Aren't I Jealous?

[Light123]

Hello, all! I'm a jealous "disabled" person seeking some lessons. I am SO jealous of all you able-bodied martial artists, whom look so col doing their katas, or whatever. :D I am ready to discover my potential and maybe blow some people away with it. :D (Sorry, I have a habit of being goofy.) I haven't studied any martial arts yet.

I suppose I could tell you a bit about myself and see if you have any ideas?

Well, I am physically disabled using a walker to get around. I don't like sitting in wheelchairs. I am deaf and kind of blind, but not completely. I don't like the fact that if I use a cane I fall down. So if I want to wrestle, I'm down on my knees. If I want to use a weapon, I lean on something, like a fence post, a pole, a wall, etc. (If only they had thingies drilled in the floor...) I had a sudden hunger to learn to wield a bo staff/nunchakus which is how I came to MAP. But in Indiana where I come from, I don't know where to look.

So, I've said.

[SonOfGrimmy]

The word I'm thinking of which probably better describes you starts with S.

[Light123]

Smartelec? Stupid? Whatever the word, there are plenty of adverbs that start with an S to describe me. I don't know yours, but my S stands for Short. :D

Anyway, I am Desperate to learn.

[Hapuka]

Then go to your local martial arts club. Thats your first step anyways. The first step is always the hardest. Look for a club that is willing to take on disabled people (In other words a good club)

Try looking for a striking art, like boxing. :cool:

[Light123]

That's what I'm doing. Thing is, I don't know where to find the clubs. Especially when the internet doesn't give me enough info.

I was thinking maybe I could do bujinkan and learn weapons?

[Clay Johnson]

Hi you might like to try the Filipino Martial Arts. I'm disabled with CP and have been doing martial arts since 1983. I started the FMA in 1989 I train and teach from my wheelchair but I do walk on crutches. The FMA is great because it teaches weapon skills along with hand and foot skill together. Most people think FMA is only a stick art but any weapon can be used from a stick, knife, blade (long or short) a bo staff a cane to a rolled up newspaper. You have said you don't used a wheelchair. I think the Filipino Martial Arts might just the art for you. Best of Luck!

www.inosanto.com/mawd/

[Mei Hua]

Anyway, I am Desperate to learn.
Tai Chi, I know two people who practice it and are excellent, one missing a leg and the other an arm.

Basically any style will do though, you just have to learn how to make it work for you and hopefully the instructor will be able to help with that.

I know nothing about locales in Indiana, but the Ng Family school is one I would highly suggest in checking out.

[Yohan]

Here are some schools in Terra Haute:

This one even has JKD methods and stick training.

http://www.jackmcvicker.com/academy.html

There is mention of a "serrada" school/group in Tarra Haute, which is Kali (stick fighting/other weapons)

IN, Terra Haute *Valley Martial Arts *Guru Mike Snow
Regional Director Active - in Philippines

http://kalisilat.com/gallery.html

It's probably a closed group, so you'll have to do some legwork to find it, if it indeed exists.

Another resource that might help you:

http://www.hapkido.org/html/schools.shtml#TERRE

There are also some standard taekwondo black belt academies and stuff that I can't recommend with good concience without going there.

The above are the things that I would pursue were I n your place.

[Light123]

There are also some standard taekwondo black belt academies and stuff that I can't recommend with good concience without going there.


Isn't Taekwondo just a bunch ofnasty kicks anyway?

I wonder if I could try bujinkan?

[Clay Johnson]

Yes Taekwondo is about 75% kicking and 25% hands. I know because I teach it.

[Light123]

Then, it doesn't look like TKD is an option for me, huh?

[Clay Johnson]

I would say no TKD would not be the right art for you. But someone else here may tell you different.

[Clay Johnson]

I would say TKD would not be the right art for you but someone else may tell you different.

[Light123]

yeah, if there is anyone with experience.

I could flip over the front of my walker and try some Walker TKD :D

[Mei Hua]

yeah, if there is anyone with experience.

I could flip over the front of my walker and try some Walker TKD :D

Any art you want to do is the right art for you, we have a student who has severe MS, is bound to a wheel chair and has difficulty using his limbs, but he still makes do and does very well, he's the last guy in a wheel chair I'd ever want to mess with.

So choose the art you wish to do, whether that be Bujinkan or TKD or FMA and do it, you'll have to adjust some but the will is a powerful thing, I have no doubt you can do whatever you wish.

