Manny Rico is excited about Taekwondo class.
When he walks through the gates of Coastal Martial Arts Academy, other students greet him with high fives and fist bumps. Ten-year-old Manny has Down syndrome and attends an inclusive class with students of all abilities.
Bernie Richardson and his wife Heather Richardson, owners of Coastal Martial Arts Academy, said the children in their class didn't treat Manny any differently and he enjoyed being in the group.
“Manny runs the class,” Heather Richardson said.
Manny started taking classes at the academy about a year and a half ago. Isabel Rico, Manny's mother, said she had a bit of a hard time at first, she recalls. She sat down, frustrated because she couldn't keep up with the movements.
“I think he understood, but he couldn’t really do it,” Rico said. “He couldn't even do the simplest things.”
One of the first challenges was jumping jacks. Instructors found a way to break down his movements using what is now called a “many mat.” It has brightly colored footprints to indicate its location and movement.
Isabel Rico said the trick is to break down the movements so you can learn them at your own pace. Bernie Richardson and his staff are happy to do so.
“We all learn at different rates and have different abilities,” he explained. “I wouldn't call it a challenge.”
Manny takes classes twice a week, but every Sunday he works with lead instructor Savannah Herring, 15, and her sister Emma Herring, 13, to teach a class later that week. We help them get used to the movements.
Since Manny started martial arts lessons, Isabel Rico said his grades and overall health have improved. In addition to Down syndrome, Manny also has heart disease, and his cardiologist has always encouraged Manny to lose weight and increase his physical activity. Recently, heart disease testing revealed both significant weight loss and improved cardiovascular function.
Rico said he's seen Manny's grades rise from the 50s and 70s to the 90s and 100s, and he attributes that to his participation in martial arts. He noted that researchers have shown a significant link between physical activity and cognitive development.
“For example, when Manny learns form, the muscle memory he's developing literally helps his brain learn how to remember things and how to grow,” she said.
Bernie Richardson added: “Daily basic practice and complex movements are what really activate your brain and really improve your thinking skills.”
Manny has also found success on the mat. He participates in tournaments with other students and competes against other students in his age group.
“Win or lose, he's still there,” Isabel Rico said. “He goes before the crowd.”
Recently, Manny won a tournament and won his green belt on February 17th.
Rico definitely plans to keep Manny involved in martial arts, and is now reminding parents of other special needs children that the sport is inclusive and is “very important in the special needs world.” “It's important,” so he encourages people to consider this sport. She noted that Bernie Richardson even visited Manny's Codington Elementary School and worked with her students during her physical education class.
“This is the epitome of what inclusion should be,” she said. “It’s really nice to know he feels the difference because you can see it in his confidence every day.”
Renee Spencer is StarNews' Community Engagement Editor. Please contact us at RSpencer@gannett.com.
