WEBVTT
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One of the biggest things I heard from almost every parent is that I wish there was some kind of sports or action, just overall group activity that my child could do.
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Well, getting the same effort from coaches that other children that are neurotypical get.
00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:41.119
Sometimes they just don't have the resources in order to provide and acclimate in martial arts is an amazing thing because it gives you that like social aspect because you're in a group setting when you take classes, but it's very individualized, so you can move at your own pace.
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Motor planning and bilateral coordination, sensory memory, and sequencing.
00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:52.159
Wow, this is exactly what martial arts is.
00:00:52.240 --> 00:01:01.920
And we've seen that our kiddos that are in it, they've gone from, you know, not wanting to maybe pick their foot off the ground to jumping up and climbing on things, and these are things that they never would have done.
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Everybody may kick a little different, but we can all kick.
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And it's something that I've always loved and carried through all grade school, up through high school, and even through college.
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It's been a very steady thing for me throughout my whole life, and I found a lot through it.
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Um, and it's actually what led me to my calling.
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I have been teaching taekwondo to students of all ages, starting at their age of three-ish to all the way up to full-grown adults in their 80s.
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Um, so I have a lot of experience with the different age ranges, and it's something that I've grown to love is teaching.
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And it was actually through my job as a martial arts instructor at Colorin Lakes Taekwondo, which is an amazing facility in Tallah, Florida, that has classes for all ages.
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I was, I started there and I've been there ever since.
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Um, and it was through them that I came in contact with a family, and their son had served palsy.
00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:14.719
And I, at the time, I was in college, you know, you know about it, you never, I had never fully encountered it to the point in which I was teaching someone.
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And that kind of uh led me to figuring out what occupational therapy was.
00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:29.599
And that was fully because that child's uh parent had come up to me and said, Hey, you have such a great way of describing things.
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It reminds us a lot of his occupational therapists.
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And I was like, Oh, thank you so much.
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And I hadn't, I didn't know what an occupational therapist was.
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Um, and so I went home and looked it up because I was like, what does that even mean?
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Um, and that's when my eyes like blew wide open and I figured out like how many different uh occupations and avenues that therapy opens up, and of course, what uh occupational therapy is.
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And so once I, you know, did some research on that, I fell in love with it, went to school for it, graduated top of my class, um, and I had a great set of teachers and cohorts that really pushed me and kind of uh guided me into what I wanted.
00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:29.759
And all throughout college, um, I had done a lot of research on why martial arts is fantastic for children with um autism, specifically because I enjoy teaching kids, but I believe that it's great for any individuals looking for movement in their life.
00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:37.199
Um, so a lot of my education research was pushed towards that narrative of like why martial arts is so good.
00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:47.759
And after I graduated, I went into the workforce working as a um occupational therapy assistant in pediatrics, primarily home health.
00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.879
I did some in-office visits, but um I was fresh meat.
00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:55.040
And so I went out in the field and I loved it.
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Um it's fantastic, and I learned so much, like so, so much.
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Um, and with that, being in the home, it does address issues that you don't see, or not issues, it does address personalities and behaviors that you don't always see in office because this is where the family, this is where the child is comfortable in the home.
00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:35.839
And as I grew to um develop relationships with each family and learn them and figure out how I can incorporate their schedule and their day-to-day within the occupational therapy setting that I'm providing for their kid in their home, um I was started to question them and say, hey, so like what's something that you wish you had access to?
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Um, because I'm curious and I'm with them two to three times a week.
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And I want to know like what I can do to give back to them because they've been amazing to me as I as they entrust their kiddo into my guidance in hopes that you know I can help progress them however the goal is set for them to be.
00:05:53.279 --> 00:06:16.879
Um, and one of the biggest things I heard from almost every parent is that I wish there was some kind of sports or action or like just overall group activity that my child could do while getting the same effort from coaches that other children that are neurotypical get.
00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.199
And that's by no fault of other organizations here in town.
00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:34.959
They just simply said that sometimes they just don't have the resources in order in order to provide and um like acclimate their child into whatever system they have going for years and years and years.
00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:49.120
And so I just was like, well, let me tell you, I do martial arts, and martial arts is an amazing thing because it gives you that like social aspect because you're in a group setting when you take classes, but it's very individualized.
00:06:49.199 --> 00:07:04.399
So you can move at your own pace by, you know, each rank you can't move up until you're ready, or each step you can't do until you physically can do it, while also getting that social aspect of being with like-wise people in your classroom.
00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:08.160
And so I started to, you know, kind of almost sales pitch a little bit.
