Disability Claim While Going for Taekwondo Black Belt

I suppose claiming disability while at the same time being fit enough for black belt exams in taekwondo isn't the smartest of moves ... unless you want to have authorities on your back faster than you can say 'kick and punch'.

Case in point being this 40-year-old mother from the UK who claimed £18.000 over a period of five years during which time she reportedly became a second dan black belt in the martial art and also took part in competitions.

Image from telegraph.co.uk

Training Martial Arts With Disabilities

Martial arts belt - From Flickr.com

It appears that training martial arts with disabilities is another subject which may bring about discussions of pros and cons.

The debate goes primarily on what the best suited martial arts style for someone with a disability might be.

Also, it is also being discussed whether or not it is fine to grade some martial arts students with special needs and disabilities. After all, it is not uncommon that these students can not perform the things that able bodied, "regular" students can.

You can go here read more about the topic of the best martial arts for students with disabilities. It would also be great if you would take the time to leave a comment on your view on this topic.

My view is basically this: Martial arts training can great for anyone - no matter what their starting point may be. It is, to me, more about how the school and teacher is able adapt to the students needs, and also about the personal preferences that we all have - one way or the other.

Judo Benefit Fiddler

UK -- While teaching and practicing judo, a 46-year-old black belt judoka has been pocketing in excess of £1,000 a month in disability support, according to thesun.co.uk.

The civil war refugee from Congo, who does judo at a community sports center in North London has allegedly even been posting pictures of himself in judo gear on Facebook.

Documents supposedly show the man, who's also been described as "a violent drunk" was sent a letter in April 2008 where officials accepted he was "virtually unable to walk" and needed "attention with bodily functions through the day".

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.

Disability?

Texas -- You will likely find14-year-old J.T. Love from Tulia to be your typical teenage boy in many respects. A straight-A student who likes to read. He takes classes in taekwondo, plays football and likes fishing and hunting.

But, there is something about the boy that makes him unique, though. You see, he was born without hands and feet, and most people would definitely consider this a disability. J.T does not.

Read the rest of this inspirational piece from amarillo.com about a remarkable young man here.

A Miracle of Friendship

What ever you do, please make sure you take the time read this amazing article from mi4ssoulian.com - a truly inspirational piece about a boy named Dylan Helms and 16-year-old Michael Graef at the Missoula Taekwondo Center in Montana.

It is stories like this one here - describing the remarkable bond between a boy with a crippling disease (Friedreich's ataxia) and a young man dedicated to help him out at the kids taekwondo classes - which reinforces my belief in the spirit and kindness of mankind as well as the true power and potential of martial arts.

If a story like this - using a term like "a miracle of friendship" - doesn't melt your heart then I truly wonder what will...

There are many interpretations of the "true meaning" of martial arts or budo. The one described here should, in my opinion, rank at the very top.

MA, Disabilities and Children

From Utah, here's a great inspirational piece you should check out about martial arts for children with disabilities.

I believe the art in question here is hapkido, even though karate is also mentioned.

In any case - this is another proof of how our arts, properly taught and promoted, can be beneficial on a number of levels for so many people.

Firefighter Fighting

New York -- Nypost.com reported about how NYC Fire Department pension board said they would look into how a 42-year-old firefighter, retired on a disability pension at three-quarters pay, is able to fight in Muay Thai matches.

The Post earlier reported how the former firefighter was collecting a $74,624-a-year disability pension while participating in Muay Thai bouts.

A spokesman for the NYC mayor said they would review the case. He added they would examine any case where they thought someone with a disability pension did not have the condition documented by the medical board.

Magnificent Karate Example

I would like to encourage you all to take a few moments to read this moving and inspirational article from thenational.ae.

The article is about the magnificent work done by Mr Hosam Ayyad. Ayyad sensei is the head of the Japan Karate Association in Jordan and a much respected teacher of martial arts.

You can not be anything but deeply impressed with and inspired by the work Mr Ayyad puts forward for helping children with disabilities.

Mr Ayyad has dedicated 18 years of his working life to teaching children karate, those suffering physical and mental disabilities in particular.

Over a period of 18, years, Mr Ayyad has taught more than 1,000 physically and mentally challenged kids, many of whom come from underprivileged families.

I have said it before and I'll gladly say it again: This, to me, is what martial arts really is all about. I respectfully salute you Ayyad sensei.

Fighting Disability With Taekwondo

Here's an inspirational story from etruth.com about dedication and overcoming obstacles - in effect what martial arts is all about.

I sure need these kind of reminders when I might be tempted to feel sorry for myself or come up with excuses. What about you?

----

Indiana -- 53-year-old Linda Koeppel might not move as quickly or kick as high as others in her taekwondo class. However, the Elkhart woman is using her slower speed to move past a disability that limits her ability to move her legs.

Koeppel battles a condition which causes loss of muscle tone and unpredictable burning, stabbing or dull pain in most of her right leg and some of her left. The condition, called 'reflex symptomatic dystrophy' does that she experiences pain in each step, and some days she doesn't make it out of the house.

She has to sit down and stop exercising every 10 to 15 minutes. "As you can see, my training takes longer than someone who can just come in here and train hard," she said.

Just getting to the gym can be a struggle. She wants other people fighting disabilities to know she feels their pain -- literally -- but that they can still enjoy exercise. "If it takes 20 minutes to put one sock on, that's OK," she said.

Training has helped her ward off the depression that set in shortly after she couldn't move around and drive normally.

