Hello jstacy and welcome to MT
I applaud you for reaching out to search for a way to better yourself and asking for advice. I saw this on the MT Filipino Martial Arts General Forum under the thread about how macho is your art. I met this gentleman in 1999 and at that time he could walk with the type of crutches that were braced on his hands. He told me that Angel Cabalas had trained him in Serrada knowing of his physical limitations, to be a good teacher to help pass on his (Angel's) art. I've seen some video footage of him teaching from a stool in seminars. I copied this post to share with you.
"Carlitos has spina bifida which, I'm told, is a progressively deteriorating congenital condition where some of the nerves of the base of the spine are open and exposed. As a young man, Carlitos could walk after a fashion. He took up Serrada Escrima and became very good in spite of his physical issues.
When I met him, he was already basically confined to a wheelchair, but could hoist himself up onto a bar-stool and wedge himself into a more or less stable position braced with his extended legs. From that point he became like the calm eye of the hurricane, mata sa bagyo, raining blows down with lighting speed and accuracy. Amazing to watch."
Angel Cabalas was a legend in America's FMA comunity and he gave Carlito a wonderful gift by sharing with Carlito his art. Carlito now shares Angel's art with others. Your disability can be an asset when working with others because you will have a different perspective than those of us without a disability, what can come easy to some people might be hard for you but you will get a different view point through your hard work possibly allowing you to help others in the future. Who knows.
I applaud you for reaching out to search for a way to better yourself and asking for advice. I saw this on the MT Filipino Martial Arts General Forum under the thread about how macho is your art. I met this gentleman in 1999 and at that time he could walk with the type of crutches that were braced on his hands. He told me that Angel Cabalas had trained him in Serrada knowing of his physical limitations, to be a good teacher to help pass on his (Angel's) art. I've seen some video footage of him teaching from a stool in seminars. I copied this post to share with you.
"Carlitos has spina bifida which, I'm told, is a progressively deteriorating congenital condition where some of the nerves of the base of the spine are open and exposed. As a young man, Carlitos could walk after a fashion. He took up Serrada Escrima and became very good in spite of his physical issues.
When I met him, he was already basically confined to a wheelchair, but could hoist himself up onto a bar-stool and wedge himself into a more or less stable position braced with his extended legs. From that point he became like the calm eye of the hurricane, mata sa bagyo, raining blows down with lighting speed and accuracy. Amazing to watch."
Angel Cabalas was a legend in America's FMA comunity and he gave Carlito a wonderful gift by sharing with Carlito his art. Carlito now shares Angel's art with others. Your disability can be an asset when working with others because you will have a different perspective than those of us without a disability, what can come easy to some people might be hard for you but you will get a different view point through your hard work possibly allowing you to help others in the future. Who knows.
