[Sportsandrec] Martial Arts for the Blind

[Ashley Bramlett]

Brad,
If I did martial arts, I'd think as you do.
I'd not want to do  ones with kicks. I have balance issues when standing on 
one foot due to my vision impairment. The part controlling that, the 
cerebellum, is underdeveloped for me.
Anyway, I could have a better chance of success with using my upper
torso. I have not heard of blind people doing  kung fu.
That is an ancient art too, from Korea. Judo is Japanese I think.
I thought that kung fu involved kicks and punches though.

Maybe contacting USABA for ideas would help.

If you want to explore kung fu, go for it. Perhaps talking to some 
instructors to get a feel for their teaching style  and moves it involves 
would help you  make an informed decission.

Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Brad Keller
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 11:22 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Martial Arts for the Blind

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
> _______________________________________________
> Sportsandrec mailing list
> Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Sportsandrec:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sportsandrec mailing list
> Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Sportsandrec:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org/kellerb03%40gmail.com


_______________________________________________
Sportsandrec mailing list
Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Sportsandrec:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net