A Few Words

Some more than others, depends on their situation. You must be aware of ports, fatigued kids on chemo, balance issues etc. Get a rundown from their parents as to the type of disease, stage, location etc. One thing for sure you don't have to worry about discipline. These kids are dedicated. The lable of warrior is thrown around in our society to cheaply but these kids are the very definition of warrior.

I had these kids for two years and never had a parent complain or tell me how to teach. Never had a kid complain either, this is a slice of heaven to them compaired with what they are and have gone through.

Can't say the same for my mainsteram students.

 

I can relate to this.

The desire to have a normal health is often taken for granted and those who do not have the luxury live life to the fullest

 

Really impressed with the idea of this forum!!

I would just like to know if people let their disability choose the style they practice??

and do some of you feel like idiots in a class session when not being able to join in all the techniques? How do you guys get around that?

 

That is the wonderful thing about martial arts. No matter the person disability, there is something out there ti practice-study.

 

Thats what i have found good...and tried out a few different styles. Before my walking progressed to the stage i am at now i tried a range of standing styles...like boxing, karate, etc...since i have nearly lost the ability to walk i have been trying out grappling based styles like bjj and catch wrestling.

I have found instructors with a more varied background seem to fit me alot better...I was wondering if other people found this? Prity much that bit are taken from each style to cover weakness caused by my disbility in another area...

Do other people find this too be true?

 

When you are differently enabled, the art one chooses may depend on what you are comfortable with already. Wing Chun & Tai Chi actually have a great deal in common, so if one already knows something about Wing Chun and finds that with new/unwanted changes in life they can no longer deal with the faster and more tiring drills of Wing Chun -- Tai Chi may be a way to re-focus skills you already have. For years I was fatigued (because of anemia) and had increasingly painful back problems. Tai Chi helped me regain strength while using some skills I already had. Further development and practice improved everything. I cold now probably go back to some of the hard style systems -- but have found that Tai Chi is varied enough to keep my interest (it also allows me to toss in some hard style techniques when sparing, which will really confuse an unsuspecting opponent).

Now that I'm teaching, I find that cross training and modifying actually helps my students -- all of them. The "normal" students are often surprised the first time they spar with a "disabled" student. They quickly find that differently enabled students adjust and shift their methods while sparing or participating in push-hands (Sticky-Hands in Wing Chun). Change is good. I do not change the curriculum. I change the technique - if needed - and have often seen normal students adopt ideas from the disabled. If it works and it fits the sparing rules you work under -- do it.
Bill

 

Good post...but..

"Sticky-Hands"?

 

I just discovered this thread so if I am covering old ground I apologize. I think the wrist manipulations in Hapkido would be particularly effective for a wheelchair bound person. I have nobody currently to try it with but would love to give it a go.

All my students are able bodied currently though a couple are getting a bit older as am I. But if anybody with a disability wants to learn Hapkido I am here for you!

 

*

 

Folks I am a disabled vet. I wear braces, have curvature of spine, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. Yet, I have adopted martial arts to fit me. I am soon to test for 4th Dan in tkd, I am a 5th Dan in koryo gumdo. I am soon to begin a handicapped tkd program at the tkd school I help teach at.

I play wheel chair power soccer, wheel chair fencing, and have played wheel chair tennis. All things are adaptable. The wtf/kkw and IOC are going to have a handicapped division for tkd.

You guys ever heard of the Paralympics?

 

Spina Bifida and Taekwondo

Hi Guys,

I've recently opened a kids club locally, I have a 6 year old boy with Spina Bifida. I'm waiting for a doctors note to say he's ok to train but the main issue is that he has a shunt to drain fluid from the brain to the stomach. Obviously we wouldn't be doing any kind of contact sparring with that age group anyway but if he falls or slips as kids so often do, will I be calling for an ambulance or anything??

Are there any particular movements of the body I should avoid?
Has anyone else experienced teaching a student with SB??

thanks in advance,

Jim

 

Wow thats a hard core issue, Its a challange. You need to do some hard core internet research bro, this kid could really benifit from some MA training. His coordination could vastly improve in fact it could prevent him from injuring hisself in the future. I would say you need to talk with someone who specializes in dealing with the training of the disabled, special Olympics has handicapped people doing all kinds of training and competeing. Your a lucky man to get this chance dont blow it...

 

Talk to his parents not us

Many parents who have kids with medical conditions know a lot about it and what they should and should not do, it goes with the territory.

Make sure they are involved every step of the way.

His parents will also be in contact with his specialist and so can forward any concerns and get advice.

Would some sort of care plan be possible? Something put in place by his parents as a form of guidance, not only would that be of practical help it will also possibly protect the child and you.

I say possibly because I don't know about any legal issues you may face.

 

I have 2 different classes that I teach for Adaptive Martial Arts. Dean has it right, talk to the parent first and foremost. I have deaf kids, legally blind kids, kids with deformities in wheel chairs, brain injuries, walkers.... The whole gambit. Some have a combination of all. The point is, they work hard but you gotta know their limits and make it fun for them.
I teach tkd forms and Yudo wrist and clothes grabs.

 

Politically correct much?

 

Thanks to all for your comments.

The Club has only been open 2 weeks and he has been to one class. I'll get a full in depth chat with the child's mother when she brings the doctors note.

I get the feeling from speaking with others that the little lad had been turned away from a lot of activities, which I have no intention of doing.

I phoned one of the Uk spina bifida support groups and they did give me some pointers but were keen to stress they encourage people with SB to participate in everything they want to.

 

Only a neurotypical would think that....

 

Just thought I'd pop by and give an update on this issue.

The young man in question is happpily training away and has not had a single issue as yet, he is more prone to illness and so doesn't make it every week but asides from that he's as capable as any of the other students, more so in many ways and has a hell of a kick on him for a 6 year old

Doctor's note received, no issues there as long as it's non contact. He's perfectly happy, his mum is over the moon. I think mum is on her own and dad doesn't bother but other places have been turning him away, the other kids in the club go to school with him and there are no differences made. Looking back, there was absolutely no reason to worry but I'm glad I did the background on it.

Thanks to everyone who took time to pop their input up.

 

Guys,
I have adapted Aikido and Hapkido to fit the needs of my students. I have abandoned the TKD aspect of my program and teach the locks and escapes of Aikido and Hapkido. I am teaching an adaptive Iaido and Koryo Gumdo draw and return techniques.
My small group of three has grown to eight. These guys love it, I have found this combination way more beneficial for students that are handicapped than a tae kwon do program.

 

Hey brother,
I am pleased as punch to see this good news report. I was in the problem of:
No one really wanted me to train in their school as I was disabled. But I had a lot of rank behind me so I wasn't going for rank at the schools as I had my own grand master's that I was keeping my logs and records for. I was not a white belt beginning.
In my area martial art instructors will not accept new students with disabilities. They don't want to slow down, modify, or interrupt their set structured models.
Parents of my students are, as you say *Dusty*, over the moon. I hear wonderful stories and reports from mom's about: Better grades, better confidence, more awareness etc.
From the adult care takers I hear: Better awareness, more acute, better patience, etc.
And the big kicker is: These guys and gals work so hard and have such a wonderful attitude. This is why I started my organization. For hard working students with great attitudes.