[Sportsandrec] Martial Arts for the Blind

[Brad Keller]

For me those arts dealing mainly with lower extremity usage such as in 
mainly kicks are out. Some would be doable but I think in my case those 
involving upper torso or close in/grappling are going to be the most useful. 
I am wondering if anyone has studied any of the Kung Fu styles?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Martial Arts for the Blind


> Brad,
> I was actually planning to ask this question too.
> I know which martial arts are commonly practiced. But I'm not sure how 
> they learn the techniques,  and of course, how to fall to either side.
> I took aikido for a little while but it was a semi private class with just 
> another low vision student so we had lots of hands on attention and could 
> go slower than a typical class. I was able to learn to fall backward, but 
> forward proved too challenging for me.
> I'm not too coordinated though and many blind athletic people may have 
> more of a better grasp of this.
>
> I would like to know if the  people practicing martial arts are in a dojo 
> with other sighted participants. If so, is the instructor good about 
> accomodating you? Its my experience in group classes, including PE in 
> public school, much is done by demonstration and I feel left out.
>
> Anyway, to answer your question, there are several martial arts done by 
> blind people.
> The kicking martial arts are not as blind friendly as you don't see the 
> target but ones involving striking, joint locks, and escapes from chokes 
> are doable.
>
> Specifically here are some.
> Judo is very popular. In fact, it is a USABA sport I believe.
> A lady might be still on here who went to the paralymphics; her name is 
> Kristella Garcia.
>
> Another one is Brazilian jujitsu.
> I think someone on here has also done crav maga which is a form of street 
> fighting.
>
> Slower forms of martial arts like tai chi are doable too.
>
> So, if you're interested, its definitely doable.
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Brad Keller
> Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 4:27 PM
> To: Sports and Rec List
> Subject: [Sportsandrec] Martial Arts for the Blind
>
> Hello, I was wondering if there  was anyone on this list that practiced 
> the martial arts? If so I am wondering which of the diciplins are being 
> practiced and which of those seem to be the ones that seem to be taught 
> more often to those with total vision loss?
>
> Brad Keller
> email: kellerb03 at gmail.com
> Skype: Brad-Keller1
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