Our Story
Our organization was founded in Highlands Ranch, Colorado in 2019 to promote autism awareness and bring the benefits of martial arts to children with autism. We advocate to increase awareness of autism and other brain differences, and forge vital bridges to fuller participation of neurodiverse people in martial arts. Our unique autism awareness education and outreach programs have already reached over 8,000 people nationwide, including thousands through Special Olympics and major martial arts events.
Our main spokesperson, Tyler Weaver Jr., is a name familiar to many involved in martial arts. Trained in taekwondo since the age of 5? and competing in tournaments internationally for over 15 years, Tyler became a 40-time World Champion by the age of 23. He is renowned for his agility, expertise with weapons and intense creative performances, and is in high demand as an instructor, spokesperson and athlete.
Just a few years ago, Tyler’s 8-year-old younger brother Jasper was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It dawned on the Weaver family that Tyler Jr. had exhibited similar symptoms, yet when he was that age, much less was known about autism. Indeed, some traits associated with autism were the very qualities that enabled Tyler to become a champion.
People on the autism spectrum tend to have difficulties in two main areas: they often have trouble interpreting social cues, and tend to become highly focused on repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities. For Tyler, these tendencies manifested in some positive ways - he practiced hard daily with martial arts moves and weapons until he developed unparalleled abilities and trophies filled his shelves.
In early 2019, at 23? years old, Tyler Jr. was also diagnosed with ASD, and it was a major turning point. Just as the entire family had participated in the family business (a martial arts school), they stepped forward together to lead and advocate for autism awareness. The Weaver family founded Kick With Me Kids to leverage their decades of experience and unique position as prominent leaders in martial arts to promote autism awareness, share hard-learned solutions and help people with autism thrive. The methods we’ve discovered apply to people with a variety of thinking and learning differences including ADHD and SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), as well as people who simply identify as introverted or highly sensitive.
Our work has gained traction rapidly and evolved to include the broader business community. We now work under the name Jaspie’s Journey. Together with a growing list of prominent partners, from Century Martial Arts to NASKA to Special Olympics to Wells Fargo, Jaspie’s Journey reaches over 8,000 people a year through various outreach and education initiatives.
We celebrate the viewpoint that brain differences are normal, rather than deficits, and we often refer to variations in thinking and learning styles as “neurodiversity.” We believe in helping people with thinking and learning differences thrive, by focusing on their strengths rather than their challenges. We believe that with acceptance and support, neurodiverse people can find ways to bring out their best selves, and manage behaviors that impede their success, so they have the same chance to pursue their interests as more “neurotypical” people.
Most importantly, we have seen first-hand how martial arts can have a powerful positive impact on building skill and self-esteem in neurodiverse people, yet most martial arts schools don’t know how to foster inclusion. Therefore as a core part of our work, we build bridges between martial arts schools, businesses, and families living with autism.