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Oh, you know, I teach martial arts on the side, and it started to gather some interest.
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And I, you know, brought about my personal research on it and why I think it's so important.
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And I found that a lot of the things that I do as part of these goals that a lot of these kids are working on, because a lot of them are motor planning and bilateral coordination and sensory, um, a lot of like sensory integration and memory and sequencing, all of these things.
00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.720
I'm like, wow, this is exactly what martial arts is.
00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:41.120
Um, and so I just was like, you know what?
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Like, I think this is something.
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Like, I think that this can be an offered uh program to someone.
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So I was like, there's no way I could do that.
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And thankfully, uh, like I said earlier, I work at uh Coloran Lakes, Taekwondo.
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And I went to them and they're an amazing set of people.
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It's a little family, and they've been around for 17 years, and they have known me since I was a child.
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And I went to them and I said, look, I have this idea.
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Um, I would love to try it out.
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And I pitched to them the idea of having a small group class with about six to seven kids in it that would be primarily for neurodivergent children.
00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:44.320
So it would be something that they can come to, be to have likewise peers and form a community while working on these uh these goals that are set for them within therapies in a fun and uh almost like undistinguishable way of working on these things within a fun sport.
00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:46.320
And I was like, is this something I can try?
00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:50.720
And they less their hearts to like, yeah, we will help you get this going.
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And they they provided me so much um capital and just they really poured their love into it because they also love this community.
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And this is something that uh we have, you know, always thought of as that martial arts is so great for children that are neurodivergent or people that are neurodivergent because it offers these different uh things that they're looking for and improves upon them in that group setting, which is so, so amazing.
00:09:17.120 --> 00:10:09.279
And we got it going and it has just it is just flourished, and I couldn't be ever more proud of not only the students that are in there, but the families and the instructors that I've trained over the years, and it's allowed me to um partner with one of the owners, um, where we've created Neuro Ninjas, which is a LLC that we are working to form or is formed, um, but it is to spread awareness and um education and curriculum to other martial arts schools, as well as other therapists or PE teachers or homeschool that are looking for some kind of like movement-based curriculum that challenges uh these motor planning, these sequencing, these, you know, sensory integration skills and mind setting of an occupational therapy or even a little bit of PT.
00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:20.879
Obviously, I'm not qualified for that regards, but you know, it takes these goals that they're working on and reinforces them in a fun setting that, you know, is like, let's do our, let's move our bodies and then do front kicks.
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.120
I mean, what kid doesn't want to go and kick something?
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Right.
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So it takes these super fun aspects of movement and encourages them because it produces not only confidence, but it also just builds self-esteem.
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And we've seen that our our kiddos that are in it, they've gone from, you know, not wanting to maybe pick their foot off the ground because we have a little bit of uh insecurity with leaving the floor to jumping up and climbing on things.
00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:49.039
And these are things that they never would have done had they not have started this.
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And it's only because they've been able to work on these skills in a safe environment that we've created in order to feel like they can learn and they can do these things without being rushed or forced to do it because they're working side by side, but none of them are held to this, like, well, so-and-so is moving this fast, and we've got to keep up with the team because it's still individualized.
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Um, and so it's an awesome thing to experience and watch.
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And as I've grown the business of NeuroNinjas in the um side, I've just gotten so much love and support from our NeuroNinja parents and families, and they have uh a lot of the curriculum that I've developed um over time with my partner, he we've gathered from direct feedback from our parents and our kiddos that are in our system right now.
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Um, and so it's finely tailored to create the most uh to see the most results while also having the most fun.
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And we try to incorporate and always think of new ways to build our ever-growing system because ideally we want to continue this for the long run.
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So we're always thinking of drills every week.
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We meet and we're talking about it.
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We have expanded our classes.
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It started from just one class a week on a Monday.
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We now have um their own ninja classes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then two on Saturday, growing into schools, even.
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I've gone into multiple schools within Leon County, and I go in and teach their ESC classes, working hand in hand with communities that are growing in Tallahassee and just building overall awareness and support for the idea that movement is for everybody and that everybody may kick a little different, but we can all kick.
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Um, and that's something that you know you should embrace no matter how you feel or um what the diagnoses may be, and that you don't have to do a typical sport to still get that, you know, close-knit community that you might build in sports.
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I mean, a lot of my connections that I've built have been from competitive sports.
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So I understand just how important it may be for a family to want their child to be in some kind of activity, but feel like they can't.
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Movement can be the cure for a lot of things.
