Remember how Barbara Gordon learned to defend herself, even while confined to a wheelchair? Well, people do that in real life:
"Like many kids his age, Paul Brailer wanted to be like Bruce Lee when he grew up — a badass who could kick, punch and fight his way out of any situation. But for Bralier, a wheelchair user born with spina bifida, the only kicking and flying through the air he was likely to do was in his dreams. It wasn’t until he was already in his 30s that a chance meeting with Heidi Rudibaugh, an instructor at The Art of Karate in Barberton, Ohio, changed his life. She invited him to come and try a class; today, he has a black belt in taekwondo and his own nonprofit, Criptaedo, which he created to teach people with disabilities self-defense.
Brailer, now 42, credits his study of taekwondo with improved fitness, self-esteem, and better public speaking and problem solving skills. “Studying martial arts helps people with disabilities learn they’re more capable than they think they are.”
And while karate and taekwondo have been very popular martial arts for wheelchair users, virtually any one of them can be adapted with a willing instructor and some creative problem solving. Today, you’ll find wheelers participating at all ends of the spectrum — from the meditative flow of tai chi to the full-on contact of mixed martial arts and everything in between.
The reasons for getting involved are equally varied. Some enjoy the fighting. Some want fitness and a good workout. And still others want to learn techniques they can use to defend themselves and keep safe.
Martial arts aren’t just for the boys, either. Just ask Michelle Colvard or Kelly Schultz.
Colvard, Miss Wheelchair America 2009, was born with spina bifida. She learned about martial arts in high school through a program on chung moo do, which encompasses a mix of eight different martial arts, including taekwondo, tai chi, aikido, karate, judo, jujitsu and weapons training."
More at
http://www.newmobility.com/2015/06/mart ... -wheelers/
