DMA Check In

[WhiteWizard]

Hi,

I think its a good idea if we all introduce ourselves so i'll take the plunge first :).

Name
Andrew Melrose

Style
Lau Gar Kung Fu

About Me
I have been practacing Lau Gar for the past nine months. I am partially sighted. I haven't found this to be a major problem although i find some things quite difficult.

[Cain]

Name

errrrr.....Cain ;)

Style

Shotokan

About me

Nuthead who goes crazy over computer games, reads books a bit, swims a bit, plays badminton a bit, practising my style for about 3 years and a month, My hands are a bit deformed since birth I have explained a bit about it here (http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7888)

|Cain|

[Noob]

Name
Noob (I prefer to hide behind the banner of internet anonimity)

Style
Wing Chun

About Me
Recovering from Agoraphobia and resulting Depression getting over it. Not looking for any sympathy. Bit of an idiot at times, only been doing Wing Chun for about two months so newcomer to MA. Likes Video Games, Films, Reading, also have strange desire to be an actor...(sometimes feels like I'm a contradiction in terms).

[Cudgel]

Name
Ian Woolley

Style
Uhhhhhhh I used to do SCA Shinai but well I still so it only its not SCA anymore. Been doing for 3 years

About Me

Well my eyes are so bad that I got rejected from two branches on the military. LOL But being extremely near sighted really isnt too terribly bad except when I get eyestrain headaches and the fact that I have less peripheral vision out of my right eye.
And I like swords and knives and anythign sharp and pointy.

[cripplefujitsu]

Who am I?

Name's Paul

What's my major malfunction?

I have moderate to severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, a massive SCI and, oh yeah, I'm blind!

What arts I train in: Samurai aikijitsu (including emptyhand and bo, jo, kaebo, tanto) in the style of Obata-san, and I'm dabbling in shinkendo.

What else I do for fun: Comic books, Magic: the Gathering, computer programming and sytems analysis, rock concerts, college, a wholesaling business, and bellydancing redheads named Liz when I get the chance. Oh, and I play a mean harmonica; used to be kazoo but I felt underappreciated.

Ian Woolley, you rock! And what doesn't cripple or maim you is also good for a laugh....hell, sometimes the stuff that cripples and maims you stil is........

[Cudgel]

Thanks man I coined the phrase because my mom kept saying what doesnt kill only makes yous you stronger and it was so anoying to hear over and over again so I made my own version up. :D

[Saz]

Originally posted by Cudgel
I coined the phrase because my mom kept saying what doesnt kill only makes yous you stronger and it was so anoying to hear over and over again so I made my own version up. :D

Good job I changed my old sig :D

[KungFuGrrrl]

I study Wing Chun Kung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Jeet kune Do and weapons.
I have 3 proturding discs, one rupter (black)
I am 55% deaf in left ear 45 in right, I have ptsd and panic disorder, trauma induced arthritis in spine and brain damage(neurological damage)
I do pretty well and now teach Tai Chi Chuan at the School and assist Wing Chun Teaching.
I have some trouble in Wing Chun (basically with kicks) but I modify and work with what I have and don't do to bad if I say so myself!
I do hav trouble with memory but find that when we *go at it* my muscle memory comes out and works well for me.
repitition repetition repitition
KFG

[TheBorderer]

Hi folks

I know I have said this before in the How do any disabilities/learning difficulties effect your training in a MA? (http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4315) thread (ok mayb there's a little "plugging" for the thread I started there! :D), but just to add myself (finally!) in Mr Wizard's nicely kept register :)

Name:
Andrew Deeming

Style:
Tae Kwon Do (ITF, UKTA)

A little (little) bit about me:
I have a combined learning difficult of Dyspraxia, which effects my coordination (just the kinda thing you want when learning a new move or a pattern! :D). I also Dysgraphia which gives makes my handwriting difficult to read (tho my mum thinks that should qualify me for being a Dr of some sort! :D) {thinks "Why the heck are these conditions so difficult to spell!" :confused:}.

[Chase]

Hi, I practice Tai Chi, Kali, Wing Chun, JKDC from a chair as I have CP. In so doing, I put a lot of emphasis into adaptation of technique tempered by functionality. Hence, everything I do contains a little bit of something else, & everything is practiced on both sides. My Tai Chi sword form accomodates the use of lots of Kali weapons [my favorite weapon being a garden cultivator]. I also practice a lot of Nei Kung, especially the Microcosmic Orbit [used to be a lot of Wai Dan Chi Kung, but I found the sensitivity to the movement of chi was better in the Nei Dan]. ;)

[Jewbacca]

Name
Andrew Dozier

Style
Judo (little)
Cane/Hanbo
misc. self defense

About Me
I'm a cancer survivor of 7 years, left with a knee that doesn't bend. I'm unable to do must every kicking technique there is, so I focus on hand techniques and the use of a walking cane (curved top) or hanbo. I took judo as a child, and some of the throws and footwork have translated into a very gentle style that impresses even my friend Ben, who has taken MA all his life and is working on his third black belt.

[shakyninja]

Name

Martin Ellingford

Style

Shotokan

About Me

I live in east London I was born with a tremor that gets worse when the adrenaline starts pumping. It can be cool though, when I spar with someone they see me standing there shaking, thinking I'm affraid but I am really rev'd up, you gots to turn your weaknesses into strenghts.

shakyninja

[WhiteWizard]

I now do eskrima too guy with bad eyesight waving a stick i know it does sound a bad idea

[Nimrook]

Name:
Tel Woolsey

Styles:
Boxing, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Recently took up Goju-Ryu karate

Cons:
well I caught a disease a month after I was born and my left leg is completely useless, and my right shoulder is a bit screwed, and I've had chronic back pain since I was six.

Pros:
I wear a metal, and industrial grade plastic brace on my left leg making it completely kneebar proof, as well as low kick proof. The chronic back pain has shot my pain tolerance through the roof, which makes me one of the toughest S.O.B.'s to fight.

I have been lucky enough to find people who look past the disability and work with what I can do rather then what I can't. I can throw a lethal left hook, and due to my complete aggressivness on the ground I'm also pretty dangerous there as well.

[vicjudofreak]

I ahve had chronic arm pain extending through my wrist into my hand since i had an accident as a kid, which affects everyday life, as well as judo. i was told that when it hurt it wasnt doing anymore damage, but have recently found out thats not true and that it could get worse. the problem is basically that my tendon in my forearm is too short due to fibrosis and the whole area is now being stressed to the point where i am facing surgery, which may not even work. the option is just a splint, which i cant wear for judo anyway, so its all a bit scary at the moment. seeing how other people cope is really helpful, cos i dont really know where to go from here.

[La Mancha]

David

Iaido

No left eye, congestive heart failure, and my daughter says a complete inability to grow up ( he he )

so what we all got problems, life is fun enjoy it.

[humble student]

I have poor range of motion in right arm and three fingers on right hand can't turn right hand palm up. i also have major depression and ptsd due to abuse and very little cartlidge in right knee also due to birth defect. Have yellow belt in combo-aikido, shaolin kempo, tang soo do orange belt jukido jujitsu aslo self taught judo and karate from Bruce Tegner books since i was twelve currently 32. Thanks, John

[WhiteWizard]

Welcome to the party John hope you enjoy your time here.

[E-Rocker]

Hello all. This is my first post. In 1996, I had a spinal cord injury which paralyzed me from the waist down. It was a moderate enough injury that I was able to re-learn to walk, run, ride a bike, etc., but my left leg and foot are still somewhat numb (i.e. one time I dropped a glass on the floor at night and didn't realize I'd cut my foot until I saw that I'd tracked blood on the carpet; that sort of thing).

