Our therapy is evidence-based and backed by leading pediatric hospitals.
In our Heroes Circle Pediatric Healing Program, we use martial arts therapeutic techniques to help children, teens and young adults cope with difficult situations associated with chronic health conditions such as cancer, sickle cell, hemophilia, heart disease, and chronic GI disease, organ transplant and other pediatric illnesses.
Pediatric patients often find diagnostic tools frightening and painful. Treatments, including chemotherapies, surgeries, blood transfusions and radiation, may leave these children feeling fatigued, nauseous and depressed. The message they receive is that they are weak, passive, and without control over their own existence.
Our unique non-contact, martial arts approach blends together the elements of imagery, empowerment, relaxation, and movement to equip students with the tools necessary to overcome pain and self-regulate during moments of extreme stress.
In several studies, our methodology has been proven to reduce pain and distress among children with chronic health conditions, as well as their otherwise healthy siblings. Our reputation as a standard of pediatric care is evidenced and widely sought by doctors, nurses, psychosocial clinicians and parents.
Research, Grants & Case Studies
Meditation reduces brain activity in the defaultmode network in children with active cancer and survivors
Mounting evidence demonstrates that meditation can lower pain and emotional distress in adults, and more recently, in children. Children may benefit from meditation given its … Continued
Martial arts based meditative techniques reduce pain and emotional distress
Research shows that meditative techniques are effective for reducing pain and emotional distress in adults and more recently in children. However, compliance to meditation and … Continued
Martial Arts-Based Therapy Reduces Pain and Distress Among Children with Chronic Health Conditions and Their Siblings
This study surveyed children’s pain and distress levels immediately before and after a 1-hr in-person KKC class. Results found that Kids Kicking Cancer’s martial arts-based … Continued
Understanding the Psychological Effects of Childhood Cancer
Many forms of childhood cancers have gone from being a death sentence to a curable disease. Thanks to advances in treatments, the overall survival rate … Continued
Martial arts intervention decreases pain scores in children with malignancy
Martial arts intervention in disease has been mostly limited to adult inflammatory, musculoskeletal, or motor diseases, where a mechanical intervention effects positive change. However, the … Continued
Our resilience-building and empowerment curricula is evidence-backed and aligns to state education standards.
90% of children will experience at least one traumatic event during their adolescence, which can lead to toxic stress. The introduction of resilience-building and empowerment programs in schools can help mitigate the effects of toxic stress and equip children to be successful in the classroom and in life.
Our Heroes Circle School Program is a unique resilience-building and empowerment program designed for elementary and middle school students.
Using the power of martial arts to teach meditative breathing, mindfulness, and movement, the program engages children’s imaginations, while teaching them how to work through overwhelming emotions and positively respond to stressful situations. This powerful method is an evolution of our work in pediatric pain management, teaching children how to self-regulate, care for others and to respect the power within themselves.
Teacher Support Materials
Our teacher support materials are designed for the educator – as they navigate shifts in the classroom, competing cultural practices and the mounting challenges faced by educators. Our goal is to provide practical, easily applied resources for the educator, while also sharing customized techniques from our evidence-based therapeutic martial arts method to help support lowering the stress and anxiety of the children in the classroom. Special thanks to The Jewish Fund and the Jamie and Denise Jacob Family Foundation for their philanthropic support to make this resource possible.
Teacher Support Materials
I Am Not My Pain PodcastÂ
I Am Not My Pain is a weekly podcast where real warriors living with pain and illness discuss their challenges and victories including treatments and coping strategies that they use to get through each day.