Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Martial Arts (self.Blind)
submitted by razzretina
I posted about teakwondo before but I'm starting to think it might not be the best fit for me, as much as I wanted it to be. Do any of you participate in any other kinds of martial arts? Are there any in particular that work well for blind people? I've heard a lot about ju jitsu, tai chi, and at least one other. Do any of you have experience with martial arts? Thanks guys! I really want to keep going, I just think I need to find something that's more about close quarters combat and less about watching your classmates to learn how to do it.
Amonwilde 2 points 3y ago
The hard part for me is what you describe, which is watching the classmates and imitating. I just can't do it.
I think your best bet is brazilian ju jutsu, it's an always contact sport and there's not standing and looking. I did a few classes and I wasn't great at it but that had nothing to do with my vision for once, ha. It's also possible that yoga could scratch that itch for you a bit, especially if you can get someone to do a private or small group less with you once or twice just to get the absolute basics down.
I think your best bet is brazilian ju jutsu, it's an always contact sport and there's not standing and looking. I did a few classes and I wasn't great at it but that had nothing to do with my vision for once, ha. It's also possible that yoga could scratch that itch for you a bit, especially if you can get someone to do a private or small group less with you once or twice just to get the absolute basics down.
razzretina [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Yeah, not being able to see the rest of the class is my issue. And my instructor was taught by the general who invented taekwondo himself, so it’s a bit tough to even remind him that I’m not able to follow along the way the rest of the class does.
I have the same problem with yoga as taekwondo haha. It’s easier to get the instructors to be descriptive but they still get mad when I interrupt the class if they forget (and I will interrupt; I paid to be there too!)
I’ll look into brazillian ju jitsu. Thanks for the recommendation! I just read about a blind guy who teaches it.
I have the same problem with yoga as taekwondo haha. It’s easier to get the instructors to be descriptive but they still get mad when I interrupt the class if they forget (and I will interrupt; I paid to be there too!)
I’ll look into brazillian ju jitsu. Thanks for the recommendation! I just read about a blind guy who teaches it.
Amonwilde 1 points 3y ago
Yeah, my fantasy is to learn some phyiscal stuff from a VI person but I haven't had the opportunity. They're not in New York City, are they?
razzretina [OP] 1 points 3y ago
The only guy I’ve heard of who’s blind and does it travels and usually does seminars at blindness training centers. But New York is a lot bigger than where I live so you might have a fair chance there. :)
Amonwilde 2 points 3y ago
If you get me a chance, drop me a PM with the person's name. Bit of a long shot but could be fun.
Also, it's not martial arts, but rock climbing might be OK for VI people. I tried it a few times and had a friend shout good routes at me, but you become familiar with the routes over time anyway.
Also, it's not martial arts, but rock climbing might be OK for VI people. I tried it a few times and had a friend shout good routes at me, but you become familiar with the routes over time anyway.
ginsenshi 1 points 3y ago
When my brother did kung fu, we literally did taekwondo for years, there was a certain style you taught me that was very tactile.
razzretina [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Are you thinking of hikido/hapkido? The grabs and releases? That’s about the only thing in taekwondo I’m able to pick up these days.
ginsenshi 2 points 3y ago
I think it was called way song, it had a lot of grabbing and pushes.
Stick81 1 points 3y ago
Judo and Jiujitsu are good options, and there are blind judo practitioners in the Paralympics.
wbbarth 1 points 3y ago
I (not blind) trained with a completely blind person for many years in Aikido. Training with him improved our ability to explain things. He trained off and on for over a decade and earned his black belt.
That being said I still train and say this to ALL persons wanting to train in a martial art. The style, let alone the particular school that you train at, need to suit you. You may have heard great things about style A, but when you visit that styles only school near you you find the place doesn't match with your personality. I hope you have a style that matches your psyche, and can then find a good school to train in. I also recommend visiting and talking with the instructors and observing a class. See what kind of pace they go at, do they talk in the course of training regardless of who is training. etc...
That being said I still train and say this to ALL persons wanting to train in a martial art. The style, let alone the particular school that you train at, need to suit you. You may have heard great things about style A, but when you visit that styles only school near you you find the place doesn't match with your personality. I hope you have a style that matches your psyche, and can then find a good school to train in. I also recommend visiting and talking with the instructors and observing a class. See what kind of pace they go at, do they talk in the course of training regardless of who is training. etc...
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