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Old 06-06-2014, 10:05 PM   #18
Michael Hackett
Dojo: Kenshinkan Dojo (Aikido of North County) Vista, CA
Location: Oceanside, California
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,253
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Re: Adapted Training

Janet,

You are right on the money! I'm thinking of a man who came to our dojo (several years before I did) and walked in on strut crutches. He was a former power lifter and had served in Vietnam as a Force Recon Marine. The years of jumping out of airplanes and abusing his body sadly caught up to him and he was told that he would be permanently using the crutches. He spoke with our Dojo Cho and asked if he could train. Sensei explained that he had never taught anyone with such limitations, but was willing to try. The end result is that he no longer uses the crutches and has achieved 1stKyu. Seiza and suwariwaza are out of the question for him, but everything else is on the table. With a patient teacher and dojomates, and a little will, almost anyone can practice to one level or another.

Michael
"Leave the gun. Bring the cannoli."
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