| In the 70's TV show Kung Fu, one of the masters in | | | | of the student in choosing a style and understand, to |
| the temple was blind. In fact he seemed to be Cane's | | | | be effective the sight impaired student must be in |
| primary teacher and mentor. There was such a bond | | | | close contact with the attacker. Therefore, Jiu Jitsu |
| between the two that years after he left the temple | | | | with its combinations of infighting strikes locks and |
| Cane traveled to meet master Po for his birthday. | | | | arm bars would be the most easily learned and most |
| There was also a TV show, Longstreet, in which the | | | | effective style. |
| main character was blind. In one episode Bruce Lee | | | | Second what method of teaching do you use? The |
| was a guest star who taught Longstreet Kung Fu. Is | | | | main challenge is that you cannot use visual cues. To |
| this just TV hype or can a sight impaired person be | | | | say "Do this" or "move this way" doesn't help the |
| taught and more importantly effectively perform | | | | sight impaired because he can't see what you're |
| martial arts. In my experience they can. | | | | doing. Like with any other skill it needs to be broken |
| First of all let's remember that being blind or sight | | | | down into well described steps. Once you walk |
| impaired has a legal definition. The continuum is from | | | | through the technique the student can begin to work |
| those who are legally blind, in regards to driving a car, | | | | off his other sense cues like touch once he acts out |
| to those who have no sight at all. Given this span the | | | | the movements with a partner. The more he |
| degree of ability varies greatly, but with time, | | | | practices the more natural the movements become |
| patience and properly tailored instruction they can be | | | | and therefore the faster they are performed. |
| taught. | | | | Thirdly, the student needs to how to rely on her |
| One concept is this: Every weakness is a strength, | | | | other senses in jiu jitsu the same way she relies on |
| every strength a weakness. What does that mean? | | | | them for the other situations in her daily life. It has |
| We all have strengths and weaknesses, that's a fact. | | | | been proven that the brain actually remaps itself |
| How we view them is just as important. For | | | | using the portion that is normally used for sight and |
| example, if you're small someone might look at you | | | | using it for other senses making them more acute. |
| as an easy mark. A strong attacker might drop his | | | | This is taught by testing the student's senses and |
| guard assuming you cannot defend yourself. If you | | | | demonstrating to her how she connects with her |
| can defend yourself he's made a fatal mistake. He will | | | | environment. |
| be quite surprise as he looks up at you from the | | | | Fourthly, like any other skill it takes practice. With all |
| ground. In the same way a sight impaired person, | | | | the instruction and work with the instructor if the |
| who is trained, has an advantage because the | | | | student does not practice with a partner the newly |
| attacker will assume that he can just walk up and | | | | taught skills will be lost. With diligent practice a sight |
| assault or rob him. | | | | impaired person can learn to defend herself in real life |
| How do you teach the sight impaired martial arts? | | | | situations. |
| First of all we must realistically look at the limitations | | | | |