Has Shou' Shu' Helped Youor Someone You Know?

Over the years there have been many incredible stories of how studying Shou' Shu'has helped people. I've seen many myself and heard of many more. Incredible life changing stories.

That's one of the major reasons we started the ISSA and the Sheng Chi Foundation. Shou' Shu' has so much potential to benefit so many.

We've done a great deal of research as to why but there is so much more to be done.

If your not familiar with some of the reason as to why here's a quick synopsis:

At-risk youth:

Shou' Shu' draws them in with it's power and strength. It has a major cool factor so they want to learn it. They are then exposed to a very positive peer group. This peer group in many ways simulates the same things that the gangs have to offer. However with one critical difference. It's a positive well meaning experience. As these kids work out side by side with regular people of all trades they find that they are not different from them and very quickly fit in with this positive peer group.

Physical rehabilitation such as injuries from car wrecks and even some degenerative diseases such as MS:

Natural body motion with a great deal of body awareness development. Couple this with the "We don't take any excuses" attitude and you have a recipe for rehabilitation.

Did you know that Harvard University recently called Qigong/Tai Chi Medication in motion? This is a great step for the martial arts. (Yes, I get the humor in the fact that cultures have known this is good for you for millenia but now it's "Proven"). Here's the full article

ADD and ADHD

This has been a big category. Here at Sheng Chi we get school principles reffering ADHD kids to us all the time. We've seen incredible results and have heard of other Shou' Shu' schools having results also.

A lot of time with ADHD kids teachers try to quit them down and get them to focus. Research has shown that the harder they try the worse the ADHD gets. Brain scans have shown this to be true.

What does work with ADHD kids though is to give both sides of the brain something to work on. Basically you give the right side what it wants and it leaves the left side alone. Shou' Shu' does this. Especially when teaching by the numbers. Numbers are left brain, the motion is right. Both sides are happy. Through learning Shou' Shu' the ADHD child is able to queit the mind and find that they really are very intelligent. Something that they may have been told otherwise.

For more info on this I recommend the research of Dr. Amen

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia

Cross lateral motions, development of proprioception, and stabilizing the eyes are incredible therapy for these issues. Modern theories on these learning problems believe that they may stem from childhood development issues. Maybe a lack of crawling or discovery is the culprit here. Regardless of what caused it modern neuro-sensory educational programs such as what is found at www.learning-aids.com stress the importance of cross lateral motions to unite the hemispheres. You would find a better cross lateral motion exercise combined with an eye stabilization exercise than a cover out.

So yes, we believe Shou' Shu' can help kids do better in school.

Aspergers

Haven't found any research to explain this one but I believe those suffering from aspergers are helped by learning body awareness and proprioception. What I have observed is that when they are taught a motion such as a cover out they tend to keep practicing it until they get it. They seem to inuitively know it is good for them.

I did speak with Dr Thompson of Mind Matters about the lack of coordination, body awareness, and proprioception in Aspergers kids. It is symptomatic and perhaps dealing with that helps.

Aspergers kids also learn a great deal of socialization in the studio. The atmosphere is highly conducive to helping them figure out intent. I've seen a very aggressive and strong aspergers teen completely lose his violent tendencies just simply by explaining and role playing the three rules of when it's right to defend yourself. Socialization is a major issue for them and we see big changes.

PTSD

I think there are numerous reasons as to why Shou' Shu' helps PTSD but one of the most important is that it helps a person get out of their mind and into their body. PTSD (along with other conditions) is associated with repeating negative mental patterns. Stopping these patterns by concentrating on body motion can be helpful.

Since fibromyalgia has been shown to be related to PTSD it also falls into this category.

So how can you help? (Hopefully you've read this far)

Because I'm looking for personal experiences of how Shou' Shu' has helped. I'm currently developing content for

www.shengchifoundation.org (That website is a wreck right now so don't go there)

When we're done with the site we'll be using it to educate people on the beneficial effects of Shou' Shu' and also raise money for those who need it.

If you have had a personal experience with this or know someone who has please email me your story. Include as much detail as possible including any theories as to why you think it worked. Even if they are just theories. And please make sure to state that you are giving me permission to reprint the story. If your concerned about your grammar or spelling just give me permission to edit also.

Your help is very appreciated on this. It's an important endeavor and the help of the Shou' Shu' community is what we need to get this moving.

Train Hard

Shun Shifu Weaver

cross posted at www.shoushu.com