In 2000, I did Shotokan Karate for about 5 months, which helped some with my balance and a lot with my confidence. Then I moved to another city and did no martial arts for almost three years (got a little overweight, too). Last summer I moved back, and for the past year I have been training at the Minnesota Kali Group, Seattle branch, where I study Kali weaponry and Kali Panantukan (empty hand), Muay Thai, Jun Fan MA, and JKD concepts. While training has improved my balance considerably (I used to trip pretty frequently just walking around, and now that doesn't happen much), balance is still my biggest issue (training also got rid of those excess pounds).

Throwing a right Muay Thai round kick is the most difficult thing for me, since it basically requires twisting your whole body around while balancing on just your left toes. I prefer throwing the Jun Fan kicks, because most of them are smaller motions and therefore it's easier to keep my balance when doing them. I am making a conscious effort to get better at my Thai kicks, though.

[humble student]

Hello all. This is my first post. In 1996, I had a spinal cord injury which paralyzed me from the waist down. It was a moderate enough injury that I was able to re-learn to walk, run, ride a bike, etc., but my left leg and foot are still somewhat numb (i.e. one time I dropped a glass on the floor at night and didn't realize I'd cut my foot until I saw that I'd tracked blood on the carpet; that sort of thing).

In 2000, I did Shotokan Karate for about 5 months, which helped some with my balance and a lot with my confidence. Then I moved to another city and did no martial arts for almost three years (got a little overweight, too). Last summer I moved back, and for the past year I have been training at the Minnesota Kali Group, Seattle branch, where I study Kali weaponry and Kali Panantukan (empty hand), Muay Thai, Jun Fan MA, and JKD concepts. While training has improved my balance considerably (I used to trip pretty frequently just walking around, and now that doesn't happen much), balance is still my biggest issue (training also got rid of those excess pounds).

Throwing a right Muay Thai round kick is the most difficult thing for me, since it basically requires twisting your whole body around while balancing on just your left toes. I prefer throwing the Jun Fan kicks, because most of them are smaller motions and therefore it's easier to keep my balance when doing them. I am making a conscious effort to get better at my Thai kicks, though.
It is admirable that you train and even got back in shape! I know balance can be hard now that I am training and walking with a cane my balance is off for kicking. On my strong leg I don't need it on my weak leg I always have to find a point for support depending on kick type.

Welcome and enjoy yourself!
John Runer

[vicjudofreak]

ooh... i have good news!!!! i am listed on the first page of this thread, but now the docs might have diagnosed me wrong and maybe they can fix my wrist!!! im trying not to pin all my hopes on this... i wont get the results til xmas, but im so happy!!!

[Oldie]

Hi, not sure if I can classify myself as a disabled martial artist. The condition that stopped me from combative martial arts is an old scar in the back of my left eye. When I scheduled for lasik surgery for both eyes, the doctor warned me about losing my left eye if the left side of my face was impacted by traumatic force. Well, I was lucky; I had just earned my 1st dan in WTF Tae Kwon Do. My wife,upon knowing that bad news, stopped me from taking/teaching any martial art classes. At the time, I had also been taking Modern Arnis and JKD, loving both of them dearly. It was a heart-sinking feeling.

I however sneaked off for one full year of training in Combat Hapkido, during which my wife and I had had many talks about me quitting. Finally, I had to quit to take care of a newly widowed sister-in-law and her 4 young children. That happened in March this year (2004).

The other diabling injuries I suffered were all from the 3 yrs and 8 months of TKD training; broken right wrist, left knee sprain, broken big left toe, jammed fingers, sore back, etc. Now arthritis is catching up with me, especially on my left knee. My right wrist has recovered completely and, thanks to some weight training exercises, is actually getting stronger.

Oldie

[WhiteWizard]

Hi oldie sorry to hear about your situation which has stopped you training. We are always interested in hearing from people no matter how big or small they think their problems are

[Laurra]

Hello all,,...I am new to the forum and think it is impressive that there is a section for disabled MA. I do not really think of myself as disabled, however, I do struggle with anxiety. I have been training in MA for a little over a year and it has been challenging and fun :))

Laura

[WhiteWizard]

Hello all,,...I am new to the forum and think it is impressive that there is a section for disabled MA. I do not really think of myself as disabled, however, I do struggle with anxiety. I have been training in MA for a little over a year and it has been challenging and fun :))

Laura
Welcome to MAP

enjoy the madness within :D

[soctt03]

Hi to all of you on this section of the forum. Am new to forum discussions but if I basically intro myself - I'm a shotokan karate instructor based in Kent (England to u overseas folk) & I run a huge martial arts fest for disabled people. Am not totally sure how to get a reply from u as am conscious about possible advertising issues but basically if any of u are interested in attending - there's try it out sessions, a demo's section plus a first ever kata/forms comp for any of u that are interested. I underatand that somewhere on this site is a link to my own so will wish u all happy hunting (grin) & hope that u get in touch. Thanks!

[WhiteWizard]

Hi,

glad to have another contributer on board

Welcome to MAP

[BackFistMonkey]

I was born with "club foot" and other birth defects which were "corrected " by modern medical science . Now both knees slip out of joint and have to be bent forcefully to get them to track back into place ( which occurs about 3-4 times a year usualy getting into or out of a car but the last two years it has been happening more and more frequently it , six times this year alone ) and you can problably guess this has worn done the cartillage in my knees so I am in constant pain. My right wrist and forearm were broken once and reset incorrectly twice leaving it a twisted wreck of arthritis and strange protrusions .

And you cant forget my bleeding ulcer and my partialy blocked gall bladder which make morning BELT TESTS oh so much FUN !!!! Nothing like vomitting blood at 8:00 am after 25 laps around the dojo ( five laps front roll , five laps left judo roll , five laps right judo roll , five laps back roll pushing/springing feet to the ceiling landing standing up )

I train on my legs more than my arms mainly to build strength to and balance . I have a surprising amount of flexibilty in my legs but I limit my kicks to the stomach and lower in order to facilitate their not being snatched up and broken .

I use the hard bone protrusions on my wrist to strike and press pressure points while grappling and sparring . The raised calcium deposits on my knuckles and the wrist tend to cut my opponents on face shots and cause Deep bruising on muscles.

and wo to the martial artists who share my problem of grinding their teeth and dont have dental insureance , broken molars and exposed nerves suck so much butt when you are break falling .

so with confidence I say I will be joining some of you soon as being "disabled" untill then I wil suck it up , plod on , compensate , keep smiling , and collect enough stories and expirence so when I am forced to lean on my cane and can not press on any more , I can amuse others with wit , wisdom , and advice .

Shaolin Kempo , Shaolin Kung Fu , and I am now studing Hapkido .

[Pog]

Name Andy Heaver

Style Tae Kwon Do

Grade 4th Dan

About me - Been doing the sport for some 25 years. Along the way, I lost my right leg and crushed three of my vertebrae (fused now). Funny that I practice a kicking style. I run my own clubs in Warrington, and still find it a buzz

[Ceicei]

Hello....

It's been a while since I last popped in. Things have changed here... and looks better! :)

I'm Caralee Crye, aka Ceicei aka CC

I'm a brown belt in American Kenpo and a while belt in Judo.

I'm deaf. My balance is also not too great (related to deafness), but neither of them interfere with my training.

- Ceicei

[Pog]

I don't understand what you are looking for - are you looking for a way forward; or are you looking for sympathy

[E-Rocker]

Welcome, CC.

