The project was proposing a range of innovative techniques to stimulate and facilitate the implementation of martial arts as a rehabilitation technique. Our project aimed to use centuries old wisdom with modern 21st century education techniques to train CP (Cerebral Palsy) affected people so that they can be in control of their bodies, thereby better controlling their pain and their emotional and physical difficulties. The project also wanted to contribute with its outcomes to further vocational training (aligned to EQF level 4) for professionals, trainers, teachers and experts in the field of rehabilitation, sport and disability. The project aimed to formalise this via a handbook and an ECVET compliant training course (PR1) towards martial arts and the different intervention modalities required to apply them in rehabilitation. It was envisaged that dedicated videos (PR2) would be able to capture such rehabilitation exercises through martial arts, and that these would be embedded in online and mobile applications (Android, iOS) to support learning anywhere anytime.
Martial arts have a rich history, dating back many thousands of years ago. The arts developed not only in the eastern, but also in all parts of the world, with references of these types of combats arts in the writings of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. In modern times, the combat arts are performed for both exercise and sport. The health benefits associated with martial arts include strengthening and self-efficacy of the elderly, reduced falls, increased exercise capacity, and benefits to the immune system and autonomic nervous system. They are also an opportunity for comprehensive rehabilitation. A sport training has primarily a curative, preventive and psychological function. Practising combat sports and strength sports gives people with disabilities the opportunity to be more self-sufficient, assertive and financially independent. Their self-esteem improves due to the sport, they feel more important and needed, but it also may have an effect on their rehabilitation. Martial arts are as a physical and meditative discipline also available as complementary strategies able to improve functional capacity, physical performances, postural control of patients suffering from chronical diseases.