Karate for Kicks

By Lynne Swanson

Martial arts Sensei (teacher) Steve Stewart yells "Kiai!", side-kicks his left leg and thrusts his foot just inches from Tyler Markham’s face.

Tyler, 14, doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t move. He doesn’t react. He does exactly what karate trained him to do. He sits calmly in his wheelchair, concentrating, focusing and only allowing himself to "breathe and blink."

Tyler began karate lessons last summer at Stewart’s studio through Thames Valley Children’s Centre (TVCC), a rehabilitation centre for children and youth with disabilities in London, Ontario. He followed up with classes in a regular summer program at Steve Stewart’s Modern Martial Arts Family Fitness Centre.

This past summer, Tyler, who has spina bifida and now holds a yellow belt in karate, again travelled from his Zurich, Ontario, home to London to attend Stewart’s regular program with able-bodied students to advance his own skills and abilities.

Tyler finds karate "a lot of fun." He adds that it’s "just good exercise," which "helps breathing, coordination and balance and helps your concentration and memory" by learning to remember "all the moves and stuff."

Because the martial art improves his concentration, it benefits him at school. In addition, Tyler finds his karate experience "helps in gym and other sports because I’m a lot more healthy." As a player on Huron Sledge Hockey team, Tyler says karate "helps my breathing, my cardiovascular, that sort of thing. It helps me stay focused on the task and help out the team."

Madison Powell, 12, who has cerebral palsy (CP), agrees. Madison first enrolled in a City of London Recreation introductory karate program. She was hooked. Soon she was attending three times a week at Modern Martial Arts and now has an advanced green belt.

With Madison’s CP, "one foot turns in a bit and one leg gets really tight." But the Sensei accommodates her needs by adjusting drills when needed. Unexpected benefits have been changes in Madison’s mobility. "It improves my balance and helps my walking. It strengthens my muscles in my legs and arms."

For the past two summers, Madison relished assisting Stewart in the TVCC program. "It’s nice to know you’re helping someone instead of someone helping you." With an impish grin, Madison admits she loves "showing off just a little." But her real reward was far greater. "Showing them what I know showed them even when you have a disability, you can do practically anything you want. There’s just some adaptations."

A group of youngsters with disabilities ranging in age from 6 to 12 sits mesmerized on the floor or in wheelchairs as Stewart teaches a thrusting punch, with feet apart and hand shaking to transfer energy to other hand. The kids are entranced as Stewart stresses courtesy, "no matter how angry you are."

The children listen intently as Stewart tells them good conflict resolution means you must "spend more time on the solution and less time on the problem."

One lesson the kids have learned well is what to do if they are bullied. "Talk, walk, defend, tell someone what happened." Stewart has each youngster come to the front of the class to share new skills and knowledge. One young lass proudly says karate originally meant "empty hand" in Japanese. Now, it stands for "Keep Act-Respectable Attitude Towards Everyone."

Parents share their kids’ passion. Tyler’s mother, Linda, says Stewart "really helps them to understand there’s a lot more to karate than just the moves." She says kids quickly discover they aren’t learning karate so they can "beat everyone up." Rather, "you’re learning it to improve your life."

Linda says Stewart’s focus is on using the brain. "You think your own thoughts. That’s the best means of self-defense... it spills over into every part of your life." The principles of black belt are displayed predominantly in Stewart’s studio: Honesty. Humility. Courtesy. Integrity. Self-Control. Perseverance. Indomitable Spirit.

Madison’s father, Steve Buchko, thinks karate "makes you more peaceful and more secure." Through karate, Madison’s parents have watched her transform from a girl excluded from activities with other youngsters to a confident pre-teen with lots of social interaction. Madison’s mother, Liane, finds karate "helps to give good morals and self-discipline" and promotes responsibility, academic achievement and respect for others. Several stars on Madison’s "Gi" (karate uniform) reflect that.

When Jennifer Zubko’s rehabilitation physician suggested she take up karate, she thought, "Are you joking? I’m not the most athletic person in the world."

But Dr. Karen Pape stressed karate exercise benefits and how important it is for people with disabilities to know self-defense. So, Zubko set off to find a studio to teach her. That was easier said than done. Most thought karate couldn’t be adapted for the young woman, 23, with cerebral palsy.

Finally, Zubko contacted Steve Stewart last winter and was immediately welcomed into his regular program. The cross-city journey from Zubko’s home to Stewart’s studio is well worth it.

Having had back surgery, Zubko’s life had been consumed with out-patient hospital rehabilitation. Through karate, she is interacting socially in her community, has increased her strength and has learned to defend herself.

Zubko can walk short distances and stand for limited periods of time, but she also uses both manual and power wheelchairs. So, Stewart modified drills for Zubko to do in her chair. "He will stop the class to show how he has changed things and what has changed. I don’t feel like I’m doing anything that different." Zubko, now working on her yellow belt, feels completely accepted by her able-bodied classmates at all levels of karate, from beginner to adult black belt.

"We all cheer each other on. They teach me things. Last time, I was teaching somebody beginning the moves. It’s nice when we help each other." Zubko hopes she can find an instructor to meet her needs in Ottawa when she returns to her third year at Carleton University this fall.

A martial arts instructor in Windsor, Ontario, has found that karate gives benefits to kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Art Mason, co-owner of The Peaceful Warriors’ Martial Arts Institute, says often these children "have so much going on in their minds," it is "difficult for them to stay focused on anything."

But "martial arts helps them learn to focus on one thing and lock out everything else. The mind-body thing seems to help them focus a lot better and is also very good for getting their frustrations out." Mason says it may take several months for changes to be apparent, but children with ADHD "will put out a lot of effort once they discover they like [karate]. It’s almost a stress relief." Mason emphasizes that parental support is "tremendously important."

Mason recently developed a program for people to learn to use canes for self-defense. The first session was scheduled for August, 2001, in London, for people with multiple sclerosis.

Steve Stewart thinks adapting karate for people with disabilities is quite simple. His approach comes from his interest in "what people can do," rather than what they can’t.

(Lynne Swanson is a freelance writer in London, Ontario.)