Disabled Martial Artists

[Ipenry]

I have recently begun practicing Iaido and Kendo. I am in a wheelchair and was wondering if there were any other disabled martial artists out there. I would like to get their opinions on what they find to be the easiest way for them to practice their particular art.

For me, I have had to make only very minor adaptations to the way I practice my sword techniques.

[FastEd]

Good post..but you need to sign it with your real name.

thanks

[FastEd]

As for the way I practice martial arts, like you, I have to adapt to my mobility level, where I find the "less is more" principle to be golden. The less adaption the better, and only enough to let you do what needs to be done. For me, that means, doing Iai standing and no adaption at all for kendo

[Charlie Kondek]

Good for you, my friend. I haven't had the privilege of working with any martial artists in your situation, but I do know that I have seen video of a man or woman with no legs doing kendo. It was inspiring. This person used his (or her) right arm to move himself and fought from jodan with his left. He had to reach up a bit to get his opponent's men but he was getting it!

I saw the video at the following link, but they seemed to have rearranged the site since then and tracking down that particular video has been a bit difficult:

http://www.kendokenkyukai.com/pics.htm

I know (but have never trained with) some karate folks in the same situation and saw a book on doing aikido from a wheelchair. Perhaps some of our fellow forumites have read it?

[Ninjabumon]

Hi,
I have a student which has been training in Ninjutsu for a few years. The guy has a lot of heart and is one heck of a fighter. I have also received permission from Ed Martin for him to show his taijutsu at the 2002 TaiKai. His name is Billy Sullivan. He is a 6th Kyu at my dojo. Maybe you guys could hook up on ideas to help you train better. It is cool to see guys in chairs trash able bodied people. LOL. Hi E-mail address is BILLYMCfionn@webtv.net I wish you all the very best.
Country ninja,
Tracy Crocker

[Rambob]

After two accidents and two back surgeries I can now longer run, jump and play with the big boys. No more rolling, no more falls, no more high flying double front kick (I wish). The only
thing left for me was Iaido.
With the backbrace and cane, I'm moving kinda slow. But it keeps my posture straight. I am not trying for speed, only skill.
My bigest problem is that the only dojo within 100 miles will not let me practice with their Iaido club. That elite membership is only for those who also practice Aikido. So, I practice as I can .... tapes,books,seminars when I can get there.
My old dojo is 2.5 hours away and they don't have regular Iaido practice times. Driving that far leaves me useless for practice anyway.

Bob Carter

[johan smits]

Hello Bob,

I am not disabled myself but read your post with interest. There's not much literature available on teaching martial arts to disabled persons is there? I teach jujutsu and have no experience with disabled students at all, most teachers do not is my guess. Some scholing could and should be done on this subject.

Dedicated students are hard to find and when you do, you would be stupid to turn one down.
The particular aikido club you told about sucks. If they can't handle teaching you they should be honest and tell you so, if it is a club regulation, well as I said ... I don't care how others think about it. this is my opinion.

Best Regards,

Johan Smits

[Charlie Kondek]

That's lame. What would the Founder say???

[FastEd]

That is wrong in so many ways..RamBob, sorry to hear about it! If that is their attitude, then your best to say clear of them anyway. And don't underestimate what you can accomplish through books and videos. Lots of people here like to poo poo the idea, but don't let it bother you.

[johan smits]

Guys,

Nobody better poo poo here. The most important thing is to be on your way. If a teacher is not directly available to you it doesn't mean you can't train. The road (so to speak) will be longer and more difficult that is true. Iai is studying on your own a lot anyway. Video's, books, letters, discussion boards are great things to use and can certainly be of great help.
What counts most is the spirit with which you train and please don't believe for a minute I am a "softy".
I believe a true teacher will recognize a sincere student and will help you, stick with it and sooner or later such a teacher will come along.

Best Regards,

Johan Smits

[Diane Mirro]

When a prospective student first asked if if would consider accepting (for Iaido) a student in a wheelchair, I replied, "Yes, of course, as long as you are willing to work with me in figuring out what we must do to modify the katas." Since then, we have worked our way through the first 5, and he has also begun Kendo training.

I am amazed that any instructor in good conscience could turn away a student with a willing heart and the determination to make it work. It hasn't been easy, but, as I was telling this student the other day, he's forging a path. In years to come, he may himself become a teacher who can help encourage others along the way.

