Martial arts and autism: How taekwondo classes helped Sean, 12, find his feet

Training in taekwondo, a martial art involving punching and kicking techniques, can have a positive impact on children with autism, experts and parents say.

Training in taekwondo is said to have many physical and mental health benefits. Credit: Joon No's Taekwondo/SBS Korean

Key Points

• Sean Kim, who is living with autism, says taekwondo has helped him in many ways.
• Australia has one of the highest estimated prevalence rates of autism in the world.
• According to experts in child psychiatry and education, taekwondo can assist children with socialisation and physical balance.

Sean Kim, aged 12, is a black belt in taekwondo who also teaches the martial art to his peers.

Obtaining a black belt generally takes years of training multiple times a week and signifies that a student has mastered the fundamental bases of the art.

According to his dad, Sean's leadership skills developed in line with his growing self-confidence.

"He used to trip over himself when walking down the street and couldn't take things when handed to him," Mark Kim told SBS Korean.

But learning taekwondo made a noticeable difference.

Mark Kim

Sean was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the age of five.

According to experts in child psychiatry and special education, taekwondo can play a positive role in aiding socialisation and physical balance for children with ASD.

"I'm very happy that I can do a lot of things after learning taekwondo that I couldn't do before," Sean said.

Sean Kim and his father, Mark Kim. Credit: SBS Korean

The autism spectrum in Australia

ASD has seen a marked increase in prevalence worldwide over the past decade.

According to a paper by Dr Maathumai Ranjan of the Australian National University, Australia has some of the highest autism prevalence estimates in the world - and it’s growing faster than the global average.

As highlighted in this paper, national data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics Disability, Ageing and Carers Survey estimated the prevalence of ASD at 83 in 10,000 in 2018 - almost three times higher than the 2009 estimate of 30 in 10,000.

However, Australia's leading organisations in the disability field estimate that the true prevalence is likely to be higher, at 143 in 10,000 (1 in 70), based on the latest research from countries with similar economic and health profiles.

Estimates of childhood ASD prevalence are steeper in Australia than in the US, Canada and the UK.

Park Sung-Yeol, a pediatric psychiatrist, said the rise in the number of people with ASD is a phenomenon shared by most countries.

"Thirty years ago, there were only one or two people in every 10,000 with ASD, but the number has increased significantly in recent years," Dr Park explained.

"There are many reasons why the number of people with ASD is increasing, but increasing diagnosis is also playing a big role," he said, adding that environmental hormones and the rising age of marriage are other factors.

From left to right: Dr Jung Yeon-Kyung, Professor Kim Ji-tae and Dr Park Sung-Yeol. Credit: Supplied

Taekwondo and balance

ASD is a condition related to brain development that impacts a person’s physical coordination and body balance. This can lead to easy trips and frequent dropping of objects, which can in turn affect social confidence.

Taekwondo can be a great way to help with this, according to Dr Yeon-Kyung Jung, a pediatric psychiatrist.

Taekwondo is an exercise that involves a lot of balancing actions that require you to bear the weight of your entire body on one foot. And this helps people with ASD to regain their sense of balance and body control

Dr Yeon-Kyung Jung

In addition, 'poomsae' - the defined patterns of defence and attack forms used to teach taekwondo - has been found to have a positive mental impact on people by providing a sense of emotional stability through planned movements and drills, she said.

Taekwondo is an exercise that involves a lot of balancing actions. Credit: Joon No’s Taekwondo

Kim Ji-tae, a specialist in physical education and professor of physical education at Dankook University, also emphasised the 'security' offered by following instructions.

"Taekwondo helps to improve self-control through regular and repetitive movements," he said .

"The movements of taekwondo allow people with ASD to feel safe in a predictable environment, which helps them to concentrate and improve their coping skills," he said.

"Emotional regulation is essential for social development," he added, "and taekwondo has a positive impact on emotional regulation because it teaches manners."

Taekwondo instructor Bianca Jina No says taekwondo 'fosters inclusion and a sense of belonging'. Credit: SBS Korean

'A sport that fosters inclusion’

Sean, who has ASD, found it difficult to enjoy ball sports such as baseball and football due to poor dynamic visual acuity and balance issues.

Not being able to actively participate in sports with children his age also impacted Sean's personality, according to his dad.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that involves punching and kicking actions. Credit: Joon No’s Taekwondo

Mark Kim said being introduced to taekwondo at the age of 10 'transformed' his son.

"Before learning taekwondo, Sean often didn't understand instructions and wouldn't answer when called," he said.

But after learning taekwondo, he has made an amazing transformation, even saying 'I'll try' when asked to help around the household.

Mark Kim

Bianca Jina No, a long-time instructor at Joon No's Taekwondo in Melbourne, believes classes can have wide-ranging positive impacts.

"Taekwondo is a sport that fosters inclusion and a sense of belonging," she said.

“Learning the values of respect, acceptance, understanding, and learning to work together are important lessons."