Martial Arts For Kids With Cancer

Children participate in a martial arts class.

It took a rabbi to create a special program for kids who have cancer. Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, who holds a black belt himself, started a program, KIDS KICKING CANCER, that teaches martial arts to children battling cancer and other shattering life events, entirely for free. Although the rabbi and the program are based in Southfield, MI, it is available nationwide.

A cancer diagnosis is not easy to hear, no matter which family member is receiving that diagnosis, but it must strike particularly hard when the one diagnosed is a child. After all, a child is so young, not yet living much of life, with so much potential and hope for the future, and all of that comes crashing down with the uncertainty about the length of that life and the seriousness of this illness.



But, nonetheless, a family summons up its courage to support their child in what becomes a battle against illness. Not only is the battle physical, aided by strong medication, surgery, radiation therapy, all of which can make a child even sicker, but it's also mental, developing that strength of will to persist throughout the many treatment regimens.

For Rabbi Goldberg, this is rather familiar territory, this diagnosis of cancer. His daughter lost her life at the age of 2 to childhood leukemia. So, he knows in his own heart what the children with a cancer diagnosis are facing.

Martial arts classes are just the right prescription to help children moving through the diagnosis and treatment experience, because they aren't just about physical strength. They have a spirituality that helps strengthen a child mentally, relieving the stress of treatment and empowering them to move forward. An additional benefit has been that children participating in these classes report less pain, providing a relief of pain beyond that provided by pain medications.

Families on an outing to Cranbrook Institute of Science.

Besides the martial arts classes, along with free uniforms, there are also a variety of other services. There is relaxation and meditation training, one-to-one support during hospitalizations and treatment, home visits, outings and family events, end of life and bereavement counseling, transportation to classes and events, community partnerships to raise resources, pain relief techniques, workshops for healthcare professionals, and referrals for other community assistance. Many of these services are provided to both the affected child and siblings. It's a total package; it's wholistic: and it's supportive at a time when the need is great.

Sensei Michael (left) and Rabbi Goldberg on a visit to London.

Thanks for information from this article by Little Things: http://www.littlethings.com/kids-kicking-cancer/; and the above link.

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