Completely Blind Man Earns Three Black Belts

May 14, 2012 - PRLog -- When you’re completely blind, you know you need to make adjustments. With a blend of classic skills and modern technology, blind people can live very normal lives.  Even so, some things seem out of reach.  One of them, for a while anyway, seemed to be Joshua’s dream of earning a Black Belt.

Joshua Loya became blind as a teen.  The doctors made a heroic effort to save what remained of his vision, but, ultimately, he lost his eyesight.  Now in his thirties, he’s lived his entire adult life as a blind person.  When he sought a way to fulfill his dream of earning a Black Belt, he had to find a martial arts master who could teach him.

He found Scot Conway, a master of martial arts who teaches in Spring Valley at the Guardian Academy.  Conway was remarkably optimistic about Joshua earning a Black Belt.

“Why would being blind stop you?” he asked out loud.  “The only question is whether you will do what it will take for you.  You do your part, and we can teach you.”

Joshua did his part.  He showed up to class on a regular basis along with his sighted wife Andrea.  They began a journey together that seemed unlikely.  Rather than just do one martial art, they decided to study all three programs at the Guardian Academy: Karate (punch, kick, block), Jujutsu (wrestling), and Kobujutsu (weapons).

It certainly wasn’t always easy.  At times, Joshua navigates a series of buses and trolley stops to get to the martial arts school on his own.  Usually, he comes with his wife.

Loya trains under the expert tutelage of martial arts masters Scot Conway and Stewart True.  Conway trained his leaders over the years in exactly how to train someone who cannot see.  Movements are described in verbal detail and Joshua is physically shown new techniques.  Combined with Joshua’s determination and hard work, he did what many only dream of: He earned his first Black Belt.

In the years since he’s been studying martial arts, it became more than a goal.  It became a way of life.  When someone achieves something as impressive as a Black Belt (much less three Black Belts), it is common to quit.  The goal has been accomplished, and they’re done.  As rare as is a basic Black Belt, continuing to higher degrees of Black Belt is even rarer.  Joshua has done that.

On May 26, 2012, Joshua Loya was awarded Second Degree Black Belt in three martial arts.  That took an additional two years of training beyond his first Black Belts.  He trains with his instructors three days a week for three hours each day.  He practices on his own and also with his Black Belt wife.

There’s one more amazing thing: Black Belt Joshua Loya teaches martial arts, too.
Under the supervision of his instructors and with the assistance of his wife, the blind martial arts instructor leads the class.  He provides details about technique, stance, grip on a weapon, and he corrects common mistakes.  He can often hear the difference between a movement done well and one with a mistake.

It surprises many newer students that he can do this.  How does he know?  True, he cannot see what people are doing, but he knows the mistakes students are most likely to make.  He listens carefully for comments or questions students have, and he teaches the correction.

He does so well, that sometimes students and spectators do not realize he’s blind.  Such is the skill he has developed as Sensei (teacher) Joshua Loya, Black Belt at the Guardian Academy.

Joshua Loya earned his Black Belts from martial arts master Scot Conway of the Guardian Academy.  Information about their programs are available at their websites http://www.GuardianAcademy.com and http://www.SweetwaterSpringsMartialArts.com.  Joshua Loya may be contacted through his website http://www.servantwarrioronline.com.

MEDIA: Contact Scot Conway at Scot@MasterRevelation.com if you wish to cover Joshua Loya's accomplishment.  The event at which he is to receive his Black Belts, perform for a small audience, and give a speech is on Saturday, May 26, 2012, from 11am to 2pm, at the Guardian Academy: 2782-E Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91977.