Charles Smith and Associates LLC

The purpose of Therapeutic Martial Arts (TMA) is to help people integrate the physical, emotional, spiritual, relationship, and intellectual aspects of health as part of the healing and well-being process.  Achieving optimal health requires balanced attention to all aspects of health. TMA provides a pathway to achieving balance by incorporating body, mind, spirit, and relationship work into an integrative group learning experience.

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Participants engage in nine types of exercises during TMA training sessions- Meditation, Mindfulness Prompts, Breathing, Integrated Breathing and Movement, Balance Training, Flexibility and Strength Training, Endurance Training, Partner Exercises, and Homework Exercises. Specific exercises are tailored to the abilities and needs of the participants.

Therapeutic Martial Arts focuses on six goal areas.  Within each goal area are specific objectives and outcomes that participants can expect to achieve through focused attention and training. These goals and objectives are:

 

• Focus and Executive Functioning (cognitive)- Increased Mindfulness; Enhanced Mental Concentration; Increased Ability to Set & Meet Goals; Develop Mental Focus; Improved Attention

• Self-regulation- Improved Emotion management; Breathing Control; Build Self Discipline; Reduced aggression- Physical and Verbal

• Stress Level- Reduced Stress; Improved Stress Management Skills

• Emotional and Mental Well-Being- Reduced Anxiety; Reduced Depression; Enhanced Self-Esteem; Build Confidence; Strengthened Emotional Stability

• Physical- Improved Balance; Improved Coordination; Expanded Range of Motion; Increased Energy Level; Increased Strength; Improved Sleep

• Relationships- Build Confidence; Enhanced Pro-Social Behavior; Enhanced Mature Coping Skills; Building Good Relationships with Others; Increased Social Connections; Improved Communication with Others

TMA is a progressive three level design.  The first level focuses on physical applications.  The second level focuses on mental and physical integration.  The third level focuses on spiritual, mental, and physical integration.  Each level provides participants with greater depth and breadth of concepts and strategies in each goal area.