Spinal Cord Injury Caused By Motorcycle Accident
I am a Norwegian woman with an incomplete Spinal Cord Injury after a motorcycle accident in 2003. Since then I have tried to find my way to a normal daily life. It has been a long road, both of difficulties and hard work, but also a lot of fun.
I have educated myself to find an interesting job as a biological engineer and today I work in a hospital laboratory. I have had a motorcycle built so I can ride, even without functioning legs. I have found martial arts as a way of keeping my body in shape. I started with self defense for wheelchair users in 2012, and now I lead a Norwegian project to help others to do the same.
Martial Arts
I'm trained in Trondheim Karateklubb, and I’m fully included as any abled member. We are doing Makotokai karate, and I have a year in Italy where I work on some projects together with my Italian friends in the martial arts family.
For me martial arts is my way of keeping my body in shape. I have always struggled to find motivation for training, maybe you can say I am a bit lazy, but martial arts is the first thing I am thinking of because it is a fun activity!
I have trouble with my body as many other people with a disability do, but I feel lucky everyday that I have all these opportunities. Today my training is mostly QiGong - breathing and strengthening my body from inside. I have struggled for years with inflammation in arms and shoulders. That is one of the reasons I have chosen (and luckily had the opportunity) to spend a year in Italy where I will take care of my body and focus on getting stronger both mentally and physically.
Makotokai Wheelchair Karate
I became a black belt in Makotokai wheelchair karate in 2017, and I hope I can get back to karate when my body is well again. I also hope to be an instructor for other wheelchair users doing Makotokai Karate, and in time maybe we will have people competing also. I have just started, but I am sure this is my way to a normal and good life.
