I am creating a combined marketing and recruiting community for the five olympic combat sports in Kansas City called Combat Arts for Recovery:
- Judo
- Wrestling
- Taekwondo
- Boxing
- Fencing
We call this program Combat Arts for Recovery because these five sports can uniquely help people that are having emotional difficulties. Local sports clubs can join our marketing and promoting community to get help recruiting athletes via our weekly press releases, a website dedicated to the program, Facebook, Twitter, and email campaigns, weekly blog entries, and research results about program effectiveness.
To vote, go to https://www.facebook.com/USOlympicTeam. Vote once per day per email address until Sept 18.
If you have trouble voting, here are more detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips.
Corinna West competing in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics in Judo. Photo by David Howard.
Athletes will be recruited to Combat Arts for Recovery by referrals from primary care doctors. If a young person comes into a doctor’s office with emotional difficulties, instead of being prescribed psychiatric medications, they can be prescribed exercise, as has been shown to be very effective in Europe. Then participating clubs will offer scholarships to the athletes. An Olympian mentor will help keep the kids interested in coming to practice via Facebook, text messaging, phone calls, and in person meetings. Mentors will also help to work out transportational difficulties.
Once the athlete has reached his or her first skill milestone, such a yellow belt in Taekwondo or Judo, or a win by pin in wrestling, then the whole club that the athlete attends will be qualified for a clinic provided a local Olympian called, “How to make the US Olympic team.” This is a one hour presentation, workshop, and book signing for every athlete in the club. In addition, Combat Arts for Recovery will provide four scholarships to athletes in all the clubs to attend a regional or national championship in their sport. Mostly importantly, the program will provide marketing, exposure, recruting and media opportunities for all the olympic combat sports clubs and athletes in our metro area. Amplify your story!
Why Combat Arts For Recovery? What makes these sports special?
- One on one sports don’t require nearly as much interpersonal skills and negotiations as team sports.
- Combat sports teach self-defense which boosts self-confidence and may be more required in neighborhoods or families in distress.
- Combat sports are much easier for kids with different attention and focusing abilities since the sport is constant rather than intermittent like baseball outfielding or being a soccer goalie.
- Sports that require physical contact are excellent for kinesthetic learners, people who learn by doing rather than watching or listening. Often these types of learners have difficulties in school because their learning styles are not being met.
- Because combat sports are “rough” and very physical sports, they require more physical toughness and tolerance than other sports. Often kids who have been through emotional struggles and discomfort are much more resilient and determined to be able to handle physical struggles and discomfort.
- In combat sports people compete individually but require a group to train effectively so this blends the advantages of both team and individual sports.
Corinna West telling the Olympic story to athletes from Air Capital Judo Club in Wichita, KS. Photo by Kevin Dean.
Partnering Organizations for Combat Arts for Recovery (I am still working on partners)
- Missouri-Illinois Olympians
- Wellness Wordworks
- Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care
- Heartland Consumer Network
- Win for KC
- Women Talk Sports
- USA Judo
- USA Boxing
- USA Taekwondo
- USA Fencing
- USA Wrestling
Because this program is still under construction, I am looking for as much feedback as possible from coaches and athletes of these sports, parents and young people with emotional difficulties or psychiatric labels, and Olympians who may be interested in providing presentations of “How to Make the US Olympic Team.” Click here for more specific questions and feedback about program design.