Incidently, I will be forever grateful to Rick Polland for working with the two of us when this student purchased a sword--Rick took us aside for an hour to help teach the student how to learn, and the instructor how to instruct. That, to me, is true Budo--acting from right intent, regardless of the opinion of others.

[FastEd]

There is an 'ezboard' discussion forum on kendo, which includes a section on kendo and the disabled. Unfortunetly there is not much action over there right now, but there is a video link to a korean kumdo teacher and his student who is in a wheelchair. I don't speak korean, but I will get a friend of mine to listen to the clip and pass on anything that might be useful. The link is:

http://pub31.ezboard.com/bwestsidekendo

[johan smits]

Hello Diane,

I applaud and salute you. Budo should be there for people not the other way around. Without losing it's essence Budo should be adapted where needed to be used by people in their daily lives.
One of the most gratifying things I experience as a teacher is to be a positive influence in peoples lives, to be able to help people to a certain extent. If kata (in iaido or jujutsu or whatever art) are the blueprints of Budo than there should be room for adaptions.

Is there any chance you would be willing to share some of your
experiences with us? Like the adaptions you told about?

Best Regards,

Johan Smits

[Diane Mirro]

Thank you for your support--here are some of my ramblings:

First, the student uses a wheelchair with a very low back--low enough that the saya can ride over it, allowing him to perform sayabiki, albeit requiring him to tie his obi higher than his hips. Batto, noto, nukitsuke, chiburi can all be performed with little or no variation. He wears the same uniform as the rest of us, and participates in all the stretches and warm-ups. If we are doing a lower extremity stretch, he does alternative stretches with his wrists, waist or shoulders.

For the kata, his opponent is visualized as either seated at a similar height, or standing and coming at him in an attack. In the Kendo exercises, other students holding the target shinai in front of him walk past his side to give him the opportunity to strike.

In Mae, he wheels his chair a little forward, then a little back to accomplish the stepping-forward-then-back that we do to check to make sure the opponent is vanquished. Same for Ushiro.

In Ushiro, he has taught himself to turn 180 degrees with one grasp and pull of his right hand on the wheel--he then reverses this to face forward again, and does not begin to draw until fully forward. At that point, Ushiro is identical to Mae.

For Ukenagaeshi and Tsukaate, as I mentioned before, the opponent(s) are moving at him, so his kata appear more stationary. For the walking kata (5-11), we will have to decide on how far he should advance before unsheathing. He may have to do twists rather than pivots to face each opponent once the sword is drawn.

Rick Polland suggested that we focus on each kata's intent--where the opponents are, in which order they must be dispatched, and what a realistic body movement would be for someone equipped with a wheelchair. He also suggested that I sit in a chair and see what I would do in such a situation.

Realize that my sensei has not yet met this student, and he will certainly have helpful input when we have our next seminar.

[Billy]

"...and what a realistic body movement would be for someone equipped with a wheelchair.

"He also suggested that I sit in a chair and see what I would do in such a situation."


"Realistic body movement" will depend entirely upon the individual's ability and the nature of their disability. Not everyone (who must rely upon a wheelchair for mobility) is equiped with a wheelchair for the same exact reason(s). Even in a situation where two people have the same impairment, what works for one will not necessarily work for the other.

Too, please remember that in addition to the chair itself, there are most likely other restrictions which need to be observed and taken into consideration. To be blunt, an "able-bodied person" (for lack of a better term) is simply unable to put themselves (mind, body, or spirit) in the same situation as someone who is confined to a wheelchair, who must drag themselves behind a walker, or even walk with a cane for that matter. If a person was to use a wheelchair without the genuine need, all that could be determined as a result is "this is how I (a non-handicapped person) would use the chair". Even if your goal is to help modify the chair as to accommodate the wearing/use of a sword, it'd be better to observe the person in their chair and perform the modifications based upon their specific needs. It may also be helpful to remember that the person and the chair are, in many cases inseparable. Most likely (but not always) the person has come to accept the chair as being part of their body, your position would be to help them learn to use their whole body. Again, rather than trying to put yourself into their position, more can be learned through careful observation.

Great thread, and great to learn that there are so many who are willing work with people who are physically challanged. In your pursuit to help them learn and enjoy the art, please don't forget to treat each person as a unique individual and *try* (as best you can) to realize their individual needs. -Hope it helps.


