Martial Arts and Self-Defense

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

and Dysautonomia

Sensei Tony Ferrer

Sama Bellomo

#EDSCon2015

#WoGK

Sign Waiver - By Participating:

I hereby agree to participate in Okinawan Goju Ryu LLC (Warriors of Grace Karate) fitness program

given by Okinawan Goju Ryu LLC (Warriors of Grace Karate) instructors, Directors, Black Belts,

Coordinators, and agents, upon the understanding and agreement that:

1. You represent to us that you (the member) have no physical, mental, or emotional illness that could

impair training or that could make training injurious. While every effort will be made on our part to

make the classes and facilities as safe as possible, you realize that any physical activity has the

potential for injury and you waive any claim of accidental and or negligent tort damage against us

and/or any Principals, Instructors, Directors, Black Belts, Coordinators, and agents resulting from the

activity.

2. I also release the Company from any liability arising from my use of any and/or all the equipment I

am using that is owned by the Company.

3. I understand that I will be responsible for any negligent damage (replacement/repair) to equipment I

am using that is owned by the Company.

I hereby acknowledge an assumption of risk by accepting and agreeing to allow my child/self in

Okinawan Goju Ryu LLC (Warriors of Grace Karate).

Dojokun - Beginning Thoughts

Through discipline, strength, and humility

I will strive to bring out

the best in myself and others.

I will use common sense

before self-defense

and never be abusive or offensive.

I will strive to have

patience, kindness, gentleness,

and self-control. -Sensei Tony Ferrer

● Read / Understand / Sign Waiver

● Hydrate / Salt / Meds / Etc.

● Wear comfortable clothing

● Remove Jewelery

● Remove Distractions

● Breathe

Safety First - Prepare

Safety First - Conduct

● Notify instructors of injuries

● Treat all with respect and care

● Stop before injury

● Mental Health buddy

● Help your partner learn

Sitting Is Participating

● Stay focused

● Pay attention

● Ask questions

● Take pictures

● Take notes

● Try upper body moves

Why Self-Defense?

Braces

Splints

Cane

Crutches

+ Wheelchair

EASY TARGET

“If somebody wants to hurt you,

you want to make it very hard for them.” -Sensei Tony Ferrer

Why Not Just Weapons

● Not fast enough

● May dislocate while

pulling trigger and lose aim

● May injure self

● Weapon can be taken

and used against you

Self-Defense - Is It Safe for EDS?

● You can do something

● Self-Defense starts non-physically

● The enemy isn’t going to ask

● You will get hurt, the goal is to survive

● If you survive, you win

Martial Arts - Is It Safe for EDS?

● Different styles have different demands

● Different bodies have different needs

● Fortify strengths, adapt to limits

● Work with your medical team

● Educate yourself

“Overcome and adapt; keep a level head,

and keep going.” -Sama Bellomo

EDS - Sama’s Strategies

● Long-Term

o Read an Anatomy & Physiology book

o Get a home physiotherapy plan in place

o Expect injuries and downtime

● Short-Term

o Rest / Hydrate before, during, after

o Electrolyte water, IV Saline

o Air Conditioning required

o Heat what’s stiff, ice what hurts

o Front row for line-of-sight and lip reading

o Alternate mobility aids

Sama’s Adaptations - General

● Classical Type EDS with Hypermobility

o Dislocations, Muscle Spasms

Rest, Isometrics, Small-excursion PT

● Dysautonomia

o Syncope, Visual Field Haze

Breathe, knees slightly bent, eyes open

● Reflux / Dysphagia / Gastroparesis

o Choking on air, saliva, water

Tap out, step out, recover, hydrate

● No Chiari-I Malformation or CCI

o Acknowledge and respect risk

Only work with approved partners on head and neck

moves

● Partial deafness (Left ear / CAPD)

o Misunderstanding Instructions

Stand in front, Lip read, move to see, ask

Sama’s Adaptations - Physical

● Spasm / Loss of Muscle Control

o Slow down, rest, try again, adapt

● Bowel and Bladder Training

o Go early, go often

● Hearing Loss

o Work with higher level students

● Repeat Dislocations

o Rest, splint

● Reflux

o Eat two hours before exercise, then don’t eat for those two hours

o Meds

o Manage dysautonomia symptoms with rest / IV Hydration

Sama’s Adaptations - Feelin’s

● Emotion Management

o HALT - Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired

o Be open and honest with Self and Sensei

o Put yourself where you can get support

o Don’t isolate yourself

o Blog / Journal

http://zebrokarate.blogspot.com

o Draw

● Don’t over-think it, just call:

o 1-800-SUICIDE / IMAlive.org

EDS - Preparation is Prevention

● Protect loosest joints o Tape / Brace / Splint

o Adapt moves / Observe

● Pain o Heat before, ice after

o Pain control throughout

● Fatigue o Rest / Hydrate / Electrolytes / Nutrition

Martial Arts - Forms and Technique

● Technique and speed can best power

● Focus on the basics

● Use healthiest physical attributes

● Legs are for getting away, but are powerful too

● Short-Range techniques to avoid hyperextension

● Practice what you can, adapt what you can’t

● Limits are moving targets, but still need care

Martial Arts - Tournaments

● Sparring is not fighting

● Only spar with approved opponents

● Do not spar with a nervous opponent

● Watch and learn when not sparring

● Tap out or say “Stop,” and it stops

o No questions, no disrespect.

● Bring a friend

o To cheer you on and help you home

After Practice

● Rest / Eat / Hydrate

● Bathe / Moisturize

● Heat / Ice

● Brace / Splint

● Massage / TENS

● Pain Management

● Fatigue Management

● Trauma Management

● Medical Care Plan

Okinawan Goju Ryu: 1800s-Present

Kanryo

Higaonna

Chojun

Miyagi

An’ichi

Miyagi

Morio

Higaonna

Tetsuji

Nakamura

Special Thanks

● Our higher powers, for those who believe

● Sensei Tony Ferrer

● A lot of doctors (Esp. Dr. Francomano and Dr. Lavallee)

● A lot of physiotherapists

● Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation

● Warriors of Grace Karate

● Court Cezair-Mayers, Judoka

● Maggie Ridgely, Event Support

● Charles Thorpe, Event Support

● You (Yeah, you!)

Other Works / Stay in Touch

● Blogger - http://zebrokarate.blogspot.com

● Twitter - @SimpleSama

● YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/ufo8mykat

● Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/groups/EDSMartialArtists

● [Tumblr] Mastering EDS - Sama’s Instruction Manual -

http://simplesama.tumblr.com/post/6901621314/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-

samas-instruction-manual

DISCLAIMER: All materials presented are for informational purposes and are not substitutions for

professional medical advice or martial arts training. Do your homework!

Further Learning

● The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications by Kane and Wilder

● Martial Arts and Philosophy: Beating and Nothingness (Popular Culture and Philosophy) by Priest and Young

● Warrior of the Light: A Manual by Cuelho

● Hypermobility Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management for Physiotherapists Keer and Grahame

● The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief by Davies and Davies