Making great strides

          Web Posted: 09/12/2006 04:53 PM CDT

Sylvia Rindfleisch gets a bit emotional when she thinks about her son just a few years ago.

"I was so worried for my son," she said. "The doctors said his scoliosis was so bad that he was

going to have to have corrective surgery. At one point they said his spine was at a 45-degree angle.

"No mother wants to see her children have any kind of surgery." This worried mother had concerns for

her son from the time he was a toddler, but now rejoices in the man he has become.

Her son, 23-year-old Thomas "Tommy" Rindfleisch, was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger Syndrome, severe scoliosis and a heart murmur. In addition to his physical disabilities, Tommy has behavioral and developmental issues that come from Asperger's, his parents said.

However, a marked difference in both his physical and mental capabilities came after his parents enrolled

him in tae kwon do, a Korean martial arts discipline. Every time he saw an advertisement on television or in the newspaper, he would plead with his parents to enroll him in classes.

 It wasn't until Choi's Tae Kwon Do Karate & Judo Academy opened just a few blocks from their home that his parents relented and enrolled him. Sylvia and her husband, Jon Rindfleisch, said since that day, their son has never been the same.

Tommy Rindfleisch executes a kick during Tae Kwon Do class.

   In fact, after just a few years in the sport, Tommy has achieved black belt-recommended status

and will be testing for his first-degree black belt next month.

"Tae kwon do has been a godsend for Tommy," his father said. "He has lost weight and strengthened his muscles incredibly. He now stands straighter and his scoliosis has not worsened at all. You can see the difference in his spine just by looking at him. But he is also proud of himself and what he has done. He has a sense of confidence he didn't have before. Tae kwon do has been therapy for him in more ways than one." Tommy no longer needs the surgery that worried his mother so much.

"The doctors are so thrilled with his progress and said this is proof how much physical exercise can help our bodies," Sylvia said.  "Also, they say his heart murmur is all but gone. Right before he started classes, the doctor said he could hear the murmur loud and clear, but now he says he can hardly hear it at all because Tommy's heart is so much stronger."

In addition to the physical progress the dark-haired young man has made, he has also improved his communication and interpersonal skills.

 As with other forms of autism, those with Asperger's have delayed development, learning disabilities, difficulty communicating and behavioral outbursts, Sylvia and Jon said, adding that Tommy's outbursts from frustration are rare now that he has been in tae kwon do.

"Tae kwon do teaches patience, respect and control," said Paul McCollum, academy owner and head instructor. "Tommy has learned to control his emotions and actions and become very respectful of his family and others. He can now emotionally cope and be in normal social situations. He really has an indelible spirit that drives him forward."

Tommy showed his polite manners on a recent evening after one of his thrice-weekly classes. Every question or comment addressed to him was answered with a "yes, ma'am" or "no, sir."

His grueling 1-Hour class challenged him to stretch, kick, punch, block and concentrate on his body's movements.

The large white room with a rubber floor has American and Korean flags hanging above the large mirror that covers one wall. The students stand silent and still as they await McCollum's instructions. With a loud yell, McCollum starts counting in Korean and leads the students in a series of moves called forms.

Tommy's face is etched with concentration as he obediently follows every move McCollum orders with fierce intensity.

Tommy knows every form in tae kwon do. In fact, before he was even an orange belt, he had memorized every form there is — all 30 of them. He also memorized the history, oath, creed and tenets of tae kwon do, something most of his peers haven't done. Tommy was wearing a white shirt and pants with red trim, and his embroidered black belt stood out as one of only two in the 11-member class.

"I want to be a ninth-degree black belt," Tommy said. "Tae kwon do has helped me with my back. I feel better and it is fun."

Tommy, who has a quick sense of humor, loves the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and "Star Wars." The 2003 Taft High School graduate works three days a week as a bagger at H-E-B. He said he likes to practice his moves at home, especially one that has proved difficult for him. "The roundhouse kick is hard because of balance. I used to be afraid I would fall, but not anymore," he said.

Amanda Reimherr
Express-News Staff Writer

areimherr@express-news.net