My son has ADHD & Anxiety, so he struggles with executive functioning (planning, focus attention, remembering, juggling multiple tasks/steps) and being a self-advocate. A neuro eval recommendation was to try Martial Arts. When I read this, we had many concerns. We've heard from other parents how strict some of these places can be, how some correct kid errors by whacking their legs. Their focus is on winning competitions. Our kid is extremely sensitive & we didn't want to cause him more anxiety or self-esteem issues by enrolling him in a place like that. We also had already tried many activities like soccer, 3 different swim lesson places, gym class & gymnastics. He struggled to want to participate, sometimes sitting out, too anxious to join along. Some of these places he learned to like, but he wasn't passionate about them. I looked up a few Martial Art places to consider in the Mill Creek area, but AMA intrigued me the most because the focus was 100% on the kids. We didn't care about how fast he could earn belts or about trophies . We needed a place where our son could feel supported & safe to make mistakes, to speak up for himself, to make friends & learn something new. He struggles with large team sports because of his anxiety- we needed a place where he could be an individual but also part of a team. We signed up for the trial & hoped for the best.
My son was super anxious to start class & honestly, so was I! The instructors were welcoming to us and made a point to connect with my son. I was surprised that he felt comfortable enough to participate in his first class on day one! I was worried the formalities would scare him, but everyone was super helpful with moving him along with the class in a way that didn't make him feel singled out. After a few classes, we were all in. My kid LOVES Active Martial Arts. He belongs here.
Six months into our membership, my son turned 7 and it was time to move up into the older class from the younger class. He was very nervous about this transition as change is hard for his anxiety. The instructors were instrumental in making this transition smooth. We watched the older class for a cycle & it was helpful that the assistant instructors in the younger kids class were also in the older kids class, so he already knew them. His transition was amazing & he is thriving in the older kids class!
We have been going to Occupational Therapy (to help with his executive functioning, self-advocacy & motor skills) for four years. Last week, the therapist told me she can really see how much these Martial Arts classes have improved my son's self-esteem, large motor skills, his ability to focus & be more social. We love the "yes I can" mantra & use it in our family every day. We love the values (discipline, respect, communication, self-esteem, honesty), which are helpful reminders for our kid when he's struggling to manage his anxiety and ADHD. I am so thankful to have a neutral third party instructor/coach that both my son and I trust to ask for advice to help guide us through challenges. My kid comes out of his shell here. He has friends. He uses his voice. He has confidence. He practices his Martial Arts at home almost daily. He leads us, including the dog, through classes at home, imitating his instructors, which is beyond entertaining!
I also appreciate the Active Martial Arts Mill Creek community. The families are very diverse, made of various backgrounds- race, ethnicity, income, religion/beliefs, kids schooling, shapes/sizes of families. It's amazing how different we all are yet we can respectfully share ideas/advice between each other.
Updated: We've been coming to Active Martial Arts for over a year now. Per my son's Occupational Therapist, my son has had significant improvement in his core strength, social skills and ability to focus. She attributes much of this to his work at Active Martial Arts. The teachers are always willing to talk with him or me about any issues we need help with. He feels like he belongs at Active Martial Arts Mill Creek, which means everything to my family.
Instructors
Facility
Classes
Location
Atmosphere
Posted 3 years ago
