his leg over his waist, with a little encouragement it's now nearly his shoulder height.
I've read up on the mild condition and stretching is a must for anyone with it, so make sure you get him into somewhere that focusses on athelticism, while improving his flexibility, he'll also become more coordinated and stronger in the limbs. TSD from my understanding of it is not very sport orientated, although I could be wrong. Having seen kids under 12 years old in Ireland with 2nd and 3rd dans in it, I am dubious!

I digress, if I was you I'd get him into a good sport orientated MA club ASAP, if he has progressed to date, he'll out do himself with a different approach and coach IMO.

Best of luck.

Roper

I sometimes have to explain to people why I tell parents not to send their children to martial arts classes. I think the above scenario does that for me.

This man might be the most magnificent "Master" in the world but he's still a short sighted idiot. My sister also sufferred with cerebal palsy and if she was exposed to enough people like that guy I don't think she'd be the happy person she is today.

This is your child we're talking about here, so it's all for you to decide and I'm sure you'll make an informed decision, but I'd get well shut of anywhere that imposes limits on your boy. As an example, my friend trains a girl with a prosthetic limb and she recently got her black belt. Obviously there were certain things she couldn't do but these are taken into account. There are also certain things she can do far better than the other kids.

--amadeus--

Thanks for the replies.

I really do feel that I've handed over teh wrong end of teh stick (1st post now edited). I asked the Master about advancement to the senior grades because I could see that there would be problems ahead and I didn't know how much room there was in teh grading system for allowances for disability. My little lad is very determined and all of the instructors in the classes he has attended have gone out of thier way to encourage and support him and it really has given him a huge amount.

I encouraged him into MA partially because I knew teh stretches would help and it's great to hear of other children (either with other disabilities or CP) who have made progress and made gradings. TSD isn't particularly sport oriented so I'll have a look around and see what else there is.

And thanks again - great input

cowzerp

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I really do feel that I've handed over teh wrong end of teh stick (1st post now edited). I asked the Master about advancement to the senior grades because I could see that there would be problems ahead and I didn't know how much room there was in teh grading system for allowances for disability. My little lad is very determined and all of the instructors in the classes he has attended have gone out of thier way to encourage and support him and it really has given him a huge amount.

I encouraged him into MA partially because I knew the stretches would help and it's great to hear of other children (either with other disabilities or CP) who have made progress and made gradings. TSD isn't particularly sport oriented so I'll have a look around and see what else there is.

And thanks again - great input

Look if your child cant get graded because a disability wont allow him to kick high then this should be taking into consideration and he should be judged on the things his body will allow him to do, the "master" is a moron!

Why dont you train him some boxing yourself as seen as you done it? he does not have to spar or get hit at all. when he's old enough a trainer would train him and make allowances for his CP.

he'd be too young for a boxing club at the moment anyway, but you could do pads with him and it would be bonding and he will be well able for it, also try to take the emphasis off the belt as the belts mean little anyway, once he enjoys it then great.. maybe look at judo and see if he could do that..

dlofnep

There is no kicking in judo - but it does require an element of balance. I'm sure it's something that could be developed in time. I've seen people who joined judo who were literally throwing themselves by tripping over their own two feet, and now they are pretty good judokas!

What way is your child's cardio? Because judo can be pretty intensive, especially around competition time.. But I'm sure if it was an issue, the instructor would be more than happy to accomadate for your child.