[Light123]

I agree. There probably aren't any "can't"s in this world. But yeah, some instructors just aren't prepared or don't have the "will".

[Hapuka]

yeah, if there is anyone with experience.

I could flip over the front of my walker and try some Walker TKD :D

If you want to do Taekwon-do, do ITF,

WTF uses less hands, ITF are about 60/40 on kicks.

[Light123]

What does that stand for?

[Clay Johnson]

ITF stands for "International Tae Kwon Do Federation" and WTF stands for "World Tae Kwon Do Federation" I'm pretty sure. Best of Luck with what ever art you pick.

[Light123]

Yep, I've got a pretty long list now, thanks to allv of you :D Browsing and browsing...

I've never ever heard of ITF.

[BentMonk]

As has already been said, be sure you find a club that is providing applicable instruction for persons with disabilities. Cosmetic adaptations are not enough, the techniques must remain effective. Also, it's more the artist than the art. What ever choice you make, be sure you'll enjoy it. If you're not going to have fun you won't stick with it. Best of luck to you in your search. :)

[marttae]

um, how old are you?

[Light123]

Me? I'm nineteen. And bubbly. :D Why?

[marttae]

would you mind me asking why you are so disabled?
It might be hard finding an instructor that knows sigh languae to.

[Light123]

From the way you asked the question, it sounds like you asked why Im so stupid. :D But that's okay with me, I'm stupid because I fell asleep in my college class. :D

All sarcastic asid e, I'm disabled because I was born with it in one of my genes/chromosomes. It d idn't take much affect until I was about 5. It's called Friedreich's Ataxia, a rather unique kind for the way I am. I'd have been in an electric wheelchair and soooo twiggey. But lucky i didn't end up like that. I also wrote some stuff in a journal entry on MAP titled "There Is Hope". You can check it out. I'll also answer anything. :)

[Mei Hua]

From the way you asked the question, it sounds like you asked why Im so stupid. :D But that's okay with me, I'm stupid because I fell asleep in my college class. :D

All sarcastic asid e, I'm disabled because I was born with it in one of my genes/chromosomes. It d idn't take much affect until I was about 5. It's called Friedreich's Ataxia, a rather unique kind for the way I am. I'd have been in an electric wheelchair and soooo twiggey. But lucky i didn't end up like that. I also wrote some stuff in a journal entry on MAP titled "There Is Hope". You can check it out. I'll also answer anything. :)

Don't forget bro, it's not impossible to overcome those difficulties and achieve what you set out to achieve, I would have no doubt to hear that you became more than an able MA'ist, I've seen it by many people before that have come from such backgounds and I will see it again.
As I said, we teach a guy now who has such and have done so before and will again.
Never let anyone tell you you can't do anything...

[acrux]

twistingtiger4

Being disabled does put certain limitations on you, that is true but don't let it stop you.

I have a very good friend who is disabled from a car crash, in that he lost the use of one arm, one leg (still has both limbs) & partial brain damage, who studied Mordern Arnis in the same class as myself.

Like he might not ever do flying side kicks, but his front jab & front kick are extremely fast, plus he is very quick with one arnis cane.

I was also I attended the 9th Shotokan Karate International World Championships in Shinjuku, Japan in November 2006, there was a man from New Zealand there who only had 20 percent of normal brain use who did a kata called "Tekki Shodan", now he wasn't great as katas go, but considering
his condition he was extemely brave (properly more so than myself) & he still didn't let his condition stop him.

I was just wondering what are you wanting out of martial arts, because you mentioned jealousy of how cool people looked doing kata & hunger to do weapons.

If you want self-development & basic self defence with a basic weapon to follow in time, then consider doing some martial art.

But if you just want to look cool, buy some new clothes, to statify the hunger for weapons buy a gun (not that I recommend you get a gun)

Good luck with things, I know it seem a very hard path, but I have seen other disabled people tread it & made the most of their limitations.

[marttae]

From the way you asked the question, it sounds like you asked why Im so stupid. :D But that's okay with me, I'm stupid because I fell asleep in my college class. :D

All sarcastic asid e, I'm disabled because I was born with it in one of my genes/chromosomes. It d idn't take much affect until I was about 5. It's called Friedreich's Ataxia, a rather unique kind for the way I am. I'd have been in an electric wheelchair and soooo twiggey. But lucky i didn't end up like that. I also wrote some stuff in a journal entry on MAP titled "There Is Hope". You can check it out. I'll also answer anything. :)
haha na i wasnt asking why are you so stupid. its just not everyday you hear of someone so young and different as you.

