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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Shou' Shu'
A few weeks back the Sheng Chi Foundation was featured on the front page of the Stockton Record.
Over the years we've seen dramatic results in anyone suffering from any type of stress disorder. Shou' shu' is truly an incredible therapy for this. Previously we hadn't really researched why it was so therapeutic but recent events have encouraged us to do so.
The article was based around the offer that the Sheng Chi Foundation made to train returning veterans at no charge at the Valley Springs Sheng Chi Training Center. We started this offer mid year at the suggestion of Tom Callos. The suggestion had been featured in WIE magazine and I happened to have a copy given to me by another Shifu.
So we fired up the program. We distributed flyers and sent out press releases. Here is a copy of the press release we sent out.
For immediate release
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In an effort to help returning soldiers more easily assimilate into society after returning from duty, the Sheng Chi Training Center is offering free martial arts training to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Classes will be offered for the remainder of the year.
"Everyone can realize tremendous benefits from martial arts training but these benefits are even more pronounced in those dealing with stress", Says Phil Weaver of the Sheng Chi Training Center. "We've seen a number of veterans drastically improve their lives through training over the years". According to Weaver there are many reasons martial arts are beneficial in the treatment of stress but the main one is the total absorption in the activity. The motions of kung fu are complex. Although they are fun to learn they completely involve the mind and the body. The student is completely involved in body awareness and focusing on the lesson. There simply is no room for stress.
Students typically leave the Quan ( Mandarin for school) feeling energized and stress free. This is a welcome mental break for anyone suffering from cyclical negative thought patterns. Simply being able to be free of those mental patterns for a while often helps in ridding oneself of those patterns. This phenomena has been noticed by martial arts teachers for years but there are no known studies.
The effort to provide training to veterans was suggested by martial artist Tom Callos. Mr. Callos has been a consultant to the martial arts industry for ten years and advocates what he calls social entrepreneurship. Essentially social entrepreneurs measure their bottom line not on profits but on their impact to their community. The Sheng Chi Training Center follows the concepts of social entrepreneurship.
The program is funded by the Sheng Chi Foundation. The Sheng Chi Foundation is a California non-profit public benefit corporation based in Valley Springs which was founded by Phil and Liz Weaver to help bring the benefits of martial arts training to those who need it most. This includes at-risk youth, veterans, and other individuals in need of physical and mental development. Information on the Sheng Chi Foundation can be found at www.shengchifoundation.com and donations can be sent to 139 Main St. Valley Springs.
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The Stockton record article can be found here
PTSD Article
and there is a great discusion on the article here
PTSD Article Discussion
I encourage you to take part in the discussion, support the effort, or otherwise spread the word in anyway possible. This is a great thing and we are proud that Shou' Shu' can contribute to promoting peace and positivity.
SSW
P.S. Also check out this hub page on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Shou' Shu'
Help us in our efforts to promote Shou' Shu'. Donate!
Being a vet myself, I encourage anything that promotes the treatment of PTSD. As many people know PTSD comes in many packages its not simply something that only a combat veteran can suffer from. Anyone who has been mugged and beatten down can develope PTSD from the violent attack. People who serve their comunity as a police officer or a fire fighter will often suffer from some sort of PTSD. Rape victoms and abused children suffer from PTSD. Its a problem that is far more wide spread than most people believe or realize.
Any form of martial arts will help a person with PTSD. Personally I feel that Shou Shu is the best for this because of the attention to detail and the power it shows you. Even if your a physically weak individual, Shou Shu shows you how to find body/bone alignment that allows you drive and strength that most people don't have. Let me rephrase that slightly...everyone has it, but the vast majority of people in this world simply don't understand how to use it.
Shou Shu gives you the confidence that you can defend yourself and protect the ones you care about. It gives you a realization that you can have solid balance and move in a manner that will prevent you from falling of getting hurt. All those things builds confidence in a person so that the fear caused by PTSD will subside and slowly shrink away. Without the fear produced by a situation that has caused PTSD, then PTSD simply loses the vast grip it has on a person and gives the person a better prespective on their lives. Lets not forget the great influence of awareness, both for the area around you and for your own body.
If a person can find a place that teaches Shou Shu in their area...thats a great thing...but if not, hey...any form of martial arts helps and is certainly worth trying out. PTSD is not something good to live with, and it can be controlled!
Train well! -JACK