Does anyone here take any form of the martial arts such as Tae kwon Do?

[ma4PDcure]

I've had PD for the past 8 yrs and in the past 16 months I've taken up Tae Kwon Do to include full contact sparring. I am currently a brown-red belt and I am just 4 belts away from getting my black belt rank.

[Beachdog]

Kudos to you ...sounds great. I do yoga but think I need something more aerobic.

[ma4PDcure]

That's good. Do whatever you're able to and capable of doing. The martial arts is not for everyone or anyone with a disability. So far I'm still fortunate to be able to participate in TKD.

[Susie01]

I have read that people with PD benefit from martial arts. The fear I have in trying them is my balance is so bad. I know the end result would be better balance but I would feel better in a class of other folks with PD.

[Jeansm in reply to Susie01]

Look for a NIA dance class.

[Anemone]

I've just begun "chair yoga" and "tai chi." Not easy with balance problems, but that's why it's good. It isolates the problems (for me) and gets me in touch with my issues--it's a control thing. So far, I really think it's great.

[Gloria1952 in reply to Anemone]

Anemone,

I am new to this site and was glancing through some older posts. I am very interested in chair yoga and tai chi. Can you direct me to where I can get information on it? I have a very bad balance problem and would benefit from doing the exercises on a chair.

[Anemone in reply to Gloria1952]

Yoga and Tai Chi for Arthritis may be what you're looking for. If you don't find it, lemme know. Look at this site:

arthritistoday.org/fitness/...;

We have two sets of 6 moves done towards right, then left. I love this and while it looks easy, it isn't, except for one of those great days. Good luck.

[ma4PDcure]

Glad to learn of more PD people like us involved in some form of the martial arts or Yoga. I, personally, just achieved my red belt in Tae Kwon Do last week and I'm just 3 belts away from getting my black belt. I also participate in full contact sparring about twice a month and do spar with black belts leaders in our do jang( no mercy here) and don't want it either. I have moderately advance PD and do freeze a lot, become very ridged, loose my balance, experience difficulties walking, become very bradykinesic, and have fallen twice in the last 6 month due to FOG( freezing of gait). Shakiness is not a major problem for me. But these symptoms mainly occur when I'm in the "off state" which occurs about every 3 to 5 hrs or so. When I'm "on" or meds taking effect, I'm almost completely fine and hard for anyone to tell I have PD. So when I'm "on" I can easily participate inTKD without much of a problem. I think that this form of a physical workout has helped me to some positive extent. I hope that my experience with the martial arts can serve as an encouragement for others who enjoy this sport or physical challenge. I'm totally aware that this is not possible to many PD's patients but it may help for some if you truly enjoy and are contemplating tying out any form of the martial arts.

P.S.

I also have thoughts about participating in sparring tournaments/competitions and I may be able to do so, but I really need to think twice about these events because competition can be really fierce and I would really have to consider my time of eventual exhaustion which can happen after 30 sec or less once sparring starts plus not being able to take my meds every 3 to 4 hrs while waiting for my match up/sparring opponent. Let alone how to get around the nervous feeling of anticipating my actual sparring matchup and how to deal with my urge/frequent non-motor urination issues. I probably would need my urinal handy during this entire event which wouldn't be a good idea. Anyways I do love sparring and someday I may seriously consider it.

Of note, I went to support my fellow TKD colleagues at a recent TKD tournament and there was one actual sparring event involving a disabled TKD contestant who was wheelchair bound. Boy I give this person alot of credit for participating and not letting his disability prevent him from doing something that he really enjoys. Don't ask who won the competition cause I really don't know.

[jeffmayer]

I was thinking of starting Thai boxing any advice welcome as my son is a karate black belt 2nd dan

[Mogul1 in reply to jeffmayer]

I’ve been involved in yoga and tai chi and began both long before PD diagnosis about 9 years ago. The concern with balance is important and legitimate. My balance issues are more with the standing poses of yoga. At times, my tai chi seems to improve my standing poses. The key, I believe is to do standing poses against a wall for safety. This is also a great way shelve any perfectionism.

I try to manage my meds so I am “on”. If I am off, I still practice at home just doing what I can, mostly stretches and twists. I believe it helps and wish I could do it all the time with golf thrown in!