Girls and Boys with Visual Disabilities Learn Judo in Colombia
More than sixty girls and boys, some blind and others with visual disabilities, ages 6 to 16 years, all students at the Fundación Juan Antonio Pardo Ospina in Bogotá, Colombia, are part of the Sports Training of the Cundinamarca and Bogota League of Persons with Visual Disabilities.
During the past two and a half years, Arturo Soler Haro, a psychologist and sports specialist, studied to understand the complex world of visual disabilities having the background experience of teaching judo to deaf girls and boys and with Down's Syndrome. He then decided to join the National Commission for Judo with Blind Persons of the Sports Federation of Persons with Visual Disabilities (Federación de Deportes de Limitados Visuales, FEDELIV), as technical judo instructor accompanied by Madeline Chocontá and Fernando Silva.
Since March 2002, they have been teaching judo in the regular National Judo Selection to girls and boys with visual disabilities. They have modified their philosophy of life and found motivation in judo. Now the students feel stronger, have improved their skills and have started to dream that in not very long, they will be competing in the National and International Judo Competitions.
"The advantages of judo are well known. It facilitates the learning of self-confidence, concentration, and leadership skills, together with improving physical coordination, strength, and flexibility," says Dr. Arturo Soler.
For Madeleine Chocontá, judo Black Belt, instructor of girls and boys who are blind or present visual disabilities: "People with visual disabilities learn judo techniques by feeling movements and contact in their own bodies. They are able to perceive an attack before it occurs, with more anticipation than sighted persons would."
The Colombian Judo National Commission has been making attempts to train 16 technical judo instructors about judo techniques for persons with visual disabilities. The purpose is to improve in regular judo the Judo League and Clubs that are part of the Sports System for Persons with Visual Disabilities. At present, the Instructors, the Members of the Coordinating Committee, and the Support Commission do not received any pay for their services. Yet, everyone has great expectations and are requesting help from the government and private companies in order to ensure project continuity.
For more information regarding the advances of judo by persons with visual disabilities in Colombia, contact Arturo Soler Haro, e.mail: judociegoscolombia@hotmail.com
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