Dear Sensei Mattson,
Thank you for your note. I'm honored that you would even consider my post for your group.
Absolutely feel free to use it!
BTW, I very much enjoyed your article in the Bugeisha Premier Issue. Hope you can write many
future articles also.
As a side note, when I was in dental school, a good friend of mine studied Uechi-ryu. His name is
Rick Vogel and at that time (17 + years ago) he held the rank of Shodan. I was wondering if you
know him. I know he did a residency after school and was in the Miami area in the years '79-'80.
Just another one of those "small world situations."
Take care and thanx for the website info
Wholeheartedly,
Lenny Sclafani
Hi, thanks for the reply. By all means, post my letter. At least, I hope it'll encourage other
deaf/HoH people to give Karate a try.
BTW, nice web site!
Thanks,
Jeff T>
> From: "Jeff Thomas" <murgen@sprynet.com>
Hi all,
My name is Jeff Thomas and I've just joined a Shorin-Ryu dojo about 3 weeks ago. I've about a
95% hearing loss, and at times, find it hard because I can't place the technique to a name, or have
trouble following in sequence in group sessions. The Sensei and instructors though, are patient, and
willing to accomodate to my hearing loss, although some of the others students are still somewhat
shy around me.
I wonder how many of you have seen or worked with deaf martial arts students, and how did they
cope? Karate is really starting to grow on me, and I find myself increasingly practicing the
techniques all throughout the day. Instead of long practice sessions, I practice here and there for
10/15 minutes at a time, working on a particular block or stance.
I realize that I have a long way to go, but I'm looking forward to the journey.
Jeff T
From: toothaik@garden.net (Lenny Sclafani)
We have a deaf student in our dojo. It was a little difficult at first, I don't think so much for him, but
for us. Y'see, Joey could already lip read, and was very knowledgable about living in the "hearing"
world. He made to Shodan in the usual amount of time. No special treatment was given him. He
sure as hell didn't need it!! :)
Like I said, WE had more of a problem. That is, it was very difficult to understand him when he
"spoke", so if he asked a question, we had to take it real slowly. Joey has been deaf since very
early on and well, this may not be a very good analogy but--you know how you eventually
understand "baby talk" from your own kid? Well the same sort of thing happened. After a while,
with a little help from his Mom, communication was no longer a problem.
As an aside, because he can't "hear" the count, he relies on visual cues (everyone else punching, or
he lip reads Sensei). Fighting this dude can sometimes be a nightmare. Don't even think about
telegraphing a technic! You've just been counterpunched before you know your name!!
That's my little contribution,
Any similar situations?
Len
From: BillyJa695@aol.com
I have a particular interest in this topic since I have had a severe bilateral hearing impairment since
birth (85% to 90% in each ear). However it has not prevented me from graduating from law school
and practicing law in Columbus Ohio (ok.....go ahead and bash the lawyer here :-) ) It most
certainly has not prevented me from reaching dan rank in three styles. All it takes is a considerate
sensei and there will be no problems in most cases. On the other hand, a sensei who is not
considerate should be dropped like a hot potato. I remember an encounter that I had during the
summer between my freshman and sophomore years in college. I heard that there was a martial arts
school next to the construction company that I was working for. It was run by a Korean. I wasn't
really all that particular about what style they taught. I was just looking for a place to workout in for
3 months. I was willing to be the guy at the bottom of the totem pole and just learn.
I walked into the school and inquired into the possibility of working out for the summer. The
Korean guy (I forget his name) told me the class times etc. Then he noticed that I was wearing
hearing aids. As soon as he saw them, he abruptly told me that he would not accept me as a
student. I asked why. He said that he didn't want "people with hearing aids in his classes." I pressed
as to why that was a problem. He shouted at me to get out and not come back.
I'll never figure why he did that.
Fortunately, I have not encountered anyone like that since (1984). 99% of the martial artists that
I've encountered have been outstanding people and are much like those on this list who have talked
about their experiences dealing with hearing impaired martial artists. We are no different.......we are
traveling on the same journey.
Ciao
Brian Johns