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Even as we grow older, we notice that the biggest thing that we're told by our, you know, primaries and our doctors is, oh, you have to keep moving.
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And if movement isn't encouraged at this young age through sports or fun things like playing on the playground, because of little insecurities, oh, what my kid can't, you know, experience the same things that these neurotypical children can.
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I wanted to make sure that everyone knew that there is a place for your child and we can do these things.
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I'm just so incredibly um proud of the business that I've grown with my partner.
00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.919
And it started all from occupational therapy.
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Occupational therapy is a therapy setting in which people work to grow and um hone in on skills.
00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:51.360
Most of the time, you might see it in pediatrics as we work to develop different uh grip strengths and motor skills that may be not forming typically.
00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:54.639
Um, a lot of times you also see it in stroke patients.
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They have a stroke.
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We have to get back to our normal day-to-day.
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So, whereas PT steps in to build muscle, OT steps in to say, how can we continue your life without taking away the aspects because of whatever you are currently dealing with?
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So it's a very creative form of therapy that works to improve a holistic approach to the whole body and build it to the best of their ability without impeding on day-to-day schedules.
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:42.799
And so I think with all of that in mind, that's why Neuro Ninjas has been such a big thing for me, is because I'm taking my holistic approach, which is martial arts in movement and therapy, and putting it into a program that provides movement for all and hopefully they can feel confidence grow in their abilities, not limited as they go throughout this program.
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Um, I hope that you guys enjoyed and I appreciate you so much for letting me be here and take up a little bit of your time and um talk about my program.
00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:57.600
And I'm just super, super thankful to Infinite Um Spectrum Foundation for having me here.
00:14:57.840 --> 00:15:04.559
And um, you can find us at NeuroNinja on Facebook or on Instagram at neuro.ninja.ma.
00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:12.240
Um, I will also make sure to say that you can also check us out at Clorin Likes Taekwondo on Facebook.
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Um, we just post a lot of our stuff there as well, as that's where our main hub is.
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Um, so if you guys would like to support, you can go check those out.
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And I thank you so much for listening.
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Have a great rest of your day.
00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:16.079
One of the biggest things I heard from almost every parent is that I wish there was some kind of sports or action, just overall group activity that my child could do.
00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:25.519
Well, getting the same effort from coaches that other children that are neurotypical get.
00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:41.119
Sometimes they just don't have the resources in order to provide and acclimate in martial arts is an amazing thing because it gives you that like social aspect because you're in a group setting when you take classes, but it's very individualized, so you can move at your own pace.
00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:48.719
Motor planning and bilateral coordination, sensory memory, and sequencing.
00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:52.159
Wow, this is exactly what martial arts is.
00:00:52.240 --> 00:01:01.920
And we've seen that our kiddos that are in it, they've gone from, you know, not wanting to maybe pick their foot off the ground to jumping up and climbing on things, and these are things that they never would have done.
00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:05.840
Everybody may kick a little different, but we can all kick.
00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:20.719
And it's something that I've always loved and carried through all grade school, up through high school, and even through college.
00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:25.919
It's been a very steady thing for me throughout my whole life, and I found a lot through it.
00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:29.280
Um, and it's actually what led me to my calling.
00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:40.719
I have been teaching taekwondo to students of all ages, starting at their age of three-ish to all the way up to full-grown adults in their 80s.
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Um, so I have a lot of experience with the different age ranges, and it's something that I've grown to love is teaching.
00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:56.560
And it was actually through my job as a martial arts instructor at Colorin Lakes Taekwondo, which is an amazing facility in Tallah, Florida, that has classes for all ages.
00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.120
I was, I started there and I've been there ever since.
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Um, and it was through them that I came in contact with a family, and their son had served palsy.
00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:14.719
And I, at the time, I was in college, you know, you know about it, you never, I had never fully encountered it to the point in which I was teaching someone.
00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:20.639
And that kind of uh led me to figuring out what occupational therapy was.
00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:29.599
And that was fully because that child's uh parent had come up to me and said, Hey, you have such a great way of describing things.
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It reminds us a lot of his occupational therapists.
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And I was like, Oh, thank you so much.
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And I hadn't, I didn't know what an occupational therapist was.
00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:43.199
Um, and so I went home and looked it up because I was like, what does that even mean?
00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:57.360
Um, and that's when my eyes like blew wide open and I figured out like how many different uh occupations and avenues that therapy opens up, and of course, what uh occupational therapy is.
00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:14.240
And so once I, you know, did some research on that, I fell in love with it, went to school for it, graduated top of my class, um, and I had a great set of teachers and cohorts that really pushed me and kind of uh guided me into what I wanted.
