Well, its official…we are Kyuki-Do students.

Geetle loves it, she is getting very good at her punches and falls.  She really wants a belt, which she could not have until we joined.   This was her idea and it was a good one.  She tries her hardest every time and always asks me “did you see me mom?  Did you see me do it?”

Pookie has been doing great.  He knows where and why we go.  He gets excited when he puts on his uniform.  BAGD gets on the mat to help.  It takes a Hand-over Hand method to help Pookie, when he needs it.  BAGD actually guides his arms/legs in the movements.  But that is only when he needs it.  Frequently, Pookie does it all by himself and BAGD stands next to him doing his own moves.  Right now, I would say we are at 30% independent Pookie,  70% HOH help from BAGD.  But that is a HUGE improvement over the first class (4 classes ago) when Pookie ran around the mat in circle, not doing a single move at all.

We are optimistic…and excited.  We really hope this is a key that helps Pookie unlock some of his hidden potential.  Already he seems to understand the focus needed for the class.  He  enjoys it and likes to practice at home.  He can do the moves, kick, punch and roll and then calm down for the stretching phase.  (kind of like running around at recess and then quieting down to pay attention in class afterwards…we hope!).  It almost makes me cry when I see him charge up the stairs to the studio, put his shoes on the rack, and race to the edge of the mat, bowing before he steps on.  I really hope this is his thing.  I hope I look back in 5 years and say “Wow.  that was really the best therapy we ever did for him.”

To show you our committment, to make you understand how much this means to us, a few facts:

BAGD and I are cheap.  Today he finally threw out a pair of underwear because he actually wore a hole in the crotch,  I said “good job getting your money’s worth.”  Then I remembered they were underwear his mom had given him because she bought them for his dad and he did not like them….4 years ago  We high fived on that one.  Wearing out free underwear is even better than wearing out underwear you paid for.

Kyuki-Do costs a lot of money.  $190 sign up fee, $1400 tuition, $290 equipment fee, $100 every time the kids test for a belt, $80 to join the Association.   This will take the kids until they get their green stripe belt, which should take between 9 and 18 months.   Belt progression is based on students doing THEIR best, not THE best, so with practice, they will both progress and earn belts.  They are throwing in a free uniform for BAGD to wear when he helps on the mat.   That is a HUGE expentidture for us.  HUGE.  With the price of gas and groceries right now, I would not spend that amount of money on anything else.  We have not run our air conditioner yet this summer, because we are trying to save money.  I refuse to buy more oatmeal until someone eats the “bad” flavors left in the box.   Yet we are signing up for Kyuki-Do.

BAGD and I don’t really chase after autism cures or treatments, other than those from a purely educational perspective.  Pookie is who he is and we will always love him.  We are not trying to change him, to fix him.  But we do want to give him all the tools he needs to succeed.  This is as close as we have ever come to paying for something we think will “help” with his autism.   But thats because this is not a pill or mud bath or oxygen treatment.  This is something that will teach Pookie ways to focus his mind and body, give him opportunities to follow directions, show him the benefit of practice and discipline, allow him to practice a solo craft but with the input of others.  We hope this will help him learn to manage himself, work with his skills and be confident.   Sometims he skirts by on the edge of life, not really getting involved, just being near the activity, but not in it.  I want him to be in it.  I want him to do this with a purpose, an interest and a desire.

I hope that in 1 year, 2 years, 5 years I can link back to this post and show you that it worked.