[[webguru]]

Name:
Nathan Barlow

Style:
C.M.A (Combined Martial Arts) - based mainly on Taekwondo, jujitsu and some other stuff (i think) more info here (www.combinedmartialarts.co.nz) . Been doing it for about 3-4 months now and enjoying it! i am currently a White belt (the first belt in CMA)

About me:
I am profoundly deaf. No hearing in my left ear, and v. little in my right. Caused by bacterial meningitus and H.I.B when i was 1.5 yrs old. Without my hearing aid in my right ear, i can just manage to hear a pneumatic drill about 10 metres off. Lol - pretty s*** hearing huh? I am not a signer and can speak normally, so lead a pretty regular life. However i have balance problems since both my cochleas are damaged. Also have slight curvature of the spine (scholeosis-spelt wrong i know) which we think was caused by having 3 lumbar punctures. anyways enough about my sob story :P

My friend started me off with CMA, claiming that it would help my fitness and strength (usefull coz i play rugby). It not only improved my fitness and strength, but my balance and co-ordination as well. just three months of training and i can balance on one foot, regain my balance easily if pushed while on one foot and even do a pretty pathetic spinning kick (pathetic due to lack of skill, not balance :P).

Anyways great idea u guys had to set up this forum, some of the posts i've read are simply amazing, and i have huge amounts of respect for those Martial Artists who achieve so much despite the problems they face.

well thats kinda it. . . .

anyone wants to contact me, my email is in my profile. Feel free to drop me a line (or message in this case :P)

[webguru]

[E-Rocker]

Welcome, [webguru].

[soctt03]

Hi to you all! I'm Terry, shotokan karateka (nidan) based in mid-Kent, UK. I have been involved with karate for over 20 years, coaching for about 75% of this time. I remain as passionate about karate/MA as when I first started. I personally don't have a disability but for those of you who have read my previous postings - last were late last year - I am passionate about coaching people with disabilities in, in my case, karate. To this end I set up what has now just become The UK Martial Arts Festival for People with Disabilities. Best if you look up my website for further information.: www.twt.org.uk

Last year's Festival was a truly huge success. I had planned to make a formal announcement about the next event in a few weeks' time but as I keep getting a daily e-mail to give a bio about myself thought I'd use this opportunity to make a kind of informal announcement: the Festival Programme's 10th anniversary - now a national/international event.

Date: as yet to be confirmed but will be late 2006!! Yes, I do realise it's a while away.

Venue: not finally confirmed but likely to be in Swanley

What's on offer:

Day One (it will be a Thursday): Festival Day: (1) aimed at recruiting people with disabilities in to martial arts so, a range of taster sessions - see my appeal below - with so far, karate, tai chi, kung fu, judo, tae kwon do - aim is to be running a total of 10 arenas so other styles as yet to be decided on
(2) a series of demo's from those of you who are already practising MA
(3) a competitive all styles kata/forms/patterns segment which made its inauguration as part of the Festival last year. Thus far, I would estimate I already have 60 people looking at entering from physical to learning difficulties despite the fact that the event has not as yet had a formal announcement

Day Two (a Saturday): A Conference looking at ways of setting down a proper development policy for disability MA. Why? I don't know what profile MA has in other countries but here in the UK with a couple of exceptions there is no formal development policy in place so apart from the odd bits being done here and there in local clubs there is literally nothing in place so the idea is to provide instructors, governing bodies etc. with the tools to take back to their clubs to be much more proactive in this area.

Appeal: Although it might seem ages away to Festival there is a huge amount to organise, not least is an army of around 60 instructors & 30 or so assistants plus other volunteers for the intended 500 or so invitees from across the UK and from overseas. How MAP can help is:

(a) We need, as you can see from what I have just said, an army of instructors and assistants from as many styles as possible so if you are keen to volunteer your time, yes, please contact me via the website regardless of whether you are UK or overseas-based (already representation from USA and Israel thus far). In 2006 I am keen that even more of the instructors than we have had before have some kind of disability so please do get in touch.

(b) Previous Festivals have always proved to be a huge success - not me saying this but those of you attending who have kindly fed this back to me - and so the opportunity to compete and/or demonstrate your skills is also up for grabs - the more of you the merrier, again, from across the UK as well as overseas. The hope is to turn the competitive element in to a totally separate annual event specifically for people with disabilities so, again, the more of you who take part the increased likelihood of this happening is going to be made possible through your interest.

I could probably write a further 10 pages but this will do for now. Hope to hear from as many of you as are interested in Festival 2006.

Yours in budo - Terry Taylor

[Shizukanaarashi]

Hey guys this is interesting.

I work in Occupational Therapy at a college sited outside Cheltenham. All the students are 16 to 25 ish and as such really interested in MA. My style is Ninjutsu and whilst I've been asked to instruct at college, I've been hesitant to. Most of the guys interested have conditions like Cerebral Palsy or Spina Bifida, lots of shunts and other obvious concerns, Wheelchair users etc.

I'd really like some advice and until now have been unable to find anything that fit the bill. Any ideas. I'd like information about existing MA styles which might be more suitable, or suggestions about how I might apply my style, it's not something I'd like to experiment with!!

on Easter hols at present. :)

[myki]

Hi folks!

Name:
Mike

MA:
shito-ryu karate, aikido, tai chi and what I learned in the army (basically dirty fighting-not MA but verrrryyy effective!)

Me:
I've had ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) for 11 years. Affects my voice, legs, arms but not my spirit!

I'm always looking for new defence methods and ideas.

Cheers!

[E-Rocker]

Welcome, myki.

[kathyjo]

How great to find this forum. I am impressed and inspired by all of you who dedicate yourselves to your training with and despite your challenges, and feel privileged to see something of your respective stories.

I am a Wing Chun Kuen practitioner. I "enjoy" several muskuloskeletal related issues, though the single biggest challenge in my practice is due to severe osteoarthritis in both knees. I'll look forward to checking in on the forum from time to time.

Regards & Best Wishes to All,
- Kathy Jo

[Battle Sword]

I have a bionic arm, which causes me to be in a lot of pain. I have to
wear a brace, which puts a lot of people off, if they are not used to me.
They will ask, when does it get better, I tell them, it is better. I have
some limited movement in the arm area, but I have my arm, so it is
better, from my standpoint. This is what dealing with a disability is
about: coping, rehab. time, modifying moves, rest, strengthening
exercises. Its part of life for me, and having a good attitude is very
important.
I study the 7 animal chinese style. I go to a lot of pt/ot to overcome
any mobility problems associated with the arm and shoulder area.
I may have to take more time off for the ot/pt than others, but this
is a life long goal, and when I perservere I do just fine in reaching
my goals. Sometimes, moves have to be modified for me.

[Joshua Powell]

Name
Joshua Powell

Style
Kuk Sool Won

About Me
I'm a second degree black belt in this martial art. I live in Centennial Colorado in the USA. I was born with a dissability called cerebral palsy, and I have had to have several sessions of physical therapy, and a couple of surgeries to get me to where I am now. When you do talk to me try to be as simple as you can...I don't understand what people talk about most of the time, my comprehension is good which is why it took me about 13 years to get my second degree. I am almost entirely blind in my left eye so I will need to get something to help me see to continue with Kuk Sool. I hope to get to know alot of you soon so PM me;)

[speedbag]

Name
Alan

Style
Hapkido/TaeKwondo

Degenerative Disk Disease of Cervical Spine, spinal stenosis and eventual Myelopathy. Had three C-spine operations, two anterior fusions, Then a four level expansive Laminectomy ( C4-C7 ). Read about it if you want.

speed bag for rehabilitation (http://enabledonline.com/BackIssues/February2001/health2.html)

No more grappling, throwing or sparring head contact. That's OK, I'd rather be able to move from the neck down....

To ALL friends on DMA, It matters not if our joints, senses or appendages are altered. It matters not if your emotions and Psyche are altered. To our agoraphobic, depressed and anxious friends, be strong.

I think a MARTIAL ARTIST is born of the HEART, and if you believe in your chosen MA, its philosophies, principles and positive affects - and if you practice them to the very best of you ability, or disability as the case may be,
then you ARE a Martial Artist. Do not judge that fact by the ability of others, who may have little insight into the life you live. Go Placidly... (http://hobbes.ncsa.uiuc.edu/desiderata.html)

As my master told me when My spine interfered with my own training, "If you can no longer be Hercules, Be Sophicles. The world needs both..."

