Karate training gives kids with special needs a fighting chance at life in all its fullness

Karate training gives kids with special needs a fighting chance at life in all its fullness.

“He says everything can be missed, except karate training,” says Mira smiling and looking at her 11-year-old grandson, Ivan, who is sitting next to her. Through rain, snow and cold weather, Ivan made sure both of them were on time for each karate lesson—Ivan as the student and Mira as the spectator. But, these are no ordinary karate lessons as Ivan is no ordinary karate student.

Suffering from hemiparesis, a weakness of the right side of his body caused by two cists located on his brain stem, Ivan could barely move his right arm. His body movements were slow and difficult, which caused him to gain and keep additional weight. He also has difficulties talking and reading, but none of these weaknesses could stop him from becoming a real karate star in his community.

Thanks to a project supported by World Vision, Ivan and other 59 children (out of whom, eight were children with special needs) from Jahorina Area Development Program were enrolled in karate lessons. The goal of the project was to improve their psycho-motoric skills. The idea for the project arose from an accidental encounter between the karate trainer and local organization that works with children with special needs. This strategic encounter was the start of a successful cooperation between the community members and those among them who are the most vulnerable.

“[The] results are already visible in [the] children’s abilities. It was more than we expected,” says Milenko Vujinović, president of the Association for Children with Special Needs, “Sunce,” where the trainings were held. In Ivan’s case, thanks to karate trainings, he not only improved movement in his right hand, but also strengthened his spine and muscles and was able to lose excess weight he had accumulated, making his body movements even easier.  

After six months of training, the children’s efforts and achievements were brought to light through the Easter Karate Tournament where Ivan and two of his peers with special needs showed what they have learned in front of a large audience gathered in the city gym. As part of the preparation for tournament, Ivan trained to do his first forward roll, an action that is simple and easy for most 11-year-olds, but which for Ivan was a great accomplishment. And at the tournament, Ivan raised his right arm high above his face, an action impossible just a couple of months before.

His efforts were rewarded with a big applause and a gold medal. “I knew I would get a medal. My grandmother said that I wouldn’t, but I knew I would,” says Ivan, proudly. His grandmother interrupts him to clarify, “I was just saying that you won’t get a medal if you don’t practice. You need to practice,” Mira points out.

Mira has been caring for the boy for the past nine years, ever since Ivan’s parents separated and each went their own way, starting new families. For a diabetic on insulin, who is also retired and living off a meagre pension, caring for a child with special needs can sometimes be hard. But, having Ivan around, gives Mira the courage she needs to continue. “Sometimes I fall and I don’t want to get up, but then I look at him. I know he needs me, and I get up and feel lighter already,” says Mira. “I have completely surrendered to him.”

“I could be an athlete, when I grow up” says Ivan, thinking about his future and his newly found love for sports. And World Vision’s project of karate trainings could help Ivan with fulfilling his full potential, just like thousands of other boys and girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Jahorina Area Development Program is supported by World Vision Taiwan.