00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:29.759
And all throughout college, um, I had done a lot of research on why martial arts is fantastic for children with um autism, specifically because I enjoy teaching kids, but I believe that it's great for any individuals looking for movement in their life.
00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:37.199
Um, so a lot of my education research was pushed towards that narrative of like why martial arts is so good.
00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:47.759
And after I graduated, I went into the workforce working as a um occupational therapy assistant in pediatrics, primarily home health.
00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.879
I did some in-office visits, but um I was fresh meat.
00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:55.040
And so I went out in the field and I loved it.
00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:00.319
Um it's fantastic, and I learned so much, like so, so much.
00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:16.319
Um, and with that, being in the home, it does address issues that you don't see, or not issues, it does address personalities and behaviors that you don't always see in office because this is where the family, this is where the child is comfortable in the home.
00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:35.839
And as I grew to um develop relationships with each family and learn them and figure out how I can incorporate their schedule and their day-to-day within the occupational therapy setting that I'm providing for their kid in their home, um I was started to question them and say, hey, so like what's something that you wish you had access to?
00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.680
Um, because I'm curious and I'm with them two to three times a week.
00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:53.120
And I want to know like what I can do to give back to them because they've been amazing to me as I as they entrust their kiddo into my guidance in hopes that you know I can help progress them however the goal is set for them to be.
00:05:53.279 --> 00:06:16.879
Um, and one of the biggest things I heard from almost every parent is that I wish there was some kind of sports or action or like just overall group activity that my child could do while getting the same effort from coaches that other children that are neurotypical get.
00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.199
And that's by no fault of other organizations here in town.
00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:34.959
They just simply said that sometimes they just don't have the resources in order in order to provide and um like acclimate their child into whatever system they have going for years and years and years.
00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:49.120
And so I just was like, well, let me tell you, I do martial arts, and martial arts is an amazing thing because it gives you that like social aspect because you're in a group setting when you take classes, but it's very individualized.
00:06:49.199 --> 00:07:04.399
So you can move at your own pace by, you know, each rank you can't move up until you're ready, or each step you can't do until you physically can do it, while also getting that social aspect of being with like-wise people in your classroom.
00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:08.160
And so I started to, you know, kind of almost sales pitch a little bit.
00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:12.560
Oh, you know, I teach martial arts on the side, and it started to gather some interest.
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:17.120
And I, you know, brought about my personal research on it and why I think it's so important.
00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:34.639
And I found that a lot of the things that I do as part of these goals that a lot of these kids are working on, because a lot of them are motor planning and bilateral coordination and sensory, um, a lot of like sensory integration and memory and sequencing, all of these things.
00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.720
I'm like, wow, this is exactly what martial arts is.
00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:41.120
Um, and so I just was like, you know what?
00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.279
Like, I think this is something.
00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:50.000
Like, I think that this can be an offered uh program to someone.
00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.079
So I was like, there's no way I could do that.
00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:56.879
And thankfully, uh, like I said earlier, I work at uh Coloran Lakes, Taekwondo.
00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.680
And I went to them and they're an amazing set of people.
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It's a little family, and they've been around for 17 years, and they have known me since I was a child.
00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.079
And I went to them and I said, look, I have this idea.
00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.560
Um, I would love to try it out.
00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:21.439
And I pitched to them the idea of having a small group class with about six to seven kids in it that would be primarily for neurodivergent children.
00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:44.320
So it would be something that they can come to, be to have likewise peers and form a community while working on these uh these goals that are set for them within therapies in a fun and uh almost like undistinguishable way of working on these things within a fun sport.
00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:46.320
And I was like, is this something I can try?
00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:50.720
And they less their hearts to like, yeah, we will help you get this going.
00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:59.519
And they they provided me so much um capital and just they really poured their love into it because they also love this community.
00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:16.960
And this is something that uh we have, you know, always thought of as that martial arts is so great for children that are neurodivergent or people that are neurodivergent because it offers these different uh things that they're looking for and improves upon them in that group setting, which is so, so amazing.
00:09:17.120 --> 00:10:09.279
And we got it going and it has just it is just flourished, and I couldn't be ever more proud of not only the students that are in there, but the families and the instructors that I've trained over the years, and it's allowed me to um partner with one of the owners, um, where we've created Neuro Ninjas, which is a LLC that we are working to form or is formed, um, but it is to spread awareness and um education and curriculum to other martial arts schools, as well as other therapists or PE teachers or homeschool that are looking for some kind of like movement-based curriculum that challenges uh these motor planning, these sequencing, these, you know, sensory integration skills and mind setting of an occupational therapy or even a little bit of PT.
