More Inspirational Martial Arts Stories

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From: http://www.eadt.co.uk
(January 21, 2008):

Read the rest of the story on Eadt.co.uk

From: http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/15095996/detail.html
(January 19, 2008):

Miguel Valdez might seems like any other karate instructor at first glance.  But if you took a closer look, you'd see he can't see.

"My message for young people today is to focus on what their abilities and their assets are, the things they're good at - not their limitations, " Valdez says.

Valdez has a fifth-degree black belt and runs his own school.

From: http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk
(January 9, 2008):

Read the rest of the story on Tamesideadvertiser.co.uk

From: http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=7579606
(January 8, 2008):

" I couldn't have got out of that room without him, I know he saved my life" said Shawn's mom, Debbie Griffin.

Read the rest of the story on Kfvs12.com

From: http://www.nj.com
(December 26, 2007):

Despite paralysis in his right arm caused by a motorcycle accident more than 20 years ago, the Pennsville resident is a nationally recognized kickboxer.

From: www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2007/12/26/news/news02.txt
(December 25, 2007):

Kentucky -- About 11 years after taking his first martial arts class, 55-year-old Radcliff resident Gary Lee Jones received his black belt on December 8.

Jones, who has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, began coming to classes as a spectator watching his brother, Quincy.

From: http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2007/12/24/local/22681632.txt
(December 24, 2007):

Illinois --  Vera Williams from Du Quoin, who turned 70 recently, is feeling pretty good. "You are only as old as you feel," she says.

Williams continues working for a finance company where she has been an employee since 1973. She is working toward a second-degree Black Belt rank in taekwondo, and also teaches dance.

From: worthingherald.co.uk/eastbourne-news/Pauls-black-belt.3601775.jp
(December 19, 2007):

UK -- Paul Stumbles, a disabled man from Hampden Park has recently been graded to black belt in karate.

The 28-year-old who has autistic spectrum disorder, epilepsy and learning difficulties, is member of Canton Martial Arts in Eastbourne where he's been practising karate for more than four years.

Paul has been attending martial arts classes with his 60-year-old father around four times a week.

From: www.ocregister.com/news/sarah-karate-grant-1938141-centra-body
(December 9, 2007):

This Eight-year-old cancer survivor again proves she's a fighter. Just before she started the big test, 8-year-old Sarah Grant walked over to her parents for a last-minute pep talk and kiss.

She was nervous, she whispered in her mom's ear. There were so many cameras and people watching her. But back on the blue mats, Grant showed no signs of anxiety as she sailed through karate stances, forms and rounds of gentle sparring while her friends cheered her on.

From: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk
(December 7, 2007):

UK -- Teesside pensioner Colin Ward, who holds a black belt in judo, shows no signs of slowing down - and he's turning 75.

After taking it up as a young Navy recruit stationed in Singapore, the Marton man has now been practising the martial art for 55 years.

He is using his experience to help train younger judo enthusiasts every Wednesday at the judo club at a leisure centre in Ingleby Barwick. The retired rigger, credits judo with keeping his body and mind in good shape.

From: http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=567504
(November , 2007):

UK -- A Workington boy who beat meningitis has now achieved his black belt in karate.

13-year-old Sonny Smith, from Harrington, competed for the belt on Sunday and passed the test.

The teenager was given a slim chance of survival after contracting meningitis when he was seven and it left him tired and weak.

Sonny started attending karate classes with his friends at the martial arts center in Workington and his confidence and strength grew.

From: http://www.eveningstar.co.uk
(November 17, 2007):

He may have had two hip replacements but the Ipswitch man is very much alive and kicking today.

60-year-old Barry Crozier only took up shotokan karate because his daughter did not want to start classes alone.

Now, 14-years later and with two new hips, the retired chemical engineer has gained his second Dan black belt.

From: http://www.uticaod.com/homepage/x1375685841
(November , 2007):

New York -- Mark Cummings has just half a heart. You'd never know.

"I consider myself pretty healthy," he said. "I'm doing better than a lot of people without a heart problem."

Yeah, he is. Cummings, 23, will achieve a longtime goal when he receives his second-degree black belt and the title of "sensei" at a ceremony in West Winfield at 6 p.m. Sunday.

From: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711150357
(November 15, 2007):

Indiana -- For Dr. Mitch Goldman of Carmel, earning his taekwondo black belt wasn't about ego.

It wasn't easy, said Goldman, who lost 80 percent of his muscle mass after chemotherapy six years ago. "It took some time to get back in shape, but I got there," he said, adding that he lost about 40 pounds during his training.

From: http://www.uticaod.com/sports/x1149885511
(November 13, 2007):

From: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=68923
(November 8, 2007):

Illinois -- People with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or lower-body paralysis can boost their body strength, coordination, balance, flexibility and self-esteem. Not by using a new miracle drug or surgery, but by learning karate.

Two organizations in Chicago, along with a few elsewhere, are using martial arts in a revolutionary way, as therapy for those with serious physical or mental challenges.

From: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3107396.ece
(October 29, 2007):

Northern Ireland -- An Ulster arthritis sufferer, once so ravaged by the disease he had to have six toes amputated, is to prove he's fighting fit once more at a special martial arts extravaganza.

35-year-old Shane McCaffrey was once so crippled by arthritis he felt like "an old man" and was left unable to play with his young son Brandon, now aged 11, or carry out any ordinary household chores. He said his passions for Kung Fu and kickboxing were the last things on his mind.

But thanks to a drug called Enbrel, which he began taking last year, his condition has been transformed enough for him to return to the ring.

From: mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=56565
(October 26, 2007):

He may be physically challenged, but nobody can challenge his spirits. The 10 year old karate student Shivananda Reddy from Andhra Pradesh is able to handle the complex art of Budokan Karate.

Shivananda is a student of a Hyderabad karate academy. He lost his leg in an automotive accident but that has not affected his urge to learn and fight. He is practicing Karate from three months and has already learnt a number of kicks and moves that goes with his repertoire.

From: http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/290113550729519.php
(October 22, 2007):

Nine-year-old Daniel Griffin dons his black karate uniform and makes his way to karate class several times a week.

The martial arts discipline is credited with physical improvements in what had been a very ill child.

Both his parents remember a time before martial arts practice - a time when they did not expect their only child to survive.

"It was awful. I was only 28 weeks along when [Daniel] came along. When he came, our priest came to the hospital to give him his last rights and baptism," Dolores Griffin solemnly recounted. "No one expected him to make it."