| Taekwondo is about a lot of things. It’s about | | | | from strength to strength. There are only 10 core |
| balance and harmony between the physical and the | | | | members, but they are fiercely disciplined and seldom |
| spiritual, tolerance, rising above challenges, and | | | | miss a class. Hickerson is determined to see them all |
| standing up for and protecting the innocent. It’s | | | | succeed as martial artists. As he says, he runs a real |
| not about violence, domination, and winning at all | | | | school, and is not there just to make his students |
| costs. Paul Hickerson, a trained marital artist and | | | | feel good about themselves, although that is a natural |
| martial arts instructor upholds these philosophies with | | | | by-product of regular martial arts practice. |
| his weekly Taekwondo class for adults with | | | | Hickerson claims that even though progress is slow, |
| developmental disabilities. | | | | all of his students have improved immeasurably since |
| Hickerson is the director of residential services at the | | | | the class first started. His allegation is proven by the |
| Elizabeth Richardson Centre in Springdale, Arkansas. | | | | fact that nine of the ten students have all achieved |
| The centre assists physically disabled adults with | | | | yellow belts. His tenth student, Wendy Smith who is |
| accommodation, jobs and life skills. He spent 5 years | | | | in a wheelchair, has advanced further to a green belt. |
| in Japan, where he studied various martial arts | | | | Physical activity is a vital component in maintaining |
| disciplines, and has a master’s degree in | | | | health, a fact which holds even more truth for those |
| rehabilitation counselling from the University of | | | | who face the challenge of being physically disabled. |
| Arkansas. He interned at Richardson Industries, which | | | | With his background in rehabilitation, Hickerson knows |
| is how he came to be involved with the Centre. | | | | the importance of balance and dexterity in |
| He first became aware of the need within the | | | | maintaining ease of movement and independence. He |
| disabled community for martial arts training when he | | | | also says that as people with developmental |
| was an assistant Taekwondo instructor in Pine Bluff, | | | | disabilities tend to age more rapidly than the average |
| Arkansas. He had his first disabled student, but at the | | | | population, keeping strong and fit is even more |
| time, the student was struggling with some personal | | | | important. |
| problems outside of his disability, and the training just | | | | Hickerson is justifiably proud of his students. He’s |
| wasn’t feasible. The experience left a lasting | | | | seen them grow physically stronger, become more |
| impression on Hickerson, however, and is the reason | | | | disciplined in their lives, and learn to work together as |
| he campaigned so hard to get the martial arts club | | | | a team. All of which goes to show that with a little |
| started at the Centre. | | | | determination, there is nothing in life that can’t |
| The club was started in August 2006, and has gone | | | | be done. |