Sport has always played an important part in the development of young people and personal well-being of their parents in Mallorca for decades - just look at the world leading athletes the island has produced - and now the martial art of Taekwon-Do ITF is enjoying a surge in popularity, especially for the very young.
Fabricio Pastrana, the director of the Balearic School of Taekwon-Do ITF, explained to the Bulletin this week the martial art is not only gaining in popularity but also helping young people in a wide range of areas. Primarily because of the five basic pillars to the art - courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit - which should guide all students and instructors, on and off the mat.
“Our members should amplify these five tenets of Taekwondo to ensure a safe, respectful and welcoming martial art and sport for all,” he explained. And these five foundations are helping children across the board at his two schools in Palma. This year, the Escola Balear de Taekwon-Do ITF is strengthening its specific training programme for athletes aged three to five.
With three courses already under its belt in this age group, the aim will be to continue integrating all types of people into the practice of sport, improve the motor skills and psychosocial abilities of the students and introduce them to the keys to this discipline. In addition, thanks to the great complement that sport and Taekwon-Do ITF provide to other aspects of daily life, these dynamics are helping to identify specific needs and functional diversity habits in families, improving their quality of life.
Taekwon-Do, and martial arts in general, are a most beneficial tool for the equal inclusion of all types of practitioners in sport. Working with children of this age provides important support for their educational, mental and physical development, promotes the detection of possible challenges in behaviour regulation, and accompanies families in the search for solutions for a better quality of life.
The Balearic Taekwon-Do ITF School has more than 60 students aged three to five who follow this specific programme.
Promote health benefits
Professional fighter and martial artist Conor McGregor has first-hand knowledge of and endorses these types of methods, which promote health benefits for children and their families. The world-famous Irish athlete has visited the Balearic club on a number of occasions to learn more about these programmes, has practiced with his family and has encouraged students to continue with these types of techniques.
More than proven, with the work on the tatami, there are improvements in motor skills, movement control, coordination, but also inclusion in cases of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder. “We have several cases of families with these dynamics, and integration is complete thanks to Taekwondo and the discipline and work protocols that this practice provides.
“With specific training in these age groups, from three to five years old, there are many advances that are detected and evolve positively to then face stages of childhood, adolescence and youth with much more confidence and fulfilment,” said Fabricio Pastrana, director of the Balearic School of Taekwon-Do ITF.
The school for 3- to 5-year-olds also participates in exhibition events, improves in the climbing of levels within this martial art and prepares for future competitions that may arise, representing the club, the city and the community in the official calendar of events. Fabricio, originally from Buenos Aires and who has more than 40 years of experience under his black belt, said that his schools now have three generations of family members practising the martial art.
“The parents or grandparents have originally come with the kids and they too are now active members of the club. Apart from the martial art side, it’s also very social. Everyone gets to know each other and many have become close family friends. So there is a social overspill if you like. What parents and their children learn from the martial art is taken out into society and the family environment and that helps to create and more positive and grounded environment.
“It’s much more than a sport, it’s a religion, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a culture - a way of learning. Over the years the martial art has advanced a great deal thanks to sports science and the experience of instructors like myself. We can adapt training routines and exercises to each individual, the perfect example is children who may be struggling with Autism or are hyperactive. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to adapt training sessions for them and we are seeing the benefits in various ways,” he explained.
“And it’s a multinational club. We have members from all nationalities and with the common denominator being that the official language of Taekwon-Do ITF is Korean, there are no language barriers,” he said. “Apart from the groups for three to five-year-olds, we have six to nine and then the teenagers. Our oldest member is aged 75 and the majority of the adults are in their 50s; we cater specifically for each age group.
Grounded human being
“For example, when it comes to the youngest, it’s more about balance, communication, socialising - everything a child of this age needs to develop and grow as a grounded human being. Obviously, as they grow older they move into different stages. In the six to nine age group, the social sides of things change. We do more collaborative work, team work and exercises, teach them more of the culture of the martial art because they are more receptive at this age.
“Then we have the teenage group and that is when we start focusing more of strength and resistance because their muscles have developed and grown more. One has to take into account that the bones grow faster than muscle and we adapt our training around that as well so that the student gets the maximum benefit out of the training and also reduce the risk of injury. As I said, thanks to the development of sport science and greater knowledge in general, injuries are very rare.
"When it comes to older members who may have suffered a sports injury at some point in their lives or simply want to get in shape and fit, we will work with them and their needs. It can be very individual,” Fabricio who took up Taekwon-Do at the age of eight said. “The Taekwon-Do community in Mallorca and across the Balearics has grown very quickly and in May we are organising the first Balearic tournament with some 180 people taking part. And we aim to eventually hold two a year with clubs from the mainland and overseas competing as well,” he said.