Im currently researching the state of disabilities in BJJ, there are some famous cases that are easier to find. But Every single one Ive been told about or seen has been a physical disability (malformed or non existant limbs,blindness,deafness,etc). What Ive not found is any mental handicaps, has anyone had any experience of training or meeting a bjj practioner who had any type of mental handicap?.

But also feel free to post any interesting stories of those with physical handicaps.

I can see sensory disabilities not really hindering a player, much like judo, since it's touch and feel are more necessities, than sight are hearing. I know they make some special provisions in judo for physically impaired players.

a guy in my judo class has cerebral parese. Not sure what it is called in english. He has trouble speaking and he is abit slow and unbalanced with his techniques. Not sure if it helps your case since it is judo.

A blue belt in my Judo class is either mentally challenged (actually retarded not a "retard ha ha lol") or has had some head trauma.

He's a nice guy and is sort of my size so I work with him a lot. its very strange, cause he never seems to work for more than 10 seconds, he is very unbalanced and can fall often if you just push or pull him. on the ground he usually lays there (top or bottom, doesn't matter) until you start telling him what to do.
you can't really do randori with him because he doesn't resist much and falls easily, plus seems like he has no strength in his limbs. like I said its odd working with him.

I usually just work very loose and technical, trying to practice the move more than getting big headed from throwing a blue belt.

The hardest thing is to actually get him to do some work, loose hands and footwork combined to throw or the equivalent in ne-waza. he usually is more of a marionette.

*I know you asked about BJJ, and this is a Judo stroy, it still relates to your question.

Judo cases definitely relate in my opinion so keep them coming!

Judo cases definitely relate in my opinion so keep them coming!

Oh, in that case, I hope this helped.

In fact I really should open the question to mean all grappling now that I think about it.

a guy in my judo class has cerebral parese. Not sure what it is called in english.

The phrase you most likely meant to use is "cerebral palsy." I can be fairly certain about that because I have the condition.

Sorry for the brief derail.

The phrase you most likely meant to use is "cerebral palsy." I can be fairly certain about that because I have the condition.

Sorry for the brief derail.

How are you handling your training? Do you have it hard? the guy in my class doesn't have it so hard. It is clearly effecting his performance and it can be hard to understand what he says but that's all.

plus seems like he has no strength in his limbs.
That seems highly unlikely.

There was a deaf family at my old judo dojo (dad and two sons. there was a daughter, but she wasn't deaf). The dad was tough and a legit blackbelt, his sons kind of just spazzed. The big one just muscled everything. They were cool people, though.

How are you handling your training? Do you have it hard?

I am one of the few people on this board who don't train (and also don't troll), hence my low post count. I have it hard in the sense that a lot of things have prevented me from training for the last five years and it will be at least another year before I can train.

There is nothing more I can add to this thread, but you are all welcome to PM me.

Would you mind if I asked why you're curious? Not trying to be a dick, if it's for personal reasons you don't have to answer I'm just wonder why you wanna know about this specific topic.

Also I've only heard of physically handicapped individuals training in a martial art. I've never seen or heard of a mentally handicapped individual training in a grappling or striking art. I do believe that grappling would be safer then any other combat sport though, maybe with specific provisions it would be possible to actually set up a regiment to specifically work with people with mental problems.

I've known/seen some kids with mild disabilities train in martial arts although I couldn't tell you exactly what the disability was in most cases. Some had moderate attention span issues (more then just the usual kid amount I mean) and required a patient instructor to keep redirecting their attention back to what was being covered. Others had more severe issues and had someone there in class with them to help them go through the techniques and pick up as much as possible. If I remember right in some cases the helper was a parent and in others it was a special aide who worked with the child regularly.

As with a lot of things, I think it really depends on the instructor to set the tone early when it comes to kids who might need some special/additional help.

Oh, and I have a good friend who wrestled in high school and once competed against a blind kid. Apparently the only modification was that you had to stay in some kind of contact the whole time. Apparently the kid was very solid on the mat.

I'm blind in one eye. Pretty fucked in the good one too.

It doesn't affect too much, but visual problems tend to correlate with poor balance. Judo brought me up to scratch pretty rapidly.

Jim Mastro could give most of us on this forum a serious beating. If not with his judo, then with his ability to do 3,076 push-ups in an hour. Even blind judo is better than Kung Fu.


I don't know what kind of trickery ESPN is doing, but don't play the video below, click on the link. I don't want that video there.


Even without sight, Jim Mastro is a visionary - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3417799)