And if you think you CAN'T hit the speed bag in a wheelchair,... guess again. speed baggin' from wheelchair (http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Speed-Bag--Drum-512kb)

Peace & love and health to all DMA.

[UrbanGrl]

Name
Noob (I prefer to hide behind the banner of internet anonimity)

Style
Wing Chun

About Me
Recovering from Agoraphobia and resulting Depression getting over it. Not looking for any sympathy. Bit of an idiot at times, only been doing Wing Chun for about two months so newcomer to MA. Likes Video Games, Films, Reading, also have strange desire to be an actor...(sometimes feels like I'm a contradiction in terms).

hahaha! God I love your disclaimer!

[iHeretic]

Name: Ben

Style: Aikido, Qigong

About me: Only just started Aikido and Qigong in the last couple of months but am now thoroughly hooked. I have no idea what "style" of Aikido or Qigong I do, though. I practice from kneeling and from my wheelchair, which I use daily for all things. My condition has only just finally been diagnosed today (aged 24!) as Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystophy (http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/information_resources/factsheets/medical_conditions_factsheets/ullrich.html) which is incredibly rare (I'm only the 15th diagnosed case in the world).

[Melanie]

Hi there Ben,

Welcome to the forum and to the mad world of Martial Arts. :)

How many years did it take to be diagnosed? Whos your Instructor and how did you find your instructor? :)

[humble student]

Welcome, your in the right place to ask questions. Enjoy your martial arts.

John Runer

[ShoNaiDo]

My name is Christopher.

Martial Art Past:
I have a dominant history in Goju Ryu (as handed down through Toguchi), a general background in TKD, Jujutsu (as taught through GJR and TKD), American Karate, Kickboxing, JKD, Chinese Boxing, Taijiquan, and Qigong. I have been heavy into research for over a decade. I started in 1979.

About Me:
I have bursitis in my shoulders. I have a bad knee. Two weak ankles (from stomping ing GJR for years - on the concrete!). I have a cataract which is caused by a rare inflammation, so doctors either avoid wanting to take it off, or I get to be a guinea pig, or I get offers from gung-ho young kid doctors who want to prove themselves.

As A Result:
I have developed my own style since many of the others tend to insight pain in my shoulders due to repititious (and sometimes useless) movements.

I practice and teach (privately to family mostly, and close friends). Someday I hope to go public and promote it online. I used mostly knees and elbows (muau thai), along with jujutsu takedowns, open hand strikes, and low kicks. It is called Shogerijutsu Naibu Karate-Do. It is a very loose, relaxed way of doing things. It combines both external and internal methods of fighting. It works for me, and I suppose that is what counts.

:)

Those are my thoughts for the moment.

[BentMonk]

Greetings. My name is Paul. I have a mild form of spastic CP. It only affects my legs. I do not use a chair, but do have balance issues and cannot kick. I am 36 years old. I have been a MA enthusiast since the first time I saw Kung Fu on television as a kid. I am a first degree black belt in Shaolin Do kung fu. I've been studying for 12 years. My instructors changed all of the kicks in our material to knees or elbows. This helped my balance issues as well since most knee or elbow strikes are thrown while holding on to your opponent. I am currently learning more grappling. This is because I am basically a striker trapped in a grapplers body. I work at an adult day program operated by ResCare. In addition to direct care, I am also the fitness and MA instructor. The next step for me is to compete in some semi-pro grappling tournaments, and move on to full contact MMA competition. I have a great deal of light to medium contact tournament experience, so that seems to be the next logical step. I've been told I have fast hands, and better than average upper body strength. I suppose the ring is the best place to find out if I do or not. :D I am curious. How hard do you guys spar? In my 12 years of training I have received a broken nose, been knocked out, and had more split lips and bruises than I can count. IMO it is better to get knocked on your butt in class and get helped up by a friend, than for the first real hit you take to be from Bubba the mugger. I feel this is especially true for anyone with a disability since we give the appearance of a very easy target. Anyway this is me saying hello to all. Peace, love and happy training. :D

[Melanie]

Welcome Bentmonk, fantastic to have you here. How did you find us out of interest?

I look forward to hearing more from you :)

[BentMonk]

Hi Melanie. A good friend of mine sent me a link to this forum. I am very happy to have found you guys. I look forward to many good discussions and new friendships. :)

[tokugawa]

hi all, i am french and i am 32 years old. i am paraplegic in wheelchair since 15 years after motorbike crash (spinal cord injury paralyzed in both legs).i practice martial arts since 20 years, i ve never stop training it's a passion and a life style since the begining. my style is taekwondo and hapkido so i study and adapt lot of differents styles (karate, aikido, kobudo, self defence......). I m very happy to have found this forum. thank you all.

[Andy2k3]

Hi
Name: Andy

Style: Nothing yet - trying to find something suitable.

Previous styles: Heaven & Thunder Fist Kung Fu, Tai Chi

Disabilities: Mainly lower back and orthopaedic right leg. Leg is a bit shorter than left due to what's believed to be an unseen dislocated hip at birth (which kind of messed the whole leg up) femur is a bit rotated (although nothing like the 45 degrees it was a few years back) patella likes to wander off, and there's a permanent fracture of the right fib.
Other stuff is related -shoulders are a bit screwed from using crutches for a couple of years at a time (more than once!)
Injured my low back about 17 years ago and it hasn't been right since.
Lower back is rough at the minute, so is my neck due to a car smack abour 6 months ago.

I'm looking to get back into the arts - I only did about a year or so of Kung Fu & Tai Chi, but enjoyed both. Stopped the Tai Chi because we went on to swords, and there wasn't enough room in the Dojo (getting jabbed in the back whilst running through a form is a bit disconcerting :D )
Kung Fu was ok til I kept messing my ankle up doing spinning kicks - didn't find out til later that my fib was still busted....
Based in Bedford, UK

[Melanie]

Welcome Andy

Glad to have you onboard - seems you have been run through the mill a couple of times with the old injuries - pleased to hear you haven't been put off! Best of luck :)

[JuztMeee]

Hi
Name: Andy

Style: Nothing yet - trying to find something suitable.



Hi Andy -- you might try Tai Chi again ... but I'd avoid Chen style. Tai Chi can be easily adjusted to work with most of whatever is going on. I was very fortunate to find Master Ricky Leturia here in Oklahoma City. He taught at the VA Hospital for some time so he is familiar with adjusting his teaching to suit the needs of his students. Since Tai Chi has a long history of being a life long pursuite most well qualified masters are familiar with how to adjust your training.
http://www.kungfuokc.com/school_website_2.htm

Name
Bill (Yeah – it’s a 4 letter word)
Watch your mouth and I’ll try not to hit you with my Bible. ;)

Style
Tai Chi Chuan – Wu Style , also interested in Qigong though mostly as it applies to Tai Chi and generally making my guts & joints feel better. With the possible exception of Immunosuppressant drugs, Tai Chi is probably the best thing that ever helped my medical issues. It’s what keeps me healthy.
Other things I do for fun
Hitting people with my Bible (Oh yeah -- I stopped that a while back) :rolleyes:
Reading every thing in sight (especially the Bible I'm not going to hit you with), Church, (Yes, I'm one of those "Born again Christians"). Talking to hear my head rattle, Christian Apologetics (A new interest -- I claim no profound capability -- yet...), Music (I’m a nasty guitar player – with only a bit of work, you can tell the difference between me and a cat who’s tail was just stepped on), Working on my house, Making friends, and writing bad prose. (My poetry is worse by the way.) Oh – I left out running with scissors. I used to do distance running – until I developed a small but painful problem with one of the disks in my lower back – walking doesn’t hurt so I do that instead.

