What is the best martial art to learn for physically disabled people?

Whilst learning a martial art can involve physically strenuous acts, there’s also no reason why a physically disabled person can’t train. Of course, there will always be physical limitations and it may be more challenging to train certain moves compared to able-bodied people. Still, if you pick the right martial art for your body then there’s no reason why you can’t become a black belt.

What’s worth noting is that what you pick to train really depends on your disability. For example, if you’re blind then you may want to choose grappling instead of striking. However, if you have a stump wrist then you may want to opt for striking over grappling. The good news is that with an open mind and creativity, you should be really able to learn and improve your life.

Overall, it doesn’t matter if your reasons are based on self defense or fun. Ultimately, the two can be combined and you can learn to defend yourself whilst enjoying it. Hopefully, it never comes to trying to defend yourself but still – you never know. This is why martial arts are so great – because they can improve your mind and body which is what it’s all about.

Things to consider as a disabled martial artist

Obviously, training a martial art can be physically dangerous at times and always carries the risk of injury. Because of this, there are certain things to consider before training martial arts. Basically, you should try and explain your disability to your teacher before turning up. The reason for this is purely so they can teach you to train safely. For instance, you don’t want to dive into an advanced class and get beaten up. So, by explaining your disability then hopefully you can be put into a safe, yet challenging environment to train.

There is another reason to explain your disability before signing up. This is because some teachers may be averse to teaching you. Whilst this view is outdated and discriminatory, sadly it does happen. If you have a gym owner who believes martial arts aren’t accessible for disabled people then it’s better to find out early on, rather than after signing a 12 month contract. Usually, a five minute conversation can clarify these issues early on.

Grappling

Judo

Judo is naturally quite a rough martial art and requires great mental strength. This is based on movement and setting up grips to throw the opponent and either pin or submit them. One of the main benefits of Judo is that you don’t have to be explosive all of the time. There’s plenty of room for drilling. In Judo, this term is called Uchikomi which is practicing a throw up until the point of completion.

So, even if you don’t want to partake in sparring (randori), then you can still get plenty of drills in and learn about Judo. Ultimately, it depends on your disability and how much you can do. What’s worth mentioning about Judo is that it can be pretty hard on the body in terms of throws. Still, from a drilling perspective, it’s a lot of fun and is very technical.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

If Judo ends on the ground, then BJJ starts here. BJJ was inspired by Judo and takes its ground-game to a new level. Here, the idea is to physically dominate your opponent and then submit them. This can be done either by chokes or joint locks, and there are plenty of moves to choose from.

Actually, there’s quite an active community of disabled BJJ practitioners. Due to its diverse move set, it can appeal to all body types and there’s something for everyone. A good example of this is seen with amputees and ex-marines who move to BJJ as a good form of exercise and entertainment. If you get the bug for BJJ, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular and is generally more chilled compared to Judo.

Striking

Karate

Karate also has a community of disabled practitioners and is one of the most mainstream martial arts for a reason. What’s nice about Karate is that there are styles and variations for everyone. For instance, whilst Kyokushin may be too intense for most, there are more gentle styles of Karate that may be more appealing.

Another positive surrounding Karate is its use of drilling (also known as kata). This is a huge part of Karate and some people train without sparring at all. So, if you’re afraid of getting hurt then this is a good option to consider. It also has an active, older community who are less likely to try and kill you in sparring, compared to younger practitioners.

Boxing

On the face of it, boxing may look a bit basic – but in reality, it’s highly technical. Boxing is also known for improving your cardio and gas tank, which is yet another tick in the box. Perhaps what’s best about boxing is the ability to train in isolation. For instance, you can choose to shadow box or simply hit the bag, it’s your choice.

Also, even if you’re paralyzed from the legs down then boxing is still a good workout. Here, you can work the bag from a seated position and improve your cardio and punching technique. Lastly, one of the main benefits of boxing is the price. If you’re looking to train on a budget then boxing is probably the cheapest martial art around, which is yet another positive.

Weapons

Kali/Escrima

Not all martial arts require using your body as a weapon. Kali is a Filipino martial art that involves stick fighting. In short, the idea of Kali is that it will teach you how to defend yourself in a knife fight. This involves using head movements and your wrists to divert knife attacks and turn the fight in your favor.

Generally, Kali doesn’t require as much physicality as the other martial arts on this list and is very easy on the body. Another benefit of Kali is that by its nature, it will improve your hand-eye co-ordination and sharpen your reflexes. And who knows, one day it could legitimately save your life.

Summary

Whilst there are a lot of martial arts out there for you to choose from, it really depends on your own personal preference and your perceived limitations of your disability. With this said, there’s no wrong or right answer, and everything has different pros and cons. As a general piece of advise, arguably Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the best martial art to learn as a physically disabled person though.

This is because it can adapted to all body types, has a fun culture and an active community. There are multiple, disabled black belts in BJJ who can easily choke out and tap able-bodied opponents which tells you all that you need to know about this exciting martial art.

If you want to continue your education on what martial art is best for you, then check out this useful book.