Progress in Small Steps

UK -- Tim is disabled and for this young kid, every tiny progress in movement he can make is considered a victory.

Wheelchair-bound and born with cerebral palsy, the young boy is and has little control of his limbs. But now, through the help of special karate classes, Tim is slowly but surely starting to move more and more.

Read more at thesun.co.uk - inspiring stuff!

Words From Puga Shihan

Miamiherald.com has a story I urge you to read. It's a bout Cuba born karate master Felix Puga who continues to teach karate in Miami, Florida from his wheel chair.

I don't know the man, but to me, Puga shihan clearly exemplifies the very core of life and truth within the martial arts - an indomitable spirit.

He was paralyzed in a car accident but continues to run his karate school and care for his students just like they care for their sensei. Reading the article, you get a picture of the kind of respect Puga shihan gets in return from his students.

Like the story says: Now the master is sustained by his pupils.

"Two minutes ago I was a different person, just as the river is the same but changing every minute,'' Puga said. "I had many selves that have perished. But a new one is growing.''

This are words spoken by a true master, and you'd do well to listen to them.

Cage Fighter Jailed

UK -- A 6'4", 27-year-old amateur MMA fighter assaulted another man in Burnley, at around 4 a.m. on July 26 after a row over a girl.

The 27-year-old victim was knocked unconscious with one punch. The cage fighter then launched a relentless attack of punches and kicks on the victims's lifeless body.

A Burnley Court heard that the victim was left permanently disabled after having every bone in his face broken. He has brain damage, suffered a fractured skull and lost all of his teeth.

Injuries, Waivers and Negligence

If you operate a martial arts school or club, and thinks a waiver will automatically protect you against a potential lawsuit if a student is injured, think again.

In B.C., Canada, a case is going to court November 23. It involves a student who was injured during in class when he was 16. Three years later, he reportedly continues to suffer from a permanent disability.

The owner of the martial arts school had sought to have the case thrown out because of a waiver that the student's mother signed when her son enrolled at the center.

However, according to a B.C. Supreme Court Justice ruling, the martial arts school was negligent by "failing to take preventative measures to ensure that injuries did not occur in the course of sparring matches by taking such measures as screening participants, instructing participants, requiring suitable protective gear or carefully supervising matches," according to bclocalnews.com

Carried Away

UK -- A man in a wheelchair had to be helped down Snowdon (the tallest mountain in Wales) by rescuers after a group of martial arts enthusiasts who had carried him there left him on his own during the ascent.

The group of six black belts were reportedly taking part in a fundraising record attempt and had carried the man up the mountain path, according to news.bbc.co.uk.

They abandoned the man - deciding to leave him before they reached the peak. Furthermore, they were too tired when they returned to carry him down.

They had to call out mountain rescuers, who criticised the group's actions. Criticised them? Nah... Really?

Passionate About Karate

Florida -- Panama City Beach resident Guilherme Santos is really passionate about karate. The sport is not only teaching the young man discipline and self-defense, it also helps him walk.

"Gui" was born with a divided spinal cord, so his left foot doesn't lift when he walks. Karate has helped, according to wjhg.com.

"He has a very positive attitude," his karate instructor said. "I have never seen him get frustrated or give up, I can't really put into words how to describe his motivation. He never seems to be put out if he can't keep up with the other students, he is always giving it his best."

An Improbable TKD Career

Colorado -- After overcoming bone cancer, 37-year-old Ben Schwenk underwent 17 surgeries in less than two weeks in 1990. His leg was amputated above the knee, but a radical operation preserved his calf muscle, quadriceps and hamstring. And it opened the door for an improbable taekwondo career.

Competing with a specially designed prosthetic leg, he has quickly climbed the ladder in the world's most practiced martial art, after taking up taekwondo in 2007 according to gazette.com.

Schwenk called his prosthetic leg a blessing in disguise. "I wouldn't be who I am without it," he said. "I wouldn't have experienced so many other things. I wouldn't have met my wife. I would have never gotten here. … I lost my leg, but I gained my life."

MMA Fighter With Fake Leg

Wisconsin -- 32-year-old Ernie Paulson from Rhinelander is a rare breed of athlete. As a teenager, he lost his left leg below to the knee to cancer but is fighting in mixed martial arts (MMA), according to wbay.com.

Paulson says it is hard to find opponents because they don't want to lose to a guy with a fake leg. However, he claims this motivates him because he doesn't want to be viewed as inferior.

Karate and Disabled Children

Illinois -- Karate is more than kicking, reports abclocal.go.com. It improves the mind and bodies of children, and that is especially important for kids with disabilities.

Karate and other martial arts teach children with disabilities how to focus, concentrate and set goals, while at the same time, to be cool and strong.

A karate school in Glenview, Chicago teaches children and teens with and without disabilities. "When we get these kids in the gym and they all put their karate suits on, they're not that different," said the sixth degree black belt and founder of the school.

He has been working with children and teens with disabilities for more than 25 years.

Nothing Stops Her

Texas -- 9-year-old Cat Farrior lacks chest muscles, but that doesn't let stop her from taking home trophies in the art of the bo (a martial arts staff), according to newsok.com.

The sixth-grader has turned martial arts practice into her own physical education component after other sports activities reportedly failed her.

The karate student was born with a rare condition called Poland's syndrome, in which chest muscles are absent or underdeveloped.

Her instructor planted the idea of studying the bo staff in the youngster's mind since she couldn't spar for fear of dislocating her shoulder.