When people ask me how I found karate, I often smile and say that karate found me. That theme forms the core of my book. The title is The Karate That Chose Me: A Practical and Human Guide to Para Karate (from a para karateka). It is now available on Amazon. This book is not only about martial arts. It delves into how discipline, inclusion, and humanity come together. These elements shape lives in powerful and unexpected ways.
Para Karate is much more than an adapted version of traditional karate. It is a discipline where everyone can express strength and dignity, regardless of their physical or neurodivergent profile. For me, it has been a way to transform challenges into growth. It helps me find identity through movement, respect, and connection.
A Journey Shaped by Experience
As a World Champion para-karate athlete, I compete in the K23 category. I have embodied the values of karate on the tatami. I have also embodied these values off the tatami. Through training, competition, and reflection, I discovered that Para Karate is not about limitation but about possibility. Every kata, every repetition, and every bow represents both technical mastery and personal evolution.
In writing this book, I wanted to share that experience from the inside. Para Karate is not a world apart from traditional karate. It is a mirror that reflects its deepest principles: respect, discipline, and the endless pursuit of self-improvement.
What Para Karate Really Means
Many people still think inclusion in sports means lowering the bar. I want to change that idea. Inclusion is not about reducing expectations. Instead, it is about creating fair and meaningful conditions for everyone to train, compete, and grow. It means recognizing that excellence looks different for each of us, but that effort and dedication have the same value.
Through real-life examples and reflections, I show what Para Karate truly is, how it works, and why it matters. The book explains classifications and adaptive methods. It shows how athletes with different abilities can fully experience the art of karate without compromising its essence.
Beyond Sport: A Human Perspective
Writing The Karate That Chose Me was not only a technical project but also a deeply personal one. I wanted readers to see that behind every athlete, there is a person with fears. They have hopes and a story worth telling. Para Karate taught me that inclusion is not something we achieve once. It is a daily practice. This practice is built on empathy, patience, and respect.
I believe that every movement in karate carries meaning. For someone with a disability or a neurodivergent profile, learning a kata can mean much more than mastering form. It can mean finding balance, confidence, and peace. That is why this book combines practical guidance with heartfelt storytelling. It speaks to athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone who believes that sports can be a bridge toward understanding and equality.
Why I Wrote This Book
I wrote The Karate That Chose Me to share what I have learned. I gained insights as both a competitor. I also grew as a human being. I wanted to give a voice to all those who train quietly. These are the individuals who push through limits. They are the ones who redefine what is possible every single day. My goal is to show that inclusion and excellence can coexist beautifully and that Para Karate is proof of it.
Through these pages, I hope readers will feel inspired to look at ability, resilience, and diversity through a new lens. This book is for you if you are a martial artist. It is also for teachers, parents, or anyone who believes in the power of human potential.
If you would like to explore my world, I invite you to read The Karate That Chose Me. It will help you discover what Para Karate truly means.
You can find it here: https://amzn.to/46G1307