UK -- Young judo prodigy Kieran Clarke, who became blind at the age of 5 after an allergic reaction to penicillin, has been brushing sighted opposition aside in national competitions, according to prfire.co.uk.
The 10-year-old champ, who's been nicknamed 'the blind fury', says the key to his success is his concentration.
I think I'm so good at judo because I take my time and wait to make my move, the young judo fighter says.
Showing posts with label blind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blind. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Blind Won Taekwondo Gold
Croatia -- A man who became blind after a 1998 accident took the top spot at a taekwondo competition in Zagreb, according to croatiantimes.com.
"Yeah, yeah ... big deal, so he won a sparring match", some folks may perhaps be tempted to think. Well, let me assure you it IS a big deal as it appears the 36-year-old Mirsad Becirovic was the only competitor with a disability!
If that is not impressive to you, then I seriously don't know what might be.
"Yeah, yeah ... big deal, so he won a sparring match", some folks may perhaps be tempted to think. Well, let me assure you it IS a big deal as it appears the 36-year-old Mirsad Becirovic was the only competitor with a disability!
If that is not impressive to you, then I seriously don't know what might be.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Blind Champ
Colorado -- 59-year-old Army Vet Jim Stevens wanted to give up many times, but his daughters wouldn't let him, according to aolnews.com.
And it is a good thing he listened his girls because Mr Stevens is the oldest man to ever win the men's fighting competition at the nation wide martial arts Tournament of Champions.
Oh, and he is also legally blind.
On top of that he's a world-renowned scrimshaw artist - tiny etches in ivory, filled in with pigment to make glorious designs.
And it is a good thing he listened his girls because Mr Stevens is the oldest man to ever win the men's fighting competition at the nation wide martial arts Tournament of Champions.
Oh, and he is also legally blind.
On top of that he's a world-renowned scrimshaw artist - tiny etches in ivory, filled in with pigment to make glorious designs.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
An Inspiration to Many
Arizona -- 43-year-old, former US Army paratrooper and military police officer Tom Hicks is also a third-degree black belt in karate. He's also legally blind and teaches classes in Gilbert.
You can read more of his inspirational story in kswt.com.
You can read more of his inspirational story in kswt.com.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Working on Her Green Belt
UK -- A 10-year-old, blind martial arts enthusiast is hoping to be awarded her green belt next week.
Young Jessica Marshall from Bushey has been climbing the ranks of Ju-Jitsu since she was six, despite being completely blind, according to watfordobserver.co.uk.
Young Jessica Marshall from Bushey has been climbing the ranks of Ju-Jitsu since she was six, despite being completely blind, according to watfordobserver.co.uk.
Monday, January 26, 2009
He Sees Possibilities
I urge you to read this article! In particular about how this man's teacher pinpoints the very essence and beauty of teaching martial arts properly.
Story:
Canada -- 49-year-old Randy Kurzeniski lost complete sight in both eyes six years ago, according to canada.com. Since then, the orange belt has gained an understanding of himself through karate and winning several titles with perfect scores in weapons kata (forms).
"You have other treasures, and that's the beauty of the martial arts world," he said. "We have four other senses, and focusing on the others - auditory and tactile - those are truly treasures."
Story:
Canada -- 49-year-old Randy Kurzeniski lost complete sight in both eyes six years ago, according to canada.com. Since then, the orange belt has gained an understanding of himself through karate and winning several titles with perfect scores in weapons kata (forms).
"You have other treasures, and that's the beauty of the martial arts world," he said. "We have four other senses, and focusing on the others - auditory and tactile - those are truly treasures."
Friday, January 02, 2009
A Big Hearted Student
New York -- Timesunion.com is spot on: When you're 12 years old, blind and learning karate - you definitely need a big heart. Oh, a big sense of humor helps too...
Young Tylor from Albany really shows a tremendous martial arts spirit - setting a great example for others to follow. Way to go buddy! And of course, kudos to your parents and instructors as well.
