As an occupational therapist with a black belt in karate, I have come to appreciate the benefits of martial arts as a rehabilitation modality for children and adults with physical, emotional, cognitive or behavioural disabilities. Karate can also be beneficial for individuals with developmental disorders, certain types of autism, cerebral palsy and attention disorders. Adults with depression or social anxieties, brain injury, stroke, early Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s can often delay the onset of disability or functional decline by incorporating martial arts into their weekly routine. With medical supervision, people recovering from cardiovascular conditions can also engage in martial arts for cardio reconditioning.
The benefits of participating in any martial art from Tai Chi to karate are well known. Strength, flexibility, endurance, balance and agility are challenged during every class. Emotionally, participants experience improvements in mood and mood regulation, confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem. Cognitively, participation in martial arts improves memory, coordination, concentration, attention, focus and judgment as participants learn the fighting forms and make quick decisions about how to physically react to different stimuli and hypothetical situations. Behaviourally, martial arts promote discipline, respect, impulse control and the motivation to continue training because of the positive reinforcement that comes with achieving the various belt levels. Spiritually, most martial artists develop an inner feeling of peace and a calm ability to be one with the physical self. As the saying goes, in karate you wear your rank in your heart and not around your waist.
A typical martial arts membership costs about $1,000 per year, which is in line with other organized activities such as hockey, dance, skating, gymnastics and fitness programs (especially with a trainer). The cost of recreation and leisure programming is easily justified to insurers (specifically auto insurance, but also WSIB or LTD, depending on the policies of such programs and the perceived benefits) when the target is physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural benefit. Karate dojos often offer free introductory classes in order to give clients an opportunity to try this form of therapy before making a commitment. Many facilities also have viewing areas that would allow a health professional to observe a class and offer the instructor suggestions on how to modify techniques or their teaching style to suit the client’s abilities.
Karate memberships have been successfully included on some paediatric treatment plans. When karate was approved for a seven-year-old client with an acquired brain injury, I went with his father to watch the first class. In thirty minutes of karate, this child did more running, jumping and weight bearing through his affected side than I had been able to facilitate during many in-house OT sessions. Speaking in front of the class helped with his speech issues and confidence, and he learned part of a kata routine (cognition) and practised how to fall forward without injuring himself should someone push him from behind on the playground. Children or young adults with learning or coordination problems might take longer to learn new routines, but in time they are able to perform them in front of the class to earn their next belt level.
When a client with a hearing impairment joined an adult class, he was unable to follow the instructor’s instructions but would do push-ups until everyone stopped because he did not hear how many to do. All the instructors were eager to learn to assist this student, so we developed ways to modify their teaching to provide more visual rather than verbal instruction.
As with any activity, participation in martial arts carries certain risks, including risk of musculoskeletal injury when kicking, punching or sparring. Instructors should be educated about any limits to participation (members with shoulder injuries could do squats instead of push-ups), and there is always the important step of checking with a physician before initiating any new exercise program. Karate would not be suitable for people with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, or unstable or acute conditions where such exercise could delay healing.
Contrary to popular belief, karate classes don’t involve beating on each other but rather learning how to gain control in a hazardous situation so that students can escape quickly and with minimal injury. For a potentially vulnerable child or adult with a disability who could be seen as an easy target, the fewer seconds needed to respond and escape could make victimization less likely. Not being as fearful of victimization has a positive impact on socialization and to feeling confident enough to venture into the community without worry.