About me
In 1983 The U. S. Army decided it didn’t need an Artillery Officer that had Crone’s disease. (G’bye Captain, have a nice life doing something other than you’d planned!!!) They decided they may not be unable to provide me with the medications I needed (in order to stay out of the hospital) if they picked me up and sent me who-knows-where in the world. So the Department of Defense kicked me out and handed me to the Department of Veterans Affairs – who rated me as 30% disabled. You wouldn’t even think disabled if you saw me on the street – but I’m grateful to the VA for the free medical care and almost free drugs. The generosity of the American people (through the Department of Veterans Affairs) has kept me out of the poor house and able to torment the world with my verbiage. In more recent times I’ve had bone density problems … perhaps started by some of the medications they once put me on for years. Tai Chi seems to have slowed – perhaps reversed that as well.

After the Army, I taught public school for 14 years (Mathematics, Computer Science and Social Studies). (Those of you who think you have great courage – try that for a while.) During this time I was a teenage do nothing’s worst nightmare. (I once spent a year tricking a classroom full of video game addicts into learning something about programming by using the code for simple video games as examples and assignments. One of them got the first good grade he’d been given in years.) I have considerable experience teaching students with learning disabilities in the regular classroom. I wish I’d known how much Tai Chi can help your ability to focus – it would have been a huge help to some of my students at the time. (Anyone is welcome to pick my brain. Teaching of all kinds has much in common.)

Today I work for a company that publishes educational software. (It’s much more boring and predictable than teaching teenagers but pays the bills better.)

I love people – they’re the most interesting things God put on this planet. I welcome constructive criticism from those who do the same. (How else can I better myself? I’m so close to my own problems I can’t see them clearly.)

Hopefully you’ll discover that I’m especially fond of wickedly sharp-witted people who keep their sense of humor within easy reach. (I’ve been known to put a burr under their saddle and let them run.) I usually get along with everyone – even the ones that I DO hit with my Bible. This entire site seems to be full of people who are not afraid to think. It will be fun.

Faith and Laughter are the two best weapons against any kind of pain. :cool:

[Blind fury]

name

Jason Keaton

Style

Brazilian Jiujitsu, Boxing, muaythai, wrestling, judo, and some more traditional stuff.

I was born almost completely blind but as I got older my vission improved so it is not as bad now. Still pretty bad.

The cons is I cannot get a seeing eye dog. Dogs are totally sweet!


I am really psyched that there is a forum for disablled ma'ers. Pretty cool!


JK

[Blinky]

hi all
i thought that i would introduce myself and here seemed to be the place to do it.

name
Melissa

style
Taekido

general info
im 18 and i have been doing taekido for a little over two years and enjoying it immenlsy. im visually impared and have been since birth, i have about half sight in my right eye and am almost blind in my left. the main problems that i run into when training is with depth perception. seeing the instructor becomes a little hard at times as well

well thats about it, any questions feel free to ask

catch ya later
Blinky

[sonj]

hi good people

Heres my intro-

In the past i've studied Tae-kwon-do,Ju-jitsu and Hap-ki-do.

Then at age of 28 my CNS started going haywire resulting in loss of blance,muscle control,memory and vision.

And if any-one can explain to me how to get font size larger as it appears to me
then i'll be realy gratefull.

Has anyone got any suggestions for methods of 'ki' generation-
i m currently atempting Dan-Jun breathing techniques and am curious about Systema.

Best wishes to all

[Blinky]

hi sonj

increasing font size is suprisingly easy, if you are using a computer that runs windows then it can be done through the control panel. if not then there are programs that you can get that will enlarge the stuff on your computer screen. i use one called zoom text, a little old now but still does the job well

hope i helped

blinky

[shujin56]

Hello fellow Martial Artists, Let Me discribe some of my shortcomings. First I have 5 herniated discs in my back, Diabetes, Heart Disease(5-way by-pass in 2005), Diabetic amyautrophy of the muscles(it just means my muscles just deteriate). In 1997, after 23 yrs of training every day in Martial Arts my legs started giving way on me due to Diabetes. I fell a multitude of times(ultimately ending up wearing braces). I no longer could train in Martial Arts. For 9 years I didn't train at all. Then a close friend of mine who trains in Ninjutsu and at the time Kenpo asked me to help him with his students. I once again tied my belt around my waist and started instructing again. At almost 50 years of age I was having a ball. Then one day before class started My 5th degree Black belt(trained in my Art of Tearai-Te-Ryu) asked if I would hold a kicking shield while he kicked. I had no idea with what power he would Kick. Needless to say he destroyed my left shoulder. my Gi now proudly hangs on the wall in my house where it will stay. I now am a Martial Artist of the mind. Anyone that's trained for years knows that battles are really won by the mind. To out think your opponent is the ultimate goal. I still am called on by friends to speak on the mind of the Martial Artist occassionally.


Martial Artist Forever
Martin Howell

[Melanie]

Welcome Martin

Martial arts is not jsut the physical act - heres hoping we can all remain martial artists for years to come :)

Look forward to learning more about you :)

[The Blade]

HI Guys
Have you checked out http://www.disabilitymartialartsassociation.co.uk/

The guy who runs it is Dave Lee, not the stunt man dave lee,

He's a nice guy, and he is trying to do the best he can with the association, give him a shout as he would be glad to hear from you

Regards
The Blade

[disabledhero]

name
disabledhero
style
karate,shotokan
about my self
i do not suffer from cerebal pausy I coop with it,I can not kick too high so I do sweeps low leg kicks and hand tech. and going to be a brown belt soon

[disabledhero]

i guess i cant make diabled martial arts association thin i was but now there is no need

[baby kickboxer]

Well Hi There Im James 26 And Partially Sighted With Manic Depression I Have Been Doing Iaksa Kickboxing For Just Under One Month And I Have Found That The Only Problem I Have Is With Picking Up The Basics Lol I Did Karate For 3 Years Before And Found No Problems If Anything Since The Kickboxing Started I Feel Great And My Confidence Has Risen.

We All Have Disabilities Of Some Form In Life So Just Refuse To Sit Back And Let What We Have Beat Us.

You Get What You Put In.

[sosjq]

My name is Roya i live in New York i am learning Wing Chun Kung Fu and I"m learning I Chuan - I suffer from 3 herniated disk in my lower back and neck plus I had my left shoulder an both knees operated on.

[wow-food]

hey

Name: Aiden Eades

Style: Kickboxing

about me

I've done martial arts on and off throughout the years.

I've got fairly bad eyesight (i can never drive... but somehow i can hit a target bullseye from about 30m away with a bow and arrow or a rifle... which is odd since i can barely see the target)

My vision is VERY bad across long distance, and fairly bad close up. This has impared martial arts slightly because it offed my balance a bit. But there are some perks too.

Where my vision isn't all that great i rely on instant reflex kind've i dont think when i spar, just react. I've also had the odd spat of miracle reflexes (turned around to see a fist flying towards my face and managd to block it without even realising it. Then when i actually realised i'd blocked i was so dumbfounded i got clocked round the face :P)

[blind fist]

well this is actually my first ever post so as good a place as any to start

my make is peter i am usually choose the profile name kung fu monkey but as i do not do monkey style i thought it might be a bit confusing, the monkey reference is to do with my love of climbing trees.

i am registered blind but still have about 15 percent of my vision left and i have studied lau gar for the past 6 years.

i have noticed people asking others to describe any differculties they have had with training so here goes, i was pleasently surprised when i started my training in kung fu after a bad exerience when i was young with a not very understanding japanese karate teacher that nearly stopped me from ever trying again, in my kung fu however i was aloud to stand stand closest to the instructor and was helped by a friend of mine who started at the same time as me, i was also aloud to be shown things one on one as the lesson carried on after each section tomake sure i got it which i am gratefull for as well as the instructors takign some tiem after the lessons to go back through it agian with me. it took me six months just to be able to react well enough to intercept a punch and block it instead of just covering up and moving away but it meant i get very good at footwork and dodging lol. there were a few misshaps during the years where i asumed i was doing somethign right so didn't ask to see it again and learn a few thing wrong so had to re learnthem which was anoying.