How can you not be touched and inspired by the pictures of this constantly smiling, young karateka?
Young Tylor from Albany really shows a tremendous martial arts spirit - setting a great example for others to follow. Way to go buddy! And of course, kudos to your parents and instructors as well.
How can you not be touched and inspired by the pictures of this constantly smiling, young karateka?
Friday, November 28, 2008
Legally Blind Third Dan
Colorado -- 64 year old Ron Roe from Denver recently tested for 3. dan in taekwondo in Aurora. What makes this something out of the ordinary is that Mr Roe is legally blind.
According to denver.yourhub.com, Roe took up martial arts training nearly 13 years ago. "I may be slow, but if I just keep going and never stop, I know I'll make it in the end," the black belt competitor said.
Very, very cool - congrats Mr Roe!
According to denver.yourhub.com, Roe took up martial arts training nearly 13 years ago. "I may be slow, but if I just keep going and never stop, I know I'll make it in the end," the black belt competitor said.
Very, very cool - congrats Mr Roe!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Karate With Passion
Innerwestweekly.com.au reported about an Australian black belt couple who have been teaching karate to visually-impaired and blind people since 2001.
Now, the married couple - Miklos and Nora Farago - have won a Vision Australia's Making a Difference Awards for their work.
They say that as well as improving participants' fitness levels, the karate training improves awareness of spatial concepts and posture.
Now, the married couple - Miklos and Nora Farago - have won a Vision Australia's Making a Difference Awards for their work.
They say that as well as improving participants' fitness levels, the karate training improves awareness of spatial concepts and posture.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Take a Closer Look
Texas -- If you took a closer look, you'd see that El Paso karate instructor Miguel Valdez can't see. He is a fifth-degree black belt and runs his own school, according to kfoxtv.com
"Focus on what your abilities and assets are, the things you're good at - not your limitations." This is his message to young people today, Valdez says.
"Focus on what your abilities and assets are, the things you're good at - not your limitations." This is his message to young people today, Valdez says.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Kicking Out at His Problem
UK -- Michael Squire gets a real kick out of his aikido hobby, despite the fact he is paralysed down one side, suffering from epilepsy and is partially sighted, according to tamesideadvertiser.co.uk
The 45-year-old member of Tameside Blind Association's Young Person's group, has just reached black belt level in the Japanese martial art.
The 45-year-old member of Tameside Blind Association's Young Person's group, has just reached black belt level in the Japanese martial art.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
An Attention Grabber
Even at the Olympic Training Center, with its assortment of world-class boxers, swimmers and weight lifters crowding gyms and training rooms, Grace Ohashi is an attention grabber.
In the past six months, the 18-year-old has emigrated from Japan, figured out a foreign culture, finished second at the USA Judo Senior National championships, earned a spot in the ongoing Pan American Games and transformed herself into a potential Olympian.
And that was the routine part. Ohashi can barely see.
She walks into walls. Uses a walking cane on busy streets. Tumbled down stairs before her national championship match in Miami. Nearly stepped off a dock at Pueblo Reservoir. Can't see the faces of the women she fights.
Source
In the past six months, the 18-year-old has emigrated from Japan, figured out a foreign culture, finished second at the USA Judo Senior National championships, earned a spot in the ongoing Pan American Games and transformed herself into a potential Olympian.
And that was the routine part. Ohashi can barely see.
She walks into walls. Uses a walking cane on busy streets. Tumbled down stairs before her national championship match in Miami. Nearly stepped off a dock at Pueblo Reservoir. Can't see the faces of the women she fights.
Source
Friday, May 18, 2007
Special Olympics Champion
Wow, plain and simple!
Story:
You wouldn't have been surprised if Loretta Claiborne never amounted to anything. One of seven children born to a poor single mother, blind and with developmental disabilities, she couldn't walk or talk until she was 4.
