JERSEY has its first wheelchair-bound martial artist.
Tyrone Nicholson has recently received a grading certificate for Aikido from the Phoenix (Jersey) School for Therapeutic Arts despite suffering from a form of Cerebral Palsy.
It was in November last year when Tyrone first enrolled in the school under the watchful eye of the school’s founder, Sensei Nick Pitman. Over the 20 years of Nick’s teaching career, he had only taught able-bodied students.  However, the abundance of enthusiasm that Tyrone offered persuaded the school to introduce an Aikido class for the disabled and those with learning difficulties.
Aikido is a form of Japanese martial art performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. It was up to Nick and Tyrone to devise a system of Aikido that could be practiced from a wheelchair.  It was a system which Tyrone excelled at, enabling him to achieve an Aikido qualification from the school’s dojo in Fort Regent.
Nick said: ‘His enthusiasm and dedication is infectious and he has been welcomed into the school just like any other student.’
Nick went on to mention how Tyrone’s positive attitude always cheered him up, saying: ‘If you feel down or if you have had a bad day at work, seeing Tyrone’s smile and the thorough enjoyment he gets from classes is the greatest feeling in the world.’
He added how well Tyrone managed to work around his disability and achieve success in the dojo: ‘He has learned to adapt Aikido to suit his abilities which is a testament to his understanding of this wonderful art.’
The term Aikido is often translated ‘as the way of unifying with life energy’ and with his uplifting determination Tyrone has proven that disability needn’t be a barrier to entry.
The Phoenix (Jersey) School for Therapeutic Arts holds classes for the disabled on a Thursday from 6.30 pm to 7.20 pm at the school’s dojo in Fort Regent.

Pictured: Nick Pitman and Tyrone Nicholson