Brandon Twaites has spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy that affects his lower limbs. Brandon did not start to learn how to walk independently until he was three years old. He has participated in therapeutic horseback riding, which has helped him with his core strength and balance, but as he got older, his parents recognized that there were other things they could be doing to help him even more with his balance, and especially his self-confidence.
This is where karate fit in. Brandon has been one of Sensei Brian Purves (Westwook Gojo Ryu) students for the past three years. Brandon started karate in grade 1, at the age of 6.
“At the time, we were looking for a smaller organization for Brandon to start martial arts training, and Brian came highly recommended. Brain was a pleasure to deal with from our first contact” recalls Karen Twaites, Brandon’s mother.
“He was more than willing to take Brandon on as his student, and Brandon’s entry into his dojo was seamless. Brandon is just one of the students – held accountable for his behavior and for how hard he works, even if his range of motion or endurance isn’t the same as everyone else.”
Through karate, Brandon has improved his balance and his range of motion. It has also helped with his self-confidence, and his overall athletic ability in other sports. Brandon’s gait has improved, and he has gained more control and awareness of his physical self.
2014 was the first year that Brandon participated in the Zone competitions. There were only 4 boys in the under 7 category last year, and he won one of his matches. As top 4 from his zone, he was selected to represent his zone at the Provincial Championships.
“At the 2014 Karate BC Provincial Championships, Brandon did not win any matches in the 7 and under category, but Karate BC awarded him with a gold medal. To say that we were overwhelmed in this moment would be an understatement. There are few times in my life where I could say that I was speechless, and this was one of those rare moments. Sensei Brian didn’t know what to make of it at the time, he had never heard of such a thing happening. The only thing we could figure was that your Officials noticed that Brandon was a competitor with a disability, and chose to recognize his unique accomplishment.”
When asked about the experience of having Brandon as a student, Sensei Brian Purves, Chief Instructor at Westwood Goju Ryu had no hesitations, “I’ve had the privilege of having Brandon in my dojo for two and a half years, and I’m continually amazed at his progress and work ethic. He fit right in at our dojo from the start, and although all the other students consider him ‘just one of the guys’, I can see in their eyes the respect and admiration they have for him. He is a physically and mentally tough kid who never makes excuses or asks for any leniency.”
Ken and Karen Twaites, Brandon’s parents, have never said anything, or identified Brandon as having a permanent disability, but feel that a new category being created for the 2015 Karate BC Provincial Championships for children under the age of 15 with permanent disabilities is truly significant. “It can mean a lot to us as parents, and it also meant a lot to Brandon. When I asked him to describe what it meant to him he answered that it made ‘him feel included’. That took my breath away.”
“At the 2015 Zone qualifiers, Sensei Brian watched his match, and cheered him on like he does for all of his students” recalls Karen. “Michael Alteza, a member of the Karate BC team, grabbed his fellow students from Westwood Goju Ryu, and they all watched Brandon’s AWAD match. This whole experience felt significant. That karate helps develop this kind of character in our children is a great outcome. After the match, another parent came up and told me about her daughter, who also had a physical disability. Her son participates in karate but she didn’t know it was a possibility for her other child. You could feel a door opening. Not only does this new category create an opportunity for our son to potentially compete against other kids like him, it creates the possibility for others to consider competing that may have never done so without the creation of this category.”
“I am pleased to see Karate BC has recognized Karate-ka such as Brandon” say Sensei Purves. “The new AWAD division is a great way to showcase that people of all physical abilities deserve the opportunity to train, compete, and reap the rewards that Martial Arts has to offer everyone.”
Karate BC, the Twaites, and many other friends and supporters, look forward to Brandon participating in both the 8-9 Novice Boys and in the AWAD group in the upcoming 2015 Provincial Championships. The Twaites are also excited to continue their journey with Westwood Goju Ryu and the rest of their karate family.
