One of my instructors had MS. He often could not stand because of the weakness and balance problems. however he was sometimes able to spar and to do forms. He was a very good instructor and attained a fourth degree. He tested from a wheel chair. He was able to break 4 boards solid no spacers from the wheel chair. He also was inspirational to those of us who were not disabled.
I also had a student that had had a stroke as a child and lost some mobility and the use of his arm. He learned to adapt.
Some of these people are doing what some of us may have to do in a real altercation. Someone can take away the use of you legs, or your arms. Does that mean you give up?
If you only had the use of your mouth and you life was in danger would you not try to bite and tear away at your attackers flesh?
Part of martial arts is personal victory. You work to make the most of what you have. To improve youself and pray that if the time comes your training will be enough to save your life.
I had a student who had a heart condition that moved and went to a new school. I ran into him a few years later and he was very upset. The school told him he could not learn anything above his rank until he tested. The test was 4 hours long and non stop. Because of his heart there was no way he would have survived the test. But he could have done everything in the test over the period of a day. How stupid of an instructor to tell someone they must risk their life for a belt and never look at the capability of the student.
just a thought.
I've met more handicapped people with no physical abnormalities than I would care to recall.
I also had a student that had had a stroke as a child and lost some mobility and the use of his arm. He learned to adapt.
Some of these people are doing what some of us may have to do in a real altercation. Someone can take away the use of you legs, or your arms. Does that mean you give up?
If you only had the use of your mouth and you life was in danger would you not try to bite and tear away at your attackers flesh?
Part of martial arts is personal victory. You work to make the most of what you have. To improve youself and pray that if the time comes your training will be enough to save your life.
I had a student who had a heart condition that moved and went to a new school. I ran into him a few years later and he was very upset. The school told him he could not learn anything above his rank until he tested. The test was 4 hours long and non stop. Because of his heart there was no way he would have survived the test. But he could have done everything in the test over the period of a day. How stupid of an instructor to tell someone they must risk their life for a belt and never look at the capability of the student.
just a thought.
I've met more handicapped people with no physical abnormalities than I would care to recall.
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