Self Defense From A Wheelchair

[MasterBob]

I recently had my first wheelchair bound student join our school. He is a 24 year old young man that was involved in a car accident 2 years ago. Even though he doesn't have the use of his lower body, he has great upper body strength, and above all, the desire to learn. We are modifying the Combat Hapkido techniques so that he will be able to establish a foundation for future techniques. Even though he has only been training for three weeks, he has been a real inspiration to myself and the other students. I am even planning on securing a wheelchair, which will give everyone the opportunity to live what he lives each day...............He drives 30 minutes each way to train with us. The instructor for the school that he checked out near his home told him "when you can get out of that chair, I'll train you"! And this guy calls himself a Master!!!!!

Regardless of your style, are they any other students or instructors that have disabled students training in their schools? I'd like to hear from you.

Thanks,

Master Bob Ingersoll
CA State Director / ICHF
West Coast Director / IPDTI

[|MT|omar]

Good on him, it takes a lot of courage to do something that generally requires the use of all limbs. Good luck with his training

[soctt03]

Dear Bob - have a look at my other posts on this site (try, 'promoting awareness...' & 'martial arts for people...'). I recently tried to coach a w/chair user but he felt it needed too much adaptation compared to 'normal' coaching so he decided martial arts wasn't for him. A shame really as it still remains my ambition to coach someone in a w/chair, also someone who has been literally totally deafblind since birth. My own personal experience principally covers sensory loss (sight and hearing). Good luck with your work. With the guy I just mentioned it had my head working overtime in ways in which I could adapt skills for him. As I said a shame he didn't want to continue.

[MasterBob]

Scott03
Having this student has been a welcome challenge for me. I guess you could say it has brought new meaning to what I do 6 days a week. Don't give up. There are more w/chair students just waiting for the opportunity to learn from people like you and me.

Bob Ingersoll

[Davey Bones]

Check out the disabled MA forum. there's an article posted somehwre in there about a student at one of my style's schools that was wheelchair bound and recently received his black sash.

[Melanie]

I think this is the thread BAiKaiGuy is referring to:

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33235

[Davey Bones]

That would be it, and here's the article:

It's fro the Tri-County Record.com, and for the legal junk, here's the linkie: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14575955&BRD=2149&PAG=461&dept_id=365715&rfi=6

05/24/2005
Wheelchair-bound, Elverson man earns coveted martial arts honor


When most people think of kung fu they imagine Jackie Chan or Jet Li. Few would think of Peter Onushko, but in many ways his achievement is greater than the film heroes. Like those film stars, Pete, a resident of Elverson, is a martial artist trained in kung fu. In a candlelit ceremony attended by his family, friends, and instructors, Peter Osnushko, received is black sash in Bai Kai Kung Fu on May 10 at Parker's Self Defense in Morgantown.

Peter is an inspiration to anyone who believes that they cannot accomplish something. Pete has been in a wheelchair all of his life. He has never been able to walk or even stand without an assistive device. After a ride in a motorcycle sidecar with a group from Schaeffer's Harley-Davidson, one of the riders mentioned that one of his friends' children was handicapped, but took karate. This inspired his mother to seek a local marital arts school for Pete. Dr. James Parker at the Kung Fu Center, formerly Parker's Self Defense at Clock tower Plaza in Morgantown, was willing to adapt a program for him, and Pete, always up for a challenge, began his studies in 1998.

Pete, now called by his title Lishi Onushko, received his white sash in 1998. Students in this system do not automatically get this sash; it has to be earned with the mastery of basic skills. Over the next seven years, Pete worked his way through eight more levels, mastering not only open hand forms and techniques in kung fu, but also grappling skills and internal skills in T'ai Chi with his instructor Sifu Nathan Groff.

Though Peter's greatest strengths lie in his grappling and ground fighting skills, he is also proficient with a sword and a staff. One may think that a person in a wheel chair to be an easy mark, but Peter is known to be a formidable opponent by his classmates in his chair or on the floor. When grabbed from behind during one class, Peter flipped his 230-pound attacker over his own body, ripping the man's brand new uniform from his body. One of Pete's goals for taking martial arts was to eliminate his fears of being attacked. His training has left him less afraid of what to do in almost any situation.

Pete was born with a disorder that causes extremely low muscle tone. His training has given him increased strength, increased control of his legs, and increased flexibility. A family friend said that from the beginning they could see a change in Pete after he began his training. They noticed an increase in his self-confidence and his determination that he put into action in all parts of his life and not just the martial arts studio. Pete says that he would like to keep training for the rest of his life. He says that he enjoys the people at the kung fu school and that they are really "cool.'' Pete, known for his wry sense of humor and his positive attitude, is a class favorite every Tuesday and Thursday night.

Lishi Pete Onushko is 26 years old and a graduate of the Child Development Center run by the Chester County Intermediate Unit. He is an active member of Robeson Lutheran Church and his interests include Harley-Davidson motorcycles, playing games, music and Elvis. He has a collection of Harley and Elvis memorabilia and even studied with Elvis' karate instructor, Kang Rhee, on a trip to Graceland. He resides in Elverson with his mother, Cookie and his father, David Onushko.

[Melanie]

MasterBob

I have found the following few articles on FightingArts.com that you may find of interest:

http://www.fightingarts.com/content02/wheelchair_tech_1.shtml
Kurumaisu Jutsu: Wheelchair Techniques
Part I - The Fast Push From Behind
By Ronald van de Sandt
Editor's Note: Part one of this article discusses one common attack against someone seated in a wheelchair: the push from behind. Part Two will discuss a frontal attack.

http://www.fightingarts.com/content02/wheelchair_tech_2.shtml
Kurumaisu Jutsu: Wheelchair Techniques
Part 2- Choke Or Grabs From The Front
By Ronald van de Sandt
Editor's Note: Part 2 of this three part series discusses several common attacks from the front against someone seated in a wheelchair. The first article discussed self-defense responses to a push from behind. Part 3 will discuss several defenses against attacks from the side.

http://www.fightingarts.com/content02/wheelchair_tech_3a.shtml
Kurumaisu Jutsu: Wheelchair Techniques
Part 3- Attacks From The Side
By Ronald van de Sandt
Editor's Note: This is the third article in a three part series. Part 2 discussed several common attacks from the front against someone seated in a wheelchair. Part 1 discussed self-defense responses to a push from behind.

[MasterBob]

Melanie:

Thank you for the information. I read the articles and printed copies of them. I will be sharing the information with my new student later this week.

Master Bob Ingersoll