i have since read quite a few books and have a pretty good understanding of kung fu and differences between styles and how they function

i am pretty rusty at the mo having not beento lessons for quite some months due to a very frustraiting groin injury but when i go back will take the opertunity i think to start other lessons in other styles and try and deepenmy understandign of kung fu as a hole

not sure whet else to say if anyone want to chat i clicked on a box that said let others email you but have to admit to not knwing how this site really works, oh well lol

by the way i am not a member of the british kung fu association but of club run by a studend of master yaus so do not have access to the same learning material but know of the existance of a syllabus book and have been looking for it for years now so if anyone can help that would be great

thanks

Peter aka blind fist

[sosjq]

Hi Blind Fist i just read your story it's real nice the system i'm learning has a sensitivity training called chi sao and it really works. their are a lot of styles i can't learn because of my disability but i have found that a soft style helps me alot

[sosjq]

Name

Roy

Style

Wing Chun

Bout me

I have alot of bone injuries 2 many 2 list
I have been doing Wing Chun for 20 yrs. on and off
because of my injuries it has limited my mobility alot
but i never stop training funning thing i train but can't wash dishing

[sosjq]

Name

Roy

Style

Wing Chun

Bout me

I have alot of bone injuries 2 many 2 list
I have been doing Wing Chun on and off for 20 yrs.
because of my injuries it has limited my mobility alot
and my training has dropped alot but i never stop training
funning thing i train but can't wash dishing

[blind fist]

Hi Blind Fist i just read your story it's real nice the system i'm learning has a sensitivity training called chi sao and it really works. their are a lot of styles i can't learn because of my disability but i have found that a soft style helps me alot

i i thinki know what you are talking about it is refered to as sticking hands and we do not do muck of it as our instructors prefere to concentrate on quick reactions and predicting the right time to strike instead of bridging but most of our blocks involve an element of it as well as our grabbing movements, i will be looking into other forms as i feel my sight it getting too bad to continue with this style solely

[M51AB]

Greetings from Minneapolis,where it is now a balmy 1F/-17C :bang:

My name is Tom and I have spastic hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy effecting the right side of my body.

I studied Tae Kwon Do on and off for a few years and eventually earned a blue belt-red stripe

It's been almost 15 years since I've dawned a Karate uniform and in addition to gaining some weight, I've had another surgery to correct an inward moving right foot and as a result have occasional bouts with arthritis in cold/damp weather.

With winter striking so soon this year, I'm beginning to experience cabin fever and would like to get back into the Martial Arts.

[Melanie]

Welcome to the forums - please help yourself to the couch on the left and milk is in the fridge. :D

I know just how you feel about cabin fever - I hope to go back to it meself one day :(

[sosjq]

Hi Blind Fist any type of training is good for you and if you want try any soft style of trainning but remember when u lose one of your senes the other get stronger

[sosjq]

Hi M51AB i feel you on that my SIFU always said if you have it use it so u dont 4 get it training is wat we do 2 make things better for us b it forms or breathing or katas if help us deal with our disabilities and i no wat u mean about the cold me and my fam just left NY cuz my DR. said the cold will put me n the bed and it has so we moved 2 Georgia and it's not so bad on me just do wat u can 4 now and add on every week thats wat i do have a Blessed Holy days and a enjoyable New Year

[sosjq]

Hi Melanie when you have time lets talk about MA

[sosjq]

Name:
Roya

Style
Wing Chun

I live in the USA and have been doing wing chun for 20years on anf off becacuse on my injuries and now the cold is my worst enemy

[Kobela]

Name; Tom Kobela
Style? Not really - a System. Self Defense via 'The Self Defense Company' (Damian Ross).
Impairment; adding to the list is an apparently permanently munged up left foot (chronic pain and some immobility) from getting it crushed against my motorcycle by a young man backing his car out of his driveway without looking. Same accident - bulged thorasic disc.
Message? ANYONE can benefit from martial arts practice but those of us who are gimped out have to temper our workouts with an application of good sense. Contacting a target with my left foot would hurt like hell so I don't. Simple as that. I've made real progress with all the techniques I CAN do. I worked with quadriplegics many years ago and don't whine so much about my own infirmities. Everyone is limited by something. Don't let it stop you from doing what you love. Just use the brain and don't hurt yourself further.

[Bai Hu]

name- Glen

style- currently; Tang Soo Do, Tai Chi, some Hapkido
past; Moo Duk Kwan, Bai Kai kung fu


My spine is fused w/titanium support from L4-S1 and I have 2 ruptured cervical disks between C5-C7. Maybe one day I can get the insurance company to agree that my neck should be repaired. HA. I've also some chronic depression problems brought on by pain and the loss of many things I used to be able to do. Though I am overcoming the depression as I learn to accept what I can and cannot do physically. The pain comes and goes, depending on the weather and what the last workout was like.
My balance is always improving, though the dizziness the the cervical issue causes can hit at any time.

I see there are many folks here with challenges greater than mine. It is encouraging and inspiring knowing that this doesn't impede your desire to succeed in the martial arts.

[BentMonk]

name- Glen

style- currently; Tang Soo Do, Tai Chi, some Hapkido
past; Moo Duk Kwan, Bai Kai kung fu


My spine is fused w/titanium support from L4-S1 and I have 2 ruptured cervical disks between C5-C7. Maybe one day I can get the insurance company to agree that my neck should be repaired. HA. I've also some chronic depression problems brought on by pain and the loss of many things I used to be able to do. Though I am overcoming the depression as I learn to accept what I can and cannot do physically. The pain comes and goes, depending on the weather and what the last workout was like.
My balance is always improving, though the dizziness the the cervical issue causes can hit at any time.

I see there are many folks here with challenges greater than mine. It is encouraging and inspiring knowing that this doesn't impede your desire to succeed in the martial arts.

Welcome. Staying positive is often easier said than done. Meditation and prayer work most of the time for me. When that doesn't work there's always rocking out to Metallica and beating on the heavy bag until I fall over. :hat:

[vismitananda]

Name:
Dean(preferably called in that way)

Style:
Muay Thai
Taekwando
Wushu
Arnis

A "bit" about me:

I'm a graduating college student, and loves watching movies(Shaw Brothers), being obsessed with Jija Vismitananda, I do read a lot and trains a lot(3/4 times a week, 3/4 hrs. every practice). When I was a littile "lump" I nearly died of a "dog" attack, the dog bit my face and leave a scar at my right temple until today, and so happy to see that the scar is miracolously vanishing. My favorite Martial Arts is Wushu, specifically Hung Gar Kuen. I'm planning to train again this coming summer.

[Terri]

Name Terri
Style: Wing chun kung fu
Tai chi quan

Hi every one! I am quite new here. I was thrilled to read the posts of others with disabilities. As for myself i have MS, Fibromyalgia,IBS, profound hearing loss, and a bum knee after car accident. I also have bipolar disorder I guess secondary to losing my profession as i was a Doc and a very happy one at that.

Started wing chun kung fu recently and love it! It already is helping me balance wise as well as getting me out of my depressive funks. This forum is wonderful! I don't want to feel sorry for myself. I mean everyone has something sooner or later . for me the choice is to moan and groan about it, or better yet to make music from it. Everything is a blessing if we only have inner eyes to see it.

look forward to knowing you all!:love:Terri

[BentMonk]

Greetings Terri. Welcome to the boards. :hat:

[NightWanderer]

Name James
Style whatever works
About me:
I've trained a bit of Ju jitsu both japanese and brasilian, I wanted to like aikido but given my Cerebral palsy I felt it was impractical for me, and I'm a bit of a 'darker' type, so I had trouble embracing Morihei Ueshiba's general philosophies on love and peace, etc. Anyway, I'm into bodybuilding now, but I think my conditioning sucks so I'd like to get back into martial arts, hence my reason for joining.