[Light123]

Yes, I said it in the beginning when my disability started "limiting" me that I wasn't going to let limitations get in my way. Since then I've worked to turn my "can'ts" into "cans". So even when my parents say "You have to accept the fact that you have limitations" I just throw that out the window and keep on going.

And it isn't coolness I'm after, I'm after the ability.

To all "disabled" people, there IS a way. Prove that there IS a way. Be like a lion, fierce and strong, and let nothing block that way. There is always hope, and there is nothing our Creator cannot do. So stand up! Let the world know what you're made of!

[Mei Hua]

Great post

[Joshua Powell]

Alright my man, where do I start? *cracks nuckles in preparation for a long speech.* First thing. Just to give you all kind of a short background on me, I was born in Ireland the year 1985 with Mild Spastic Cerebral Palsy. When my parents found out they immediately put me into physical therapy which went from the time that I was about 1 1/2 years old to about 4 years of age. At the end of that time my mustles still were not entirely what they needed to be. Meaning I could only close my hands partialy into a fist, and I couldn't hold myself up on my own for long periods of time. I was in a wheel chair for the most part on the time in my life. I started studying martial arts at the age of 8 and have been doing it ever since. I am now almost 22 years old. You told in the beginning on this forum about your dissability. I also believe it was either you or someone else saying that there are no barriers, I would agree with that. When I was 13 I broke my left foot and couldn't stand for 6 months at all. At that time I still went to the classes, and even know I couldn't stand I chose to practice my punches and other hand strikes...just to let you know my instructor was very impressed by my determination :cool:. I will get back to this, but I have to get back to work;)

[Joshua Powell]

Time for the second part of my rambling...oh and feel free if you get tired of reading this go ahead and :bang: Where was I *scratches hairy chin*...ah yes. Barriers. When I was 16 one of the most horrific moments happened in my life. On a wednesday night my parents and I were on our way home from a night at church, when a drunkard was driving and hit our car...my parents were killed and I was put into the hospital. Since then my emotions have been changed...I get upset often...and just really don't feel the same as I did. My uncle was the only other member of my family other then myself, and it was decided to put me up for adoption. Now the reason for this is because my uncle was not abled bodied either, and not capable to take care of me for long periods of time, and I was not able to take care of myself because of age and not being abled bodied. I was adopted, and was brought to the USA in Denver Colorado, and I've been living here ever since except for a year that I spent in South Carolina in college. I can't say how many times I thought of suicide because of my past events, but I didn't kill myself. You know why? I saw that as a way of giving up, and being people with dissabilities, we don't have the luxury of giving up. We need to press on and fight. And for these thoughts I have been awarded. I've kept on fighting, and I can now walk for long periods of time like an able bodied person, I can even complete my fists among other things :cool:. I've continued with martial arts, graduated from High School, gone to a year of college, and became a security officer for 26 different schools. Now I had another chance at giving up...and i'm telling you, this next reason took alot from me not to give in. Just a little less then a year ago I got a phone call saying that my uncle had passed away...the last member of my family from Ireland. I'm the last one...and you know...when you think about it, that's one of the worst times of your life. You feel dangerously alone...you don't know what to do. I still have those thoughts now. It's basicaly the same story with Clay Johnson who has posted on here. Both of his parents have died in the past few years, and I know it's been hard on him. By the way, I think he's a great man for just continueing on with all the past things that has happened to him. That's something that he and I have in common. We haven't stopped and said our lived our done, there's nothing else. We've kept fighting. Right now I don't know what martial art would be good for you, but never give up on anything that you want to do, no matter what happens.

Please email me if you want to talk, or PM me.

Also one more thing. I right now attend a martial art here in Denver that is specificaly made for people with physical, and developmental dissabilities. They might have something like that where you are. I found mine in google. I just typed "disabled martial arts in Denver Colorado" and a lot of different types of schools appeared, not just in Denver, but in other places all around the country. Check on a website like google, or whatever. Again if you want to talk go ahead and reach me by those two ways that I already put down. Talk to you later :cool:

[Mei Hua]

Wow dude, I'm honstly sorry about alot of that.
But it sounds like you have the right perspective and are a good example for people of all abilities in how they should function and behave.

My prop's to you bro :)
You have my honest/sincere respect and best wishes