Improved focus/concentration

[sky]

Im considering to take up a form of sport in kyuksuhin.

Generally speaking, does training in kyukushin helps improves your focus over time? particularly if you suffer adhd.

my mind tender to wander sometime and i would like to improve my focus to concentrate on one thing at a time, in particular just more positive thoughts.

[seienchin]

Hello Sky - welcome to the forum. Why don't you start a thread about yourself in the introductions forum (http://www.kyokushin4life.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=122) - that way we can give you a proper K4L welcome.

In regard to concentration and Kyokushin - it really depends on how hard you train and what the emphasis of the training is. The methods applied by an instructor might help with issues of focus and concentration, but there is no absolute guarantee in my opinion.

I'd suggest find a school and give it a go.
OSU-EN2

[sandman]

I concur with Seienchin - it definitely COULD help, but just signing up and joining a class is no guarantee that your focus will magically improve. It will take conscious and focused work in that area to make an improvement. Give it a shot and find out!

[Dent]

Osu!

As someone who is terribly biased, I'd also add that Karate is not only a sport. And this is where I think that the majority of the focus-based benefits lie.

Osu!

[FredInChina]

(...) Karate is not only a sport. And this is where I think that the majority of the focus-based benefits lie.
Osu Sensei, would you mind expanding on that thought a little bit? :)

osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

Osu Sensei, would you mind expanding on that thought a little bit? :)

Sure, Fred.

Sports have rules and structure that are generally easy to follow, and available to groups of individuals to engage in play activities. The most popular sports are fairly simple and easily accessible.

While Karate does have a simple and accessible portion to it, there are several other elements that don't include competition other than with oneself. Esoteric practice of meditation, slow repetition of low percentage techniques or even comprehensive moves with alternative meanings may all be present in visualization, grooving a swing and interpretive dance respectively, but they are on the surface. Ideally, our dedicated practice will be more about asking ourselves questions through the medium of Karate.

What am I doing? Why am I doing it? Why am I here? What is my purpose? Who am I?

Maybe a bit deep for a Monday, but what is time anyway? ;)

Osu!

[supergroup7]

Hello and welcome Sky,

I would offer that any activity that exercises your mind, and forces you to focus on a task with concentration would help your ADHD, even something as simple as playing chess could help.

Kyokushin Karate training does challenge the mind ( if the person training chooses to walk that path ) Meditation only helps if you meditate, if you chose to use that time to do other things then you will not get the benefits of that activity.

Inattention in Karate training will provide you with the incentive of pain, you will miss your block, and the oncoming strike will hit. Suddenly you will quickly realize that you should pay more attention. I still remember one child who would stand daydreaming during one step instead of focusing on defense. On command his partner would come forwards, and "smack".. connection would occur. I think that it took that boy a good amount of time before he became aware that he should notice the oncoming attack, and defend, even with the support, guidance, and correction of his seniors, but he finally realized that it hurt less to react, and move.

[FredInChina]

(...) dedicated practice will be more about asking ourselves questions through the medium of Karate.

What am I doing? Why am I doing it? Why am I here? What is my purpose? Who am I? (...)

osu Sensei,


Thank you.
I now feel the urge to ask you to please expand again... :D


Osu!


(...) something as simple as playing chess (...)
Hummmmmmm, you have my attention SG7... :)


:D

Osu!

[sandman]

Hello and welcome Sky,

I would offer that any activity that exercises your mind, and forces you to focus on a task with concentration would help your ADHD, even something as simple as playing chess could help.



osu Sensei,

Hummmmmmm, you have my attention SG7... :)




I agree with Supergroup7. I do believe that for the reasons that Dent describes, martial arts training lends itself well to "focused attention to improving focus." But I don't think we have a lock in that area. Any activity that requires focus and concentration can be used effectively as a medium to helping one improve focus.

I talked a little bit about this in another thread about Larry Bird. We don't normally think about the sport of basketball having any "meditative" opportunities, but Bird believed differently. He used to sit and practice his concentration - he had exercises where he'd just sit and try to visualize in his mind his neighborhood in as much detail as he possibly could. In his mind he'd walk the neighborhood and see everything from the houses and trees to the individual blades of grass. I don't know if that really helped his basketball skills, but he believed it did. And of course he practiced more obvious visualization techniques, such as just imagining himself taking a shot, the sight of the ball swishing through the net, the sound of the crowd, the smell and feel of all the sweaty 6'10 men crowding him in the lane, etc... He also talked a lot about getting into the "zone" - sort of a zen-like state, where he wasn't thinking about what he wanted to do, just letting his body react and go where it needed to go. He said when he got in the zone, those were his best performances.

So I think just about any sport could be used as a medium for this type of thing. But you can't just sign up and arrive to the dojo and expect the concentration to improve just because you are going through the steps. It takes a conscious effort to improve focus to be able to improve that focus. The chosen activity is just a vehicle to help you get there.