00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:20.879
Obviously, I'm not qualified for that regards, but you know, it takes these goals that they're working on and reinforces them in a fun setting that, you know, is like, let's do our, let's move our bodies and then do front kicks.
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.120
I mean, what kid doesn't want to go and kick something?
00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:23.600
Right.
00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:33.679
So it takes these super fun aspects of movement and encourages them because it produces not only confidence, but it also just builds self-esteem.
00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:45.679
And we've seen that our our kiddos that are in it, they've gone from, you know, not wanting to maybe pick their foot off the ground because we have a little bit of uh insecurity with leaving the floor to jumping up and climbing on things.
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And these are things that they never would have done had they not have started this.
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And it's only because they've been able to work on these skills in a safe environment that we've created in order to feel like they can learn and they can do these things without being rushed or forced to do it because they're working side by side, but none of them are held to this, like, well, so-and-so is moving this fast, and we've got to keep up with the team because it's still individualized.
00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:14.240
Um, and so it's an awesome thing to experience and watch.
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And as I've grown the business of NeuroNinjas in the um side, I've just gotten so much love and support from our NeuroNinja parents and families, and they have uh a lot of the curriculum that I've developed um over time with my partner, he we've gathered from direct feedback from our parents and our kiddos that are in our system right now.
00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:44.159
Um, and so it's finely tailored to create the most uh to see the most results while also having the most fun.
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And we try to incorporate and always think of new ways to build our ever-growing system because ideally we want to continue this for the long run.
00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:55.759
So we're always thinking of drills every week.
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We meet and we're talking about it.
00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:58.879
We have expanded our classes.
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It started from just one class a week on a Monday.
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We now have um their own ninja classes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then two on Saturday, growing into schools, even.
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I've gone into multiple schools within Leon County, and I go in and teach their ESC classes, working hand in hand with communities that are growing in Tallahassee and just building overall awareness and support for the idea that movement is for everybody and that everybody may kick a little different, but we can all kick.
00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:45.600
Um, and that's something that you know you should embrace no matter how you feel or um what the diagnoses may be, and that you don't have to do a typical sport to still get that, you know, close-knit community that you might build in sports.
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I mean, a lot of my connections that I've built have been from competitive sports.
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So I understand just how important it may be for a family to want their child to be in some kind of activity, but feel like they can't.
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Movement can be the cure for a lot of things.
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Even as we grow older, we notice that the biggest thing that we're told by our, you know, primaries and our doctors is, oh, you have to keep moving.
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And if movement isn't encouraged at this young age through sports or fun things like playing on the playground, because of little insecurities, oh, what my kid can't, you know, experience the same things that these neurotypical children can.
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I wanted to make sure that everyone knew that there is a place for your child and we can do these things.
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I'm just so incredibly um proud of the business that I've grown with my partner.
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And it started all from occupational therapy.
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Occupational therapy is a therapy setting in which people work to grow and um hone in on skills.
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Most of the time, you might see it in pediatrics as we work to develop different uh grip strengths and motor skills that may be not forming typically.
00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:54.639
Um, a lot of times you also see it in stroke patients.
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They have a stroke.
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We have to get back to our normal day-to-day.
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So, whereas PT steps in to build muscle, OT steps in to say, how can we continue your life without taking away the aspects because of whatever you are currently dealing with?
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So it's a very creative form of therapy that works to improve a holistic approach to the whole body and build it to the best of their ability without impeding on day-to-day schedules.
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:42.799
And so I think with all of that in mind, that's why Neuro Ninjas has been such a big thing for me, is because I'm taking my holistic approach, which is martial arts in movement and therapy, and putting it into a program that provides movement for all and hopefully they can feel confidence grow in their abilities, not limited as they go throughout this program.
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Um, I hope that you guys enjoyed and I appreciate you so much for letting me be here and take up a little bit of your time and um talk about my program.
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And I'm just super, super thankful to Infinite Um Spectrum Foundation for having me here.
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And um, you can find us at NeuroNinja on Facebook or on Instagram at neuro.ninja.ma.
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Um, I will also make sure to say that you can also check us out at Clorin Likes Taekwondo on Facebook.
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Um, we just post a lot of our stuff there as well, as that's where our main hub is.
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Um, so if you guys would like to support, you can go check those out.
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And I thank you so much for listening.
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Have a great rest of your day.
