How Martial Arts Helped Coach And Boxer Kirstie Gannaway Manage ADHD

Fit Instructor and professional boxer Kirstie Gannaway found boxing as a teen and embarked on a journey that transformed her tremendously. 

Kirstie has told the story many times that she was overweight as a youth, and that it was boxing that helped her get in shape. 

However, did you know that martial arts and fitness also helped her manage ADHD?

ADHD, known as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. (Institute of Mental Health).

Inattention means a person wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus, and is disorganized. 

These problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension.

Hyperactivity means a person seems to move about constantly, including in situations in which it is not appropriate or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks.
In adults, it may be extreme restlessness or wearing others out with constant activity.

Impulsivity means a person makes hasty actions that occur in the moment without first thinking about them and that may have a high potential for harm, or a desire for immediate rewards or inability to delay gratification. 

An impulsive person may be socially intrusive and excessively interrupt others or make important decisions without considering the long-term consequences.

It commonly affects children and teenagers, but it can also continue into adulthood.

Though everyone is different, Kirstie has personally found that both diet and exercise are the two factors that influenced the way she managed ADHD. “I believe that diet goes a long way,” she shares, “I am not a doctor or scientist, but I have found that it does affect my mood and behavioural patterns.” 

It is no wonder Kirstie also enjoys eating well, and cooking nutritious and wholesome food for herself!

Allowing exercise to be her outlet also helped her to manage her energy. “When you have ADHD, you have so much energy, and when you don’t direct this energy somewhere, you end up acting on impulsive ideas and often get into trouble with it.”

“Training in martial arts has helped so much. Not only does it give me an outlet for my energy, but it also helps me get creative. Martial arts provides a great mix of mental and physical exercise. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, in particular, requires you to be switched on mentally, in order to progress.”

Having grown up in a family that suffers from ADHD, Kirstie has also learned to identify the traits of such a condition in other children, and this has allowed her to bring an added value to coaching young ones. “There is a difference between being hyperactive, and having ADHD,” she says, “And sometimes it is difficult to identify this when you don’t go through it yourself. Being a parent must be the hardest job in the world, because you can’t practice for that role.”

Because of her personal experience with the condition, Kirstie was able to get through to a young student who had been struggling to stay attentive in class. After repeated times calling him to sit out, Kirstie began to slow down her thoughts and approach the boy in a different way.

“I asked him what was wrong and if he didn’t want to be at class. He responded, “But I want to be here.” I then reasoned with him to try and behave in a way that was enjoyable for everyone, including himself, and helped him to see that no one was happy when he was being punished." From then on, the boy’s behaviour changed drastically as he did his level best to contribute to the class in a positive way. 

"It was a learning situation for both of us,” Kirstie recalls, "All I did was be honest with him. I didn’t treat him like a baby, or discipline him without rationale. Instead, I spoke to him like I would to an adult. I didn’t know I could do that.”
As our society becomes exposed to more awareness on mental health issues, this calls for us to have the right attitude when spending time with people who are different from us, whom we might have trouble understanding or relating to.

“Keeping an open mind is important,” advises Kirstie, “Deal with every situation with humility and patience, especially with kids. If someone is being problematic, it can be as simple as sitting them down and asking, “Why are you behaving like this?” Kids are able to understand you far more than you can imagine. I used to underestimate them a lot, until I realised how smart and capable they really are.”

Whether ADHD, any mental condition, or none, we believe this is a great approach to take on every person you meet along the way!

Source: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)