She could run, though, and in running she found success and fame and a platform to tell the rest of us to never count out those people born with challenges to overcome. Claiborne has competed in more than 25 marathons and has twice finished as one of the top 100 women in the Boston Marathon. She is an international Special Olympics champion.
Her achievements aren't limited to the track. She speaks four languages, earned a black belt in karate, holds honorary degrees from Quinnipiac College and Villanova University, and received ESPN's ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage in 1996.
Source
Story:
You wouldn't have been surprised if Loretta Claiborne never amounted to anything. One of seven children born to a poor single mother, blind and with developmental disabilities, she couldn't walk or talk until she was 4.
She could run, though, and in running she found success and fame and a platform to tell the rest of us to never count out those people born with challenges to overcome. Claiborne has competed in more than 25 marathons and has twice finished as one of the top 100 women in the Boston Marathon. She is an international Special Olympics champion.
Her achievements aren't limited to the track. She speaks four languages, earned a black belt in karate, holds honorary degrees from Quinnipiac College and Villanova University, and received ESPN's ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage in 1996.
Source
Monday, April 09, 2007
Judo Quarrel
Australia -- A top international sporting body is set to be taken to trial, accused of violating the human rights of a blind Adelaide man.
Paralympics gold medallist Anthony Clarke will call on witnesses, including an Olympic judo coach, to prove he can compete with able-bodied martial artists.
He claims the Oceania Judo Union banned him from its 2005 world tournament and cost him a spot at next year's Beijing Olympics.
The New Zealand-based group has vowed to defend its position that Mr Clarke would need a sighted carer if he was to be involved in the competition.
Source
Paralympics gold medallist Anthony Clarke will call on witnesses, including an Olympic judo coach, to prove he can compete with able-bodied martial artists.
He claims the Oceania Judo Union banned him from its 2005 world tournament and cost him a spot at next year's Beijing Olympics.
The New Zealand-based group has vowed to defend its position that Mr Clarke would need a sighted carer if he was to be involved in the competition.
Source
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
She signed up
Nancy VanderBrink wanted to join Winthrop University's Chinese Martial Arts Club but knew her parents wouldn't approve.
VanderBrink has retina problems as a result of being born three months premature. Cataracts complicated the matter. She already is legally blind and if she were to receive a hit in the head, she might go completely blind. Parents worry about things like that.
The martial arts club has never had a member with a disability before. While contemplating the idea, revelation struck VanderBrink. "My logic is I'm going to lose (my vision) anyway," she said. "I might as well enjoy it while I got it."
She signed up.
Source
VanderBrink has retina problems as a result of being born three months premature. Cataracts complicated the matter. She already is legally blind and if she were to receive a hit in the head, she might go completely blind. Parents worry about things like that.
The martial arts club has never had a member with a disability before. While contemplating the idea, revelation struck VanderBrink. "My logic is I'm going to lose (my vision) anyway," she said. "I might as well enjoy it while I got it."
She signed up.
Source
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Slowly going blind
If 14-year-old Tara Smith could ask people to do one thing for her, it would be to not treat her differently.
Tara was diagnosed with keratonus, a degenerative disease of the cornea, two years ago.
Since that time she has lost complete vision in her left eye and has been left with 6-60 vision in her right eye.
But slowly going blind has not stopped Tara from winning several gold medals in judo this year.
She took gold in the senior girls open and silver in the senior girl’s 0.55kg division at the Auckland International Championships in June and was also named winner of the girls open at the North Island Championships in August.
Source
Tara was diagnosed with keratonus, a degenerative disease of the cornea, two years ago.
Since that time she has lost complete vision in her left eye and has been left with 6-60 vision in her right eye.
But slowly going blind has not stopped Tara from winning several gold medals in judo this year.
She took gold in the senior girls open and silver in the senior girl’s 0.55kg division at the Auckland International Championships in June and was also named winner of the girls open at the North Island Championships in August.
Source
Sunday, September 17, 2006
He sees with sounds
14-year-old Ben Underwood from Sacramento, California is a freshman like all the rest — well not exactly like all the rest. In his first week at school, a lot of people at the school haven't guessed that Ben has a secret.
