Teaching physically handicapped

[powerof0ne]

How many of you have taught the physically handicapped? In all honesty, I haven't, or at least, not that I'm aware of. Not that I wouldn't and in fact, this Monday or Wednesday I will begin teaching a young Women that was more or less, born without arms. She seems very nice and intelligent and wants to learn how to defend herself. I guess she has actually had people give her a hard time which makes my blood boil.

I already told one of my senior students who initially met her that this will require some "trial and error" but I will, no matter what, come up with something.

Obviously, this is going to give me some challenges but I have yet to find any great reward without some challenges.

Any suggestions on what I should teach, focus on, etc.?
Osu!

[senshido]

I havent taught any disabled, but one of my most difficult points fights... (all my points fights were hard due to me being crap) was against a one armed man,

[powerof0ne]

I'm obviously going to teach her many different types of geri, and focus on geri...hiza geri, mae geri, mae kakato geri, kakatootoshi, etc. She has some partial arm formation, primarily shoulders and a little beyond that so she may be able to sort of clinch and also "shoulder slam." I have some dirty fighting techniques that come to mind I'll teach her and only her as a last resort. The way I'll teach her won't really be suitable for knockdown kumite rules or competition...but what I have in mind should help defend herself.

I also think, I may do what I never thought I would ever do. If she decides to become a full time student, I believe I'll have to change much of the syllabus for her, including kata. I will only do this for a student like her and never thought I'd see the day, but I can't think of any other alternative, can you?
Osu!

[MMX]

I think in that situation yes. You will have to change it to adapt for them.

Sounds good.

Osu!

[powerof0ne]

Thanks for the support, I feel kind of weird changing kata but if I want to teach her, I see no choice unless I require no kata, etc. from her. In fact I think I'll do a few private lessons with her to teach her what I want her to do when the rest of the class is doing techniques that require use of arms and hand. I already told her it's going to be some trial and error. I'll make a separate thread how I go about this since it's not the normal case and encourage any suggestions! I almost think Olympic style tkd might be better for her if she's looking for lots of sparring opportunities which I will bring up to her.
Osu!

[powerof0ne]

Trained the student for the first time tonight, worked semi-privately with her. I had a feeling she would be more flexible and have greater dexterity then most beginning students and boy, I wasn't wrong! By about 20 minutes into the lesson I had her doing jodan mawashi geri like she has been doing it for a year or longer!

I worked a lot of mae geri, Muay Thai teep (front push kick), gedan mawashi geri, and jodan mawashi geri. I more or less showed her how the mae geri is more for power, to hurt and the push kick is to create distance..and in her case, to mawatte (about face) and get away!

I also showed her a dirty trick I worked out especially for her. Basically she steps on her opponent's foot and leans with her lead shoulder into them...with the right amount of timing and force I think you can see what this could do.

Then worked a simple mae geri or tiip and then jodan mawashi geri set up for her. Amazingly, she almost has it down and I must say has a better jodan mawashi geri then any of the students I'm currently training. She then told me that she some times picks up cups and plates out of the cupboard above her head with her feet while standing...she then demonstrated by slowly lifting her foot above her head almost doing side kick splits while standing...physically disabled my ass!
Osu!

[seattle]

I have had the fortune to have a few "challenged" students. I just work through things with them and adjust as appropriate for their handicap. Had a guy in wheelchair, he did the kata and kumite. He wanted to participate in all aspects as much as possible. The guy had incredibly strong hands and arms, so when he got ahold of you, watch out. After a few classes the chair "faded" away and he was just like everybody else.

[noahh]

Osu,

I have trained with a number of people who could be described as disabled.
- Legally Blind
- Flat footed
- Parkinson like symptoms
- One armed karateka

All presented different challenges and for some I was a fellow student not the instructor. In general I was amazed by what they achieved. In the instances where I was the instructor I found it very important to get a feel for what was going to be possible for this student and then maintain high expectations (within that range). People rise to expectations.

The following is in no way meant to be telling you what to do just train of thought for what I probably would try.

A student with no arms I imagine will present from very unique challenges. Offensive techniques being fairly obvious, defence to me is the big challenge.

Well utilised foot sweeps would merit some work. I have been working with a number of my students applying the Sanchin Dachi style foot sweep (circular) from the rear leg to the opponents front leg in kumite, as well as the normal ashi bari front leg to front leg. Finally dabbled with the more archaic ushiro mawashi sweep with a lead in of front leg mae geri.
All serve to break the balance quite nicely.

Upper body defence
The dynamics and angles of blocking I think would still be useful, pivoting the torso to minimise profile. As I understand you have kickboxing experience, the bob and weave style movements could also be useful in defending the head.

Lower Body Defence
- Sune Uke (Shin Check) for mawashi geri.
- Soto tysoku geri to the inside thigh works well as a leg check for Mae geri
- Soto heesa geri with a forward shuffle can also work well (particularly with the level of leg control it sounds like she has)
- Foot on the buttocks or hamstring following the turn nicely breaks the dynamic of ushiro geri.
- Beyond that there are some nice kung fu leg blocks, which focus on intercepting the foot on lift off essentially slapping the foot back to ground. Palm of the foot to the top of the opponents foot again could be within the scope of her superior foot coordination.

There are some nice leg based takedowns but predominantly require you to commit to going to ground to. I am inclined to think without arms one may not want to go to ground.

Osu I like the takedown you described.

Osu!

[powerof0ne]

Just a quick update on this student, she more or less has quit, at least I won't be teaching her anymore..unless she decides to start training again.

More or less, she lost interest in training. That's her choice I was hoping she would want to become a serious student..and maybe I'm wrong, maybe she will (I'm hoping I'm wrong).
Osu!