Autism in martial arts

Autism in martial arts

So your kid is on the spectrum, and you want to get them into martial arts, but you are a little unsure how that is going to go. That is a fair place to start. Just like any other kid, each one is unique. Being on the spectrum just means they may have some other needs. For some kids it is sound or smell. For some it is touch.

Before the first class, talk to the instructor. Ask what experience they have teaching people with autism. Ask how they are with uniform modifications if your child has a touch sensitivity. Some schools are loose about that. Others are not. Ask what happens if your son or daughter gets overwhelmed. Is there a place they can go and calm down? Here, if a student is having a hard time, we set them out in the waiting area and let them relax. A bigger school might have a quiet room or a private-lesson area. It depends.

Stay pretty plugged in, especially at first. The only times I have had real trouble with autistic students, it was not the student. It was when that student had a need and I did not have a staff member free to go to them. If you are there, I can say, hey, we are having a moment, can you sit with them? Parents jump in, and a few minutes later the kid is usually eager to come back. If you are not there, and you have a few students with those needs, that is a big ask of the staff. An average local school is not set up for that. Having you there is a major help.

Ask how they correct technique, too. Sometimes you have to touch a student. We always ask first. Hey, I need to move you, is this okay? That is not only an autism thing. I have young Muslim ladies in class I am not allowed to touch at all. Talk to the instructor and make sure they are up on it.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Be realistic about what you hope to get out of this. Some kids on the spectrum perform at a surprisingly high level, not because they are autistic, just because they are little kids. That is not everybody. What I want them to get is the process: they go to class, you look at what worked and what did not, you figure out a small fix, you try it again. Maybe they get overwhelmed halfway through. What was it? The uniform? A new cleaner that smelled funny? I have heard all of it. Work through it piece by piece.