Visual impairment doesn’t throw champion
Winning a national martial arts title is no mean feat, but a Nelson man has done so while grappling with a loss of sight.
Jamie Sumner, 33, took home a gold medal and a silver medal; at the New Zealand Grappler No Gi national jiu-jitsu championships held in Auckland this month, despite having what some may call an obstacle.
Sumner has congenital glaucoma. He was born blind in his right eye and has low vision in his left eye, which has gradually deteriorated.
He had always wanted to do a martial art, but didn’t pursue his dream for fear of being struck in his good eye during matches, potentially damaging his already ailing sight.
Then he started learning about jiu-jitsu through Joe Rogan podcasts, and talked with people about taking up the sport.
He said hearing about Clinton Terry, a blind wrestler in Auckland, ‘‘gave me the push I needed to give it a go’’.
Sumner took up Brazilian jiujitsu two years ago, and has completed four stripes on his white belt (the first belt).
The modern form of judo is a submission wrestling sport. Matches are won by using joint locks and strangle holds, unlike most other combat sports, where striking and impact is involved.
Jiu-jitsu was an ‘‘even playing ground for everyone’’, Sumner said.
‘‘It’s all about feeling where the weight is, where [an opponent’s] arms and legs are – a lot of the time you can’t see what’s happening anyway.’’
However, he said being almost blind did affect his speed.
‘‘Because of the way my vision is, I often miss where their hands are and I can’t react as quick.’’
Sumner trains three to four times a week with a coach. He said that together, they had found ways to turn his disadvantage into an advantage. ‘‘It’s a type of sport that you can change to fit your own ability.’’
Before a match, Sumner lets the referee know he is vision-impaired, prompting the official to give verbal instructions instead of the usual hand signals.
‘‘I make it known, but I don’t make a big deal about it.’’
Corey Boland trains Sumner, and is the NOGI X GI head instructor at the dojo operated from Snap Fitness in Nelson.
He said his approach to coaching Sumner was no different to training the rest of the team.
‘‘No special treatment. Sometimes you realise he is dealing with some eyesight issues, and other times you wouldn’t know it at all.’’
Boland said that as soon as Sumner got his hands on his opponent, ‘‘he can work his way from there’’.
‘‘That’s why it works for him so well, because he doesn’t have to catch the ball running down the sidelines – he just has to get hold of your hands and know that you’re there, and work his way from there.’’
He said Sumner had ‘‘grit and determination’’.
‘‘He’s just been a bit of a phenomenon, really.’’
Sumner had racked up a bunch of medals over the last six months, Boland said.
‘‘He’s the first one from my team to win a national championship . . . he’s outpaced everyone else.’’
He said Sumner was an inspiration to others, especially people in the blind community.
‘‘It’s all about feeling where the weight is, where [an opponent’s] arms and legs are – a lot of the time you can’t see what’s happening anyway.’’ Jiu-jitsu champion Jamie Sumner