Working on self-control and emotional management through karate
The difficulty in regulating our emotions significantly impacts our ability to cope with daily life. Therefore, an important and vital aspect of improving people's quality of life is receiving emotional education that contributes to their holistic development as human beings.
A major challenge for people living with intellectual disabilities is learning to manage their emotions and achieve better adaptation to their social environment . Although many intervention programs exist in education and emotional regulation for people with intellectual disabilities (González et al., 2019), most do not focus on associated behavioral problems and instead rely on developing other basic techniques, which are equally necessary but do not delve into these variables, which have proven to be addressable in therapy with significant room for improvement.
At the San Juan de Dios Center in Ciempozuelos , we have begun implementing a series of interventions aimed at improving the ability of people with intellectual disabilities to regulate their emotions. We strive to approach emotional work and management from a novel perspective , focusing on the pragmatic and symbolic, and using martial arts as a tool to develop this skill. This is how the San Cobra Kai program emerged in 2020, designed for the people with intellectual disabilities and behavioral disorders whom we serve.
From the dojo to real life
Martial arts are closely linked to philosophical systems and codes of conduct that establish behavioral guidelines for those who practice them. Far from encouraging aggressive behavior, their correct and structured application, including components such as meditation, can promote respectful behavior, boundary setting, self-control, and emotional regulation, resulting in more adaptive behavior (Martin, 2006).
The San Cobra Kai program , which began with a total of eleven users, is aimed at enabling people with intellectual disabilities and behavioral problems to develop self-control strategies and the acceptance of limits through the practice and learning of martial arts, generalizing the learning to their interpersonal relationships in daily life.
Martial arts can promote respectful behavior, boundary setting, self-control, and emotional regulation.
This program was designed as a study to compare the levels of aggression (towards oneself or others) of eleven individuals after nine months of training. The program consists of two main modules: one focused on debate and participation, in which, using the Cobra Kai series as a guide, participants address topics related to conflict resolution, assertiveness, and sexism ; and a second module centered on karate practice under the guidance of support staff, emphasizing not only physical exercise but also the transmission of the martial art's values and philosophy .
After nine months of training, the San Cobra Kai program significantly reduced aggressive behaviors among the participants , demonstrating how it is possible to innovate and implement new ways of connecting with others, learning to manage our emotions, and developing a positive value system.
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