[memmek10k]

name : Not going to say
martial style: Wing chun
disables: from cerebral palsy to well a lot of them you name it.

[BentMonk]

Name James
Style whatever works
About me:
I've trained a bit of Ju jitsu both japanese and brasilian, I wanted to like aikido but given my Cerebral palsy I felt it was impractical for me, and I'm a bit of a 'darker' type, so I had trouble embracing Morihei Ueshiba's general philosophies on love and peace, etc. Anyway, I'm into bodybuilding now, but I think my conditioning sucks so I'd like to get back into martial arts, hence my reason for joining.

Greetings. I have CP also. I've trained in kung fu for 15 years and have extensive sparring experience, including full contact. I'm also a certified kettlebell teacher. If I can offer any suggestions to help with your training, just ask. :hat:

[progdan]

I've just introduced myself in the intros section, but I'll do a quick one here also.

Name: Dan
Style: Krav Maga & Doce Pares Eskrima
About Me: Certainly not as critical as others here, but I developed a cyst in the growth-plate of my right shoulder, so after a few fractures and eventually an operation, I have quite limited movement in my right shoulder, and my upper arm is approximately a hands-width shorter than my left arm. This is a bit of a hassle, but I get around it, though I have to do extra strength building to make sure it doesn't pop out when it gets pulled past its point of point of normal resistance. I'm also very short-sighted, but contact lenses helped solve that one...

Anyway, pleased to be here, and to hear about the many who aren't allowing their circumstances to prevent them being involved in Martial Arts!

[reedk]

MMA jujitsu fanatic here.

Jujitsu is my game. ACtually took some classes from BJ Penn and his staff and brothers. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

http://www.hawaiiufc.com

[BentMonk]

MMA jujitsu fanatic here.

Jujitsu is my game. ACtually took some classes from BJ Penn and his staff and brothers. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

http://www.hawaiiufc.com

That had to have been way cool. What's your disability and how long have you trained?

[reedk]

Been training for a couple years back in 2003-2004. Stopped training since then though.

mma fanatic

http://www.hawaiiufc.com

[toegone]

Name: Adam

Style(s) Previously Practiced: Tae Kwon Do (ITF) 6.5 years and Isshinryu Karate (just basic training at college) about a year

About Me: My disabilities aren't nearly as bad as many I have read but here goes. A little under 9 years ago a standing forklift drove onto and crushed my right foot. 3 surgeries later I lost my big toe, part of my right foot, have a badly reconstructed 2nd toe, and gained a skin graft. This injury also caused me to have to walk with a cane, which I am finally getting past with shoes and an orthotic, and because of this raising one hip higher then the other due to the limp. This also caused my L3-5 to curve to the left a bit, and be slightly twisted. Anyway, I am looking to get back into the martial arts to not only get in shape but for the mental aspects of it as well. I have had trouble trying to find a school in my area that I could train at given some of my issues. That's why I'm here, to see if anyone can help. Thanks for listening.

[sosjq]

Hi Adam sorry to hear about your disability>>. What state or Country do you live in.. What style do you want 2 take up is very important becasue of your injuries..

[toegone]

I have interest in TKD again, as well as other striking arts. The reason I want to start there if possible is familiarity with it, and would keep me up and moving more and help to also build my cardio up. In time there is a gracie bjj school in the area, and Steve Blackman of wwf fame is from the area and has an mma school, but that would be much later one in good shape and if I thought with my foot I could compete. The importance I guess is a striking art that will keep me moving to help me in the ways that martial arts did in the best, healing of mind and spirit, and get me in shape. As I posted on the forum I am in Harrisburg Pennsylvania USA.

[hkdstl]

I am a disabled vet. Knee braces, back problems, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury.

I participate in Hapkido, Tae Kwon Kwon Do, and Kumdo. At one time I did a lot of Yudo, but can no longer do so.

[Knight_Errant]

Quick check: is being insane a disability? I'm serious. I have a paranoid psychosis.

[Dean Winchester]

Yes mate it is.

It can have just as much a negative impact on your day to day life as many other disabilities.

[Knight_Errant]

OK cool thanks

[sabco]

I was so pleased when I found this forum! I was beginning to think there was not much out there for martial artists with a disability. I got to a point in my training a few months ago where it was difficult for me to continue due to my health. I am 35 years old, blind in one eye and only have 15 degrees of vision in my 'good' eye. Despite this I attained a black belt in taekwondo several years ago and work as a high school History teacher. To say that it has been hard at times is an understatement.

I have been involved in martial arts since I was 13- I really think that I was born with it in me. I studied Wing Chun first (which was great), a little kickboxing and gojukai karate and finally I have been doing taekwondo for the last 6 years and am still loving it.

About a month ago I decided to start a blog to connect with others with similar difficulties in my vicinity (South Australia) as I needed, and still need, to adapt my trining program somewhat as I cannot train in standard classes anymore due to risk of injury to my precious remaining vision. However the blog is becoming a record of my experiences and maybe some others facing hardships in their training could get something out of it. Here is the link:
http://martialvision.blogspot.com/

So thanks WW for investing time into this invaluable forum and MAP for hosting it.

[Ancientharp]

Yeah, seconded thanks to White Wizard.

And to everyone who wanted to talk about whatever issues they have.

I have a severe learning disability (nonverbal). It's basically a step to the left of Autism and Asperger's.
http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/nld.htm
(this pretty much explains me to a 't').

I was only recently diagnosed, as I had managed to teach myself social skills along the way. Plus, this diagnosis was only separated out from the main AS category fairly recently. So.

My main barriers to training are social. Plus, I get overwhelmed by too many instructions at once. And I have the NLD version of ADD, which means that my brain completely re-sets. Occasionally in the middle of someone talking to me or giving me instructions. Which is annoying ;p

[simon s]

Yeah, seconded thanks to White Wizard.
And to everyone who wanted to talk about whatever issues they have.
I have a severe learning disability (nonverbal). It's basically a step to the left of Autism and Asperger's.
http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/nld.htm
(this pretty much explains me to a 't').


Thanks to Ancientharp and others who have posted here and on other threads regarding disabilities. For one thing I have learnt so much about what affects others and illnesses I never knew about and secondly slowly one by one we can change peoples perception of others.

[Ancientharp]

Thanks to Ancientharp and others who have posted here and on other threads regarding disabilities. For one thing I have learnt so much about what affects others and illnesses I never knew about and secondly slowly one by one we can change peoples perception of others.

No worries. I feel sort of silly sticking my head out and saying 'look at me!', but if you found it helpful, then I'm glad.

[sabco]

No worries. I feel sort of silly sticking my head out and saying 'look at me!', but if you found it helpful, then I'm glad.

I know what you mean. I only decided to start a blog because I could find nothing on the net in my area (South Australia) that seemed to cater for my martial arts needs. I think people have to stick their head out otherwise we will not be able to spot each other and therefore help each other out. So good on you.

[Ancientharp]

I think people have to stick their head out otherwise we will not be able to spot each other and therefore help each other out.

This is a true fact (:

[Scooter Shinobi]

Name: Mike

Style: Ninjutsu (Bujinkan)

About me: I've had cerebral palsy since birth. I've been training in Ninjutsu for a little over a year now. I'm still a lowly white belt, just a tadpole. But man has the Ninjutsu ever helped my disability! I hope to one day reach 1st dan, but that's a bit of a ways... one day I'll get there, though!

[gorinnosho]

Name: gorinnosho
Style: Shukokai
The rest: I'm long sighted with moderate hearing loss since birth, i've Don't Shito-ryu for 7 years and am a 1st kyu, going for shodan this year. i am also into kendo.

