He fought all odds on his way to karate black belt



















CHENNAI: The Indian contingent for the Isshinryu world
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/He-fought-all-odds-on-his-way-to
-karate-black-belt/articleshow/4139272.cms> karate championships in
Pittsburg, US on June 18, 19 and 20 will include Srimanth Bal of



Gujarat. Nothing abnormal in that one would think. Except that Srimanth was
not born normal.

He was a spastic born with Qadriplegia a form of
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/He-fought-all-odds-on-his-way-to
-karate-black-belt/articleshow/4139272.cms> cerebral palsy where brain
damage renders both arms and legs dysfunctional he had to be tube-fed for
three years. Doctors told them to pray but his parents, Srinivas Bal and his
wife of Vapi, Gujarat, were not about to give up.

Surfing the net, Srinivas stumbled upon information that Chennai-based
Shihan Hussaini, an 8th degree
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/He-fought-all-odds-on-his-way-to
-karate-black-belt/articleshow/4139272.cms> black belt in karate and social
worker, was doing pioneering work with children of the Spastics Society of
Tamil Nadu and that karate therapy' had worked wonders.

Shihan Hussaini was contacted and Srimanth, 11, arrived in Chennai in 2003.
He was wheelchair-bound; he could barely stand on his own. Hussaini then
summoned one of his students Hardik Joshi a 5th degree black belt from
Gujarat and gave him the responsibility of training Srimanth. Teacher and
pupil went back and began, step by step, the laborious training process.

It was six months before he could stand on his own. Then started the basic
blocks, hand attacks and kicks the building blocks. Then, Srimanth began
running! Soon, the complex katas of Isshinryu karate were mastered and
able-bodied experts were left spell-bound.

After five years, when Srimanth came here for his black belt test, Shihan
Hussaini was dumbstruck. "Initially I was apprehensive. The boy looked like
a vegetable. But he was a keen observer and quick learner." Srimanth ran the
mandatory 24 km non-stop before doing 100 repetitions of the difficult
endurance exercises. He also scored excellently in his basics, katas,
weapons, sparring and
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/He-fought-all-odds-on-his-way-to
-karate-black-belt/articleshow/4139272.cms> self-defence. Now, he is in the
Indian team for the Isshinryu world karate championships the first such
child to do so.

On Monday, Srimanth held a demonstration of his spectacular recovery and
amazing talents at the Music Academy where Shihan Hussaini presented
mementoes to the parents and the instructor.

"I just can't believe it. It is a dream come true for me. Joshi sir stood by
me like a rock. If not for him, I would not be here today. Perseverence
pays, I am an example of this," Srimanth told mediapersons. Asked whether he
was confident of bringing home laurels from Pittsburg pat came the reply.
"Yes. Why not? I am confident of returning with
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/He-fought-all-odds-on-his-way-to
-karate-black-belt/articleshow/4139272.cms> medals."

Said a proud Srinivas: "I just thank god and Joshi and Hussaini for their
efforts in getting Srimanth on his feet and giving him a new lease of
life.''





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