Karate helps with motor skills

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — Virtually any fan of action movies is familiar with the entertainment value of martial arts moves, but for a Vienna Township family martial arts go much further than entertainment.

In fact, the discipline is credited with physical improvements in what had been a very ill child

Nine-year-old Daniel Griffin dons his black karate uniform and makes his way to GTA Karate on West Liberty Street, Girard, several times a week. He begins the day with stretches and exercises before practicing moves associated with his “Kata” —or detailed set of movements in his course of training.

Griffin has spent the last four years practicing the martial arts. He recently reached the level of second degree black belt.

Daniel and Dolores Griffin sit proudly in the hallway of GTA Karate watching the younger Griffin practice his art through a large window.

Both parents remember a time before martial arts practice — a time when they did not expect their only child to survive.

“It was awful. I was only 28 weeks along when [Daniel] came along. When he came, our priest came to the hospital to give him his last rights and baptism,” Dolores Griffin solemnly recounted. “No one expected him to make it.”

Daniel survived the first trying months of his life and seemed to be progressing. But his parents soon realized that he was not developing certain motor skills as should be expected.

For complete story, see Monday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.