It's World Autism Awareness Day.

To raise awareness and provide support for anyone on the autism spectrum, it is Onesie Wednesday.

The point being to wear pyjama's or a onesie during your normal day.

Now I sadly don't own a onesie but hold out hope for the spiderman one I've seen; I also sleep in the buff and don't want to shock the neighbours (that's happened in the past) or get arrested when running down the canal today.

However, I do want to raise awareness of the autism spectrum.

Fran and I watched a fantastic programme on BBC2 last night - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0404861/Horizon_20132014_Living_with_Autism/

It highlighted the fact that we all have autistic traits it's just some have more than others and also some affect our daily lives more than others.

I have some amazing kung fu students who have been diagnosed as being at a point on the spectrum that affects their lives to varying degrees.

They having supportive parents and in most cases teachers at their schools and are quite literally flying through life.

They are great kids to be around, although challenging to teach at times but having them in my class means that I have to up my game and make sure that I'm being clear and consistent in my methods and message. 

My black belt students who are training to be assistant instructors have learnt so much about themselves by teaching and spending time developing these students.

Martial arts training is having a positive affect on them and they will go on to become black belts, a day that I'm really looking forward too.  

Watching the programme last night, helped me to understand a little more about the struggles they have and will help me to up my game again as an instructor.

Having attention and concentration 'issues' myself, I got punished a lot as a young martial artist for not conforming to the "rules". I was deemed to be a rebel and an attitude problem at times.  It led me to be frustrated and leave the style I originally trained in.

Thankfully I found Shaolin Freestyle at a point I needed it and my brilliant Sifu's Dave and Asa both taught in a different way.  For that I thank them, they inadvertently changed the route I was heading in my life and I will be eternally grateful for that.

To read more about World Autism Awareness Day go to - http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money/onesie-wednesday/what-is-onesie-wednesday.aspx

Darren 'concentration' Checkley