[ClappedOut]

Name: Ray
Style: Previously studied wing chun for a year

Hi everyone my name is Ray and I suffer from various spinal problems and a busted left knee. I used to thoroughly enjoy martial arts before my accident left me unable to do much of anything. I can still move at a slow pace and have full use of my arms so I still intend to take up a new martial art.

[finite monkey]

Hi My name is Alex. I have my health thank God
My judo club is looking into providing Special Needs judo and I am hungry for knowlege
I also train TKD and kung fu san soo

[Hapuka]

Name
Laura White Te-Aho.

Style
Boxing and Muay Thai.

About Me
I have been a practitioner of the martial arts since I was 14. I have Aspergers syndrome, I'm a slow learner and easily find myself disorientated. However the martial arts has seemed to be one of the few things I've managed to pick up, focus on and stick with. My only regret is not taking it up sooner.

[Ziptie125]

Name
Jonathan

Style
Kuk Sool Won but moving to Aikido

About me
I was always in love with learning martial arts and when i hit college, I was finally able to go to a school regularly, Due to a previous injury getting worse, half of what makes my shoulder socket had to be removed this year. At this point I can't even throw a proper punch with major pain, but things are getting better. I'm moving to aikido because the idea of fluid motion and minimal movement sounds like my best option right now

[KG6EYR]

Alrighty... The new home away from home - where the shop-talk of disabilities and medical conditions won't easily derail a topic...

Name:
Max E. Meier, III

Styles:
Kodokan Judo, American Karate (Or simply, bits and pieces of everything, but my foundation is Kodokan Judo and Shotokan Karate)

About Me:

I was born with spastic diplegic Cerebral Palsy, and I ambulate with and without forearm crutches. I have some neurological deficit in my upper body, mostly in fine-motor skills, with my lower extremities suffering from both fine-and-gross motor skills, including balance. I'm a huge computer nerd, or at least was until depression started taking it's toll on my life, and I love to play video games.

I feel really hesitant to post this detail here, but since we're all so open, I figure it's best to just let it fly from the closet. I have been a medicinal marijuana user for a few years now, and seemingly nobody in my dojo is bothered by it.

I'm also an avid insomniac (not by choice), as well as having an IQ of 165 and being a jack-of-all-trades. I'd add more, but frankly, I'm exhausted...

[taichi bob]

Hi, I have oesteo arthritis...both hips knees and ankles...right knee has a partial plastic replacement, so I tend to wobble about a bit...now getting into this wing chun thingy..to me a real nifty system...was involved with tai chi...had a go at tomiki akido,..11 years Uechi ryu..was in on the one set in this country me thinks, still practise on my own...kendo...free style karate?? and pottered about a bit in one or two other systems...started when I was 19 now an oap...jeez I have to wait another ten years for my free tv liscense...you all take care now.

[G50]

Name - G50

Styles - TKD and HKD.

About me - I have Asperger's Syndrome and have a unknown Medical disability. I have to overcome both to get through classes.

Because of horrible personal treatment growing up, my AS also causes me to be phobic of my Master(s). It has been a rough road, but I've been getting through it.

[Dean Winchester]

Welcome,

We seem to have a fair few people on MAP who are on the spectrum, me being one of them :D

Enjoy your stay.

[Blade96]

Also diagnosed as on the spectrum when i was about 26 years old. No need for introductions for me though. :p

[oldgoat]

I'm a disgustingly healthy 70yr old, devoted runner and MA. My two kids(in their 40s now) are both severly disabled. My son beat cancer(given a 10% chance to live). He had a hemipelvectomy and beat that also, wasn't supposed to walk but walks with a built up shoe and lots of balls. He's a prodigal son(patient) at UCLA Medical Center. My daughter has Progressive MS and it's indeed progressing. She's wheelchair bound. She lives in Minnesota and my wife and I moved here to help her and her family. We lived our last 42yrs in Las Vegas. My last ten years were spent studying Shaolin Kempo. The last couple yrs I was an instructor, 75 students, all ages.

I also started a program for kids with cancer. All free of course, gi's and everything. I had 13 cancer kids in all stages. I left the program in good hands when we moved to Minnesota. Now here in St Cloud, MN I'm starting the same program but it's a bit harder than in Las Vegas since I have no backing.

I'll get it done. My program will be called KicksandChords. My goal is simple and a win win for the kids, their parents and any dojo that wants to participate.

I have so much respect for the disabled martial artists on this forum. You are the real definition of Warrior. That term is thrown around cheaply but you guys & girls are the real Warriors.

[slimbo]

Hello all.
I'll keep it brief. Various mental health issues, mainly agoraphobia, not been more than half a mile from home in 20 years. Arthritis and gout as well only adds to the fun!!!
My neighbour was a Wing-chun instructor, free private lessons!!! but has recently moved. (un)fortunatley for me, a Wudang tai Chi class has started at the end of my road. Better than nothing, right? Not dissing tai-chi btw, just a little sceptical about it's real world effectiveness. Hoping to be proved wrong.
Take care guys n gals. :)

[joe schmoe]

Name
Joe Schmoe

Style
Mang Ho Kwan style Tae Kwon Do

About Me
First, I thought i had physical limitations...My hat is off to everyone who has posted here, you all are TRUE WARRIORS for over-coming serious disabilities to train and learn Martial Arts.

Have always wanted to train but never had the discipline to do so until now (48 years old)

I have osteoarthritis in both knees, my right knee is bone on bone which requires me to where a knee brace about 95% of the time and the doctor wants to do a knee replacement. However, I am to young to have one, yet... The left knee just got scoped 4 weeks ago and they found a torn meniscus, torn cartridge, and good ole' osteoarthritis...No brace is required for this knee but with both knees now falling apart this is impacting my training significantly...Dyslexia is also there but work extra hard to not let it get in the way...:bang:

Just have to work through it and keep on keepin' on!!

[607leighm]

Hi Guys & Girls,

My name is Mark. I was born with a walking disability which is a form of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. Basically that is tension in the muscle in the lower limbs to the point where i am unable to full straighten my legs. This causes problems when walking.


I started doing martial arts as a junior. Mainly Karate and Aikido until my disability got to the point were i was unable to stand. Some 6 years later i was backing giving martial arts another shot taking up bjj. I have just moved to a MMA gym and really wanting to give it a proper shot!!

All the best guys.
Good luck to you all.

[simon s]

Welcome to MAP Mark.

[S89]

I was born with a mild form of cerebral palsy (my motor skills are affected, as is my balance but I am able to walk).

I formally started martial arts a few years ago (after being interested in them my whole life, I took the plunge). I really enjoyed the style of kung fu I was studying and the instructors were really helpful, but I guess you could say that later on I found that the style was not for me. I was perhaps a bit too self conscious and hesitant at the time, and over thought things. The stances did help my balance though, and after a while I became able to do certain movements more accurately than I previously could.

Having said that, I'm grateful for the time I spent there, and the help I was given even though the organisation and I were following separate paths so to speak.

I recently started training in a different style a few weeks ago and am loving it so far. Granted, there are some things I can't do properly (like some of the warm up exercises), but the instructors are more than happy to let me go at my own pace.

I've just gotta go one step at a time, but I know my obstacles can be overcome with perseverance and effort.

[Senjuro2]

My name is Timothy R. I had a grand mal seizure in 05' which put me in a month-long coma during that coma, I had several strokes and many more seizures. Many of my muscles had atrophed, and this had left me with footdrop (no feeling in my feet) I use braces for it (much like forrestt gump's) I have not studied any martial arts so I don't know if this is the right place for me. What I am hoping to find here are some suggestions on where I could go and what I could study with my balance issues. I can walk fine, but can't stand very long because of my lack of muscles pretty much everywhere. I'm hoping I can find a place that will help strengthen me physically and to discipline myself. And responses will be much appreciated!! Thanks -Tim