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Refuge Martial Arts head coach Justin Horne interacts with children during Saturday's sporting event.
Martial Arts Tactics: Your opponent grabs your hand, shakes it off, and shoots out his hand while pointing at your armpit. Your opponent grabs your hands, makes them into fists, releases them, and throws them. The opponent grabs his waist from behind, stretches his arms and jumps away.
“Yes, Coach,” the kids, all over the age of 10, answered Coach Justin clearly.
The children are on the autism spectrum. Some of them achieved the fine muscle movements required above, some did not.
On Saturday, April 20, World Autism Inclusion Month, they and other children under the age of 10 were invited to ELG's early intervention center in Minhang District, where the agenda included martial arts, yoga and dance instruction. Participated in comprehensive sporting events. their parents and volunteers.
The site at 50 Gumei Road, with its orange facade, features a playground with a variety of gyms and entertainment facilities, with the Jinjiang Amusement Park's Ferris wheel spinning silently in the background.
The event's slogan, “Light It Up Red'' instead of “Light It Up Blue,'' is part of autism acceptance by listening to autistic voices. That's because people with autism have expressed a preference for “Light It Up Red,” Monte Rosen said. One of the founders and managing director of ELG said this in his welcome speech.
“People with autism are not fallen angels or stars in the sky. They are not broken. They need love and acceptance, just as we all need love and acceptance.” said Rosen.
Monte Rosen and Dr. Shari Rosen recognized the need for professional services in Shanghai and founded ELG in 2006 after several years of working with families and organizations across the city. Since its founding, the institute has focused on serving neurodiverse populations.
“We came up with this idea[of inclusive sporting events]because people with autism can experience all kinds of different experiences, exercise, sports, the arts, academics, learning in every way possible. Because we believe we should,” Rosen said. .
“ELG’s executive program director, Angela Ingram, has a Ph.D. in special education. And inclusion through sport can actually promote autism acceptance. ”
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Dr. Angela Ingram (left) demonstrates simple yoga stretches with children, parents, and volunteers.
Easy yoga stretches, “Born to Move” dances, and martial arts performed by Pure Yoga Coaches, Certified Fitness Instructors, Refuge Martial Arts Coaches and their teenage assistants were enjoyed by all participants.
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A dance coach will interact with the children.
Justin Horn, an Australian native who has lived in Shanghai for five years, is the head coach at Refuge Martial Arts. Having taught thousands of students in Australia, South East Asia and China, he has witnessed the personal growth of all of his students through their training and believes that martial arts is a beneficial medium for everyone.
For neurodiverse people and people on the autism spectrum, karate, judo, muay thai, and jiu-jitsu can foster confidence and trust in others and help with self-expression.
“It teaches sensitivity to touch. What is a good touch? What's not? What's too hard or too soft? What is friendly? And what does it mean? ? These skills translate very well into the social environment, and these people become very confident in the world,” Horn said.
Additionally, the belt provides a sense of accomplishment and a clear structure to success. This is important for all of us, especially neurodiverse people, he added.
Foreign volunteers Astrid Pogosyan from Armenia, Evgeniya Nadezhkina from Russia, and Marco A. Chavez from Mexico participated in the event on the recommendation of City News Service and Shanghai Daily, and both adults and children were smiling and beautiful. We had the precious moment of spending the morning together.
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Armenian violinist Astrid Pogosyan praised the success of the event.
“Volunteering is a part of who we are, and we believe there are many people who can contribute to making Shanghai a friendlier place,” Poghossian said, adding, “Not only the expat community I believe that if the Chinese community can come together, we can hold more events like this.” And together we can make everyday festivals for those who need us. To us it literally means nothing, but to them it means a lot. ''This violinist said he came to Shanghai in 2009 and has been using music as a means of communication and connection.
Nadezhkina said, “It's a great way for kids to express themselves or just have fun. This is what kids should do. They should basically have fun and enjoy time with other people.” is.”
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Evgeniya Nadezhkina (left) from Russia and Marco A. Chavez from Mexico volunteered at the event.
A group of parents and children from the Bauhinia Youth Center, which serves Hong Kong youth and Hong Kong families living in mainland China, also participated in the activity.
Paul Mack, Chairman of the TTELG Group and Founder of Bauhinia Youth, said: There are different levels of inclusion that include people from different cultures and we get to know each other. But it also includes people with different abilities. Today is also an event where children from Hong Kong participate in activities with children from Shanghai. ”
After the morning session, Pure, one of the volunteer contributors, organized a yoga session and body combat group activity at the Pure Fitness outdoor terrace at iapm mall. This activity was a follow-up to the morning session to continue promoting autism awareness and acceptance.
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A group photo of event participants
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Monte Rosen, Managing Director of ELG, will present a trophy to one of the children who participated in the event.
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The afternoon session was held at Pure Fitness outdoor terrace at IAPM Mall to promote autism awareness and acceptance.