You probably couldn't figure it out watching him in combat at karate class … or hitting his mark in a pillow fight … or zipping down the street on his roller blades. But in class, you'll notice that Ben takes his notes in Braille. He says he lost his sight two weeks before his third birthday.
Ben had cancer in both eyes. But he discovered a way to beat his blindness. When he was about 6, he started "clicking," and quickly realized that the sound he made with his tongue bounced off things around him, giving him an idea what was there.
Source
You probably couldn't figure it out watching him in combat at karate class … or hitting his mark in a pillow fight … or zipping down the street on his roller blades. But in class, you'll notice that Ben takes his notes in Braille. He says he lost his sight two weeks before his third birthday.
Ben had cancer in both eyes. But he discovered a way to beat his blindness. When he was about 6, he started "clicking," and quickly realized that the sound he made with his tongue bounced off things around him, giving him an idea what was there.
Source
Friday, August 04, 2006
"This way, Darcie"
I'm always deeply impressed with people like Darcie here. How about you? Makes our own petty excuses kind of lame, doesn't it?
"I don't have the time." "I'm not in shape." "I'm too old." "I'll think about it." And on and on it goes...
Story:
At a judo class on Sioux City's north side, Darcie Boyok looks just like everyone else.
She does her warm-up stretches just like the other students. She's right there with her classmates when, in one quick movement, they drop from a standing position to roll onto their backs on the floor and then back up into a standing position.
Boyok even looks like the other students as she springs across the room doing a series of front-falling rolls. But now suddenly there is a difference.
Listening you hear a classmate on the other side of the room calling, "This way, Darcie. This way, Darcie."
The classmate is calling to Boyok because Boyok is blind.
Source
"I don't have the time." "I'm not in shape." "I'm too old." "I'll think about it." And on and on it goes...
Story:
At a judo class on Sioux City's north side, Darcie Boyok looks just like everyone else.
She does her warm-up stretches just like the other students. She's right there with her classmates when, in one quick movement, they drop from a standing position to roll onto their backs on the floor and then back up into a standing position.
Boyok even looks like the other students as she springs across the room doing a series of front-falling rolls. But now suddenly there is a difference.
Listening you hear a classmate on the other side of the room calling, "This way, Darcie. This way, Darcie."
The classmate is calling to Boyok because Boyok is blind.
Source
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
"Blind Fury"
In an interview, nothing seems unusual about Jason Keaton. The 28-year-old mixed martial artist is 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds of mostly muscle on a wiry frame.
He has short-cropped blond hair, glasses and is well-spoken, with a voice that sometimes betrays the passion he feels for his sport and way of life. He is courteous and patient with newcomers asking questions.
But his nickname is "Blind Fury" for a reason. Keaton is legally blind.
Source
He has short-cropped blond hair, glasses and is well-spoken, with a voice that sometimes betrays the passion he feels for his sport and way of life. He is courteous and patient with newcomers asking questions.
But his nickname is "Blind Fury" for a reason. Keaton is legally blind.
Source
Saturday, June 24, 2006
All the right moves
Alexa Schwichow is on her side on a mat, and she has her jujitsu instructor in a clock choke--one leg across his hip, her knee against a shoulder blade, a hand under his armpit.
Feeling her way through the darkness that has been her world since birth, she tugs on her instructor's arm, and he rolls onto his back.
Alexa is blind, but learning seems to come easy--whether a martial arts exercise or a new Braille skill--for the 11-year-old, who will enter 6th grade in the fall at Johnsburg Middle School in McHenry County.
Source
Feeling her way through the darkness that has been her world since birth, she tugs on her instructor's arm, and he rolls onto his back.
Alexa is blind, but learning seems to come easy--whether a martial arts exercise or a new Braille skill--for the 11-year-old, who will enter 6th grade in the fall at Johnsburg Middle School in McHenry County.
Source
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