Billy Shearer
Bujinkan Zenka Dojo

[John Lindsey]

As for wheelchairs, there are some nifty "sport" models that I have seen used for racing, basketball, etc. Thus, it seems to me that finding a proper chair would be an interesting subject to research.


Has anyone any experience at doing test cutting from a chair? I assume wheelchairs have breaks to prevent them from moving?

[Diane Mirro]

Billy Shears wrote:
"Realistic body movement" will depend entirely upon the individual's ability and the nature of their disability. Not everyone (who must rely upon a wheelchair for mobility) is equiped with a wheelchair for the same exact reason(s). Even in a situation where two people have the same impairment, what works for one will not necessarily work for the other."

Thank you, Billy, for your input; however, I think most of the readers here are of an intelligence to realize this already... As a Doctor of Chiropractic and Myofascial specialist, I am only too well aware that I cannot hope to duplicate my student's experience by just sitting in a chair and swinging a sword. Rick was making a helpful suggestion that I believed had merit, and indeed has proven so.

Please realize that I did not go into extensive detail in my post about all the things I and my student have done to make this work--including long periods of observation. While it would not be appropriate for me to post the clinical and medical considerations of this student's condition--that remains confidential--you can be certain that my profession has given me the background knowledge I draw upon in my teaching.

But, you know what? It works mainly because everyone involved has a "Can-do" attitude. And, in making it work, it has shown me a whole new depth to Budo training that I might have otherwise missed.

I stated right in the beginning that we are certainly treading new ground here, and all practical input is certainly appreciated.

Diane

[johan smits]

Hi Diane,

After reading your last post I guess you would be eminently gualified to publish a book on this subject. Not too difficult (remember it's for martial arts teachers) but a basic treatise on teaching disabled persons, which could be used as a start by teachers. Any chance that will happen?

Best Regards,

Johan Smits

[Billy]

Diane,

I can't help but to think you misinterpreted my post. Being that I and my wife both have disabilities (my wife's the one confined to a wheelchair), I sought only to offer a true perspective. Perhaps, if you *had* offered a little more detail, I would have not felt the need to issue comment based upon your previously quoted statements.
-Hope it helps - really.

Billy Shearer
Bujinkan Zenka Dojo

[Diane Mirro]

Yes, Billy, your insights did help--I just wanted to clarify that I do treat each and every student as an individual, with his/her own unique strengths and limitations. In fact, I am quite down on people who have a "one size fits all" mentality. I guess you and your wife have had to deal with some real idiots who probably feel awkward around someone with a physical disability, and try to cover up his/her awkwardness with pity or rudeness.

I truly love working with people--we are social animals, after all! And there is nothing better than helping a student discover his/her own unknown abilities.

And, to Johan: I would love to be able to say I will write a book, but I cannot commit to such a task at this time. I have too many patients and students that I am responsible for, and when I get burned out, I need play time to recharge. However, if things ever slow down, I will certainly consider it, being a writer at heart.

[carl mcclafferty]

Diane

We missed you at the Tai Kai, maybe next year? The kata competition needs your support, not to mention the class you'd bring to it.

Carl McClafferty

[Diane Mirro]

Dear Carl,
I would have loved to go, but I already had back-to-back trips to NJ and Dallas looming...also, two of my three senior students are in Japan, and it wouldn't be right to leave the lone senior with a bunch of juniors--especially since his job sometimes preventshim from attending class.

However, I plan to attend one of these days...

[Rambob]

Thanks for the kind thoughts !

Sorry to have been gone from this discussion but a virus had invaded my computer so I had to take it off line until I could get it cured.

In denfese of the dojo that wouldn't take me.... they do have a rule that all persons taking Iaido must have been a member of their Aikido club for a minimum of 6 months to be considered. I am sure that this is a way to test/judge the character of those wishing to learn.

A couple of years ago, I would have driven there twice a week just to watch thier Aikido proactice and hope that it would help to quailify me. Now days, I'm busy on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Oh well .........

Almost time for my lesson, where is my Kim Taylor video ???????


Bob

[joe yang]

On the subject of wheel chairs, there are specialty chairs evolving for different sports needs. A lot of the design work is done by the athletes who use the chairs. Stating the obvious, while you are adapting your martial arts technique, maybe take a look at the chair too.