Corona taekwondo studio trains special-needs youths

A new taekwondo program for children with special needs launched this year at the Action Martial Arts studio in Corona.

Children with Down syndrome, autism, and other developmental or physical disabilities are part of a weekly program that instructor Joshua Rigg said aims to train young students to move into the regular and upper-level classes.

A special education teacher in the Corona-Norco Unified School District approached Rigg with the idea. The group began in January and Rigg said several students have shown “immense” progress and moved into the upper-level martial arts classes.

Studies show that martial arts has helped children with physical or mental disabilities to focus, learn discipline and confidence, and is an effective therapeutic activity. Children on the autism spectrum, for instance, stay with taekwondo training, Rigg said.

“I’ve had many students who have had ADD, ADHD, Down syndrome … these classes help propel them forward,” Rigg said. “…It’s different for every student. With any kind of disability, things like focus and discipline become a little bit harder. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking (they) can’t be at all disciplined. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”

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