I just wondered if any one on the site has studied martial arts and if it helps them.


X-Man

I am a Fiber artist :D

My nephew has ADD and took martial arts I think it helped him. I would only take classes if you really want to learn the martial arts, not because you think it might help your ADD.

If you really love to do something, it boosts you self-esteem. I think that helps more than exactly what you do.

RADD

I took Kenpo karate in college for a while (its the street fighting variety). Loved it and might take it again. Only problem is that I'm a total cutz, and I ended up breaking by wrist while practicing a kick. Not sure if it helped with ADD, but if someone ever tries to sneak up on me on a dark street, I'll know how to break his neck :eek:

I am a gold belt in tae kwon do - beware! - thanks to a class I took this past summer.

I'd like to continue it, but I don't know that it was particularly helpful with my symptoms, beyond just being exercise.

I have studied Kempo, Jujitsu, and Krav Maga for over 18 years. It has not helped me with my ADD/ADHD symptoms per se, but it has helped me in ways which indirectly have helped me in all apsects of my being. That being said, even though one could construe from that statement that the martial arts have indeed effected me in every aspect of my life, I would never recommend one study the martial arts as a therapy to help them with ADD/ADHD.

I took Tia quan doe (Korean)

. . . . . . . none of which I can spell-obviously :o


Blue belt. . . .

I think it helped me in areas like anxiety, depression which did help me over all with my ADD. I will also mention I took ADD medications during classes but I only took half doses. Physicially and Socially it worked wonders.

Always had problems with coordinatio, perception, ability to defend myself... took me until I was 15 to learn how to catch a ball, but then... I know, always extreme... I started tae kwon do, trained with those 2 meter high doormen of the local discothecs under the German Champion in kickboxing... and the awkward movements, the being unconnected to my body are gone. I'm even better than average, although I've stopped training 5 years ago... still miss it though

Just look at the poem in my avatar below...

I did martial arts as a kid. I think it helped me get out a lot of restlessness, the high energy exercise helped clear my head, and gave me something to be a part of that I could really stick to. I have a black belt in taekwondo, and was one test away from the 2nd level. I had to stop due to the fact that I have problems with my knees and legs that make me too crippled to continue, but I miss it.

Love your name-sorry about the knees. I have degenerative arthritis in my neck. It is frustrating to deal with pain isn't it.

RADD

hehehe, just got back from Taekwondo class (which I've been doing for over two years). I've also had some training in hapkido, torite-jitsu, and jiu-jitsu. It has definitely helped me. I'm in better shape, I can breathe better, it has helped me learn discipline and focus.

What is interesting is that I started taekwondo before I was medicated, and I have sat out from taekwondo due to injury while medicated. My experience was that taekwondo alone helped a little bit, and medication alone helped a good deal, but medication + taekwondo created a much greater benefit than either alone.

when i was young i studied kempo karate, i did that for a few years but quit for some stupid reason, i don't know why, i mean the next belt i was black for me....oh well

since i started university i began to look back, now i really want to pick up martial arts again, i was thinking either Taekwondo or wing tyun kung fu

Taekwondo is a lot of fun, it focuses primarily on kicks, and we have a lot of different kicks. We do kicks from all different directions, to all different parts of the body, from all different stances. It's also an especially great way to build flexibility.

Also, most martial arts schools in the US are picking up the trend of working on multiple styles. The mixed martial arts movement is really having an effect. Most taekwondo schools will also teach some hapkido techniques (it's a stand-up grappling form, similar to judo). They also often teach weapons (nothing gets you to pay attention like having a six-foot wooden bo-staff swung at your head). The important thing is finding a style that you enjoy, and a schools whose students and teachers you like, and a program that fits your schedule and speed.

I have a black belt in Kama Sutra :D

Hey Animal,
How many years did it take to get that black belt and are you working to become a master?

But on a serious note (how can you have a serious note after Animal's contribution to this thread?)...

My ADHD 10yo daughter burns out easy and in the past has needed to take several month breaks from Kung Fu. Now that she is on concerta, she seems more interested in her classes and less interested in distracting the other students. This is good because she has to go to the class because: her older sister really enjoys Kung Fu and is a jr. brown belt; and their dad is a 7th degree black belt and helps teach the class. Bragging - She also just did an amazing demonstration at the county fair, showing how a 55lb child can protect herself from an adult attacker.

I wish. I'd love to learn but I don't think I could afford ($) it on top of my gym bill.

nothing gets you to pay attention like having a six-foot wooden bo-staff swung at your head

Yep that would be a real attention getter.

to be honest, i'ld prefer to learn the animal styles of kung fu, i prefer the beauty in the old less efficent styles, i especially would like to learn snake style, i've seen a few movie clips of martial artists demonstrating it and it looks incredible, i especially like the methods of strike, how the snake makes targeted quick strikes at pressure points, it's technical and require speed and dexterity, my kinda style :D

although i know i'ld enjoy taekwando i'ld still prefer to do the animal style kung fu's instead (can't remember the proper name of it, i used to know, in fact i put alot of research into martial arts because i really wanted to start it back up again, i came so close but didn't quite get there :( )

don't think i'ld like to learn mantis though, too rigid, drunken would be kinda fun, but still my preference would still definately be the animal styles