[video] Inspiration: Down-Syndrome MMA Fighter refuses to Lose to his condition!

[Sir Edward]

This young man has a warrior spirit:

[Sir William]

Initially, I thought this was just wrong...but why shouldn't he be able to follow his dream?

[Lord Dane]

Everybody finds their calling in life & need to follow it. What good is life where you cannot live up to your potential and be allowed be succeed despite perceived limitations. I say HUZZAH!! Kick some ars, kid!!!!

[Sir James A]

Man, that made me cry. I hope he keeps doing what he's doing.

[Ian]

It's inspirational, but at the same time it puts people in some very awkward positions.  They touched on it a little in the video.  At the end of the day, his opponent is a person without disability beating up a person with disability.  Do you take it easy on him?  Do you go all out against him?  As the opponent you're kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't.  If you beat him, you just beat up a person with Downs.  If you lose, well... the reality is you just lost to a person with Downs.

I don't know what the right answer is.  Part of me is very inspired that he found purpose and a way to truly find purpose in his life, but part of me also sees the difficulty and the problems anyone who fights him faces as well.

[Sir Edward]

I don't know what the right answer is.  Part of me is very inspired that he found purpose and a way to truly find purpose in his life, but part of me also sees the difficulty and the problems anyone who fights him faces as well.

That's a really good point. I'm glad they touched on it a little in the video. It's a difficult balance to strike, since it's something that he's passionate about. The transition into teaching is probably a good direction to go with it.

[Sir James A]

I don't know what the right answer is.  Part of me is very inspired that he found purpose and a way to truly find purpose in his life, but part of me also sees the difficulty and the problems anyone who fights him faces as well.

That's a really good point. I'm glad they touched on it a little in the video. It's a difficult balance to strike, since it's something that he's passionate about. The transition into teaching is probably a good direction to go with it.

Agreed, and I've heard the same with "guy vs girl" fights - you beat up a girl, that just makes you a guy that beat up a girl. You lose, you're the guy that lost to a girl.

The thing that hit me hard was when they said his dad bought him a gym of his own, and that he's teaching there. A close second was how he refuses to accept his limitations; that might be stubborn, or avoidance of fact, or whatever else - but I think it's great. He isn't accepting a limit given to him, he's finding out what it is on his own.

[Ian]

The thing that hit me hard was when they said his dad bought him a gym of his own, and that he's teaching there. A close second was how he refuses to accept his limitations; that might be stubborn, or avoidance of fact, or whatever else - but I think it's great. He isn't accepting a limit given to him, he's finding out what it is on his own.

If only other people weren't so scared to follow their dreams like him!

[Thorsteinn]

Sir Kief, KSCA, Knighted well after losing his leg. Fights single sword. Got there on his own merits. A legend in his area (check the Armour Archive for stories like this: http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=162807&hilit=sir+kief ).

Plus I know a few aspies who fight to a high level.

[Sir William]

Sir Kief is definitely an inspiration...I've also heard that to go for his good leg will only result in something bad happening to you immediately thereafter.  lol

[Sir Nate]

It is inspiring.