From pain to gain: After attempting suicide, blind judokas find new lives in sports
A group of extraordinary athletes are redefining the boundaries of possibility. These are the blind judokas of Lagos, who have found strength, purpose, and community in the ancient martial art of judo and its modern cousin, Sambo. Their stories of resilience and determination shine a light on the often overlooked potential of visually impaired individuals in sports and society at large, reports PETER AKINBO
“Left! Left! Turn left!”
Coach Gbenga Montana’s yells kept reverberating as our correspondent settled down at the Judo and Sambo dojo located in Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos State.
It was September 26, 2024, and the coach was training two blind athletes, Samuel Kekere and Temitope Orimolade, for the World Sambo Championship set to take place in Kazakhstan, and it would be the first time blind athletes would be participating at the event.
The dojo is similar to most government school classrooms in size and shape but also has a room for storing equipment. The floor of the dojo is covered by tatami mats, as one would find in a professional training and competition hall.
As the athletes moved across the mats, their movements were a testament to years of rigorous training and an unwavering spirit. These blind Judokas have not only overcome their physical limitations but also challenging societal perceptions about disability and sports.
Globally, blindness affects an estimated 43 million people, with many facing significant barriers to education, employment, and recreational activities, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.
While participation in sports has been seen as a way to boost confidence and independence for people with disabilities, combat sports are rarely the first choices for blind athletes. More common are sports such as athletics, goal ball and swimming, where the risks of injury are perceived to be lower.
For example, Adekunle Adesoji, a visually impaired individual, won gold medals in sprint at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Muyiwa Fatogun, Founder of the Nigerian Blind Sports Association, also participated in the final of the 100m at the 2007 African Games in Algiers.
Losing sight
Kekere, an orange belt Judoka representing Lagos State, began his journey in combat sports four years ago.
“My condition started when I was in secondary school. It wasn’t from birth. It just started as an accident, with pains, going to the hospital, and that’s how it came around,” Kekere recounts.
Kekere had dreamt of a bright future as kid, but after being diagnosed with Glaucoma, his world gradually darkened.
And the journey from sight to darkness was fraught with despair.
“I thought it was all over,” Kekere told The PUNCH. “I thought, ‘what is the essence of being alive when there’s no sight?’
“I took Indocin for almost a year, it is used for killing rats, and it almost took my life. I thought it was better taking my life gradually. But it was due to a lack of information because there is no information that a blind person can further their education and do things.”
His turning point came when he met Mr. Kelvin Arepita, who introduced him to a school for the blind. This encounter marked the beginning of Kekere’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
“I learnt how to read and write, through Braille and typewriting, coupled with some handwork before I gained admission to College of Education, Oyo State in 2008, and when I was done with that, I proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where I studied Special Education/CRS and when I graduated, that was when I heard about combat sports before I joined,” the 44-year-old said.
In the world of para-sports, Kekere is classified as T11, denoting total blindness.
“As a totally blind person, I can still view light, but that doesn’t mean I can see shapes, I can’t see any object,” he explains.
Orimolade, a yellow belt Judoka also representing Lagos, has a similar tale of overcoming adversity.
His vision began deteriorating in 2011 while he was a student at the Federal College of Technology in Lagos. “It started gradually with water coming out of my eyes, then the eyes swelling up,” he said.
“I went to government hospitals and private ones as well. I took an injection in my eyes, and other things. I got scanned, and the doctor asked if I had accidentally hit my head on a wall because that was the symptom shown and I said no. I started with treatment, and after some years, I lost one of the eyes so I continued with one then.”
By 2014, he had lost his sight completely to what doctors diagnosed as retinal blindness. Unlike Kekere who can notice presence or absence of light, Orimolade only sees white when he opens his eye lids.
For the 43-year-old, the transition to blindness was a period of intense emotional struggle. “When it first happened to me, I thought I had no life to live again. I thought that was all,” he told our correspondent.
“If I can remember I stayed for close to six days, not taking anything, I was thinking let me just sleep then just from there pass on and not wake up. Next time I wake up, I would ask, why am I waking up again?”
It was the support of his family, particularly his late sister Oluwatosin that kept him going.
“I started getting a little encouragement from my sister who is late now, her name was Oluwatosin and she passed around 2013, she stood with me then till I was able to stand on my feet. That kept me going little by little and today here I am,” Orimolade said.
Another athlete, Deborah Ogungbemi, who wasn’t at the dojo during our correspondent’s visit presents a different perspective. Unlike her teammates, Ogungbemi’s challenges began at birth, shaping her entire life experience.
Born blind, her journey into Judo began just two years ago.
“The story my mum told me was that I spent only three months in her womb before I was born,” the 32-year-old said on a call with our correspondent.
Barrister Abolarinwa Salami, chairman of the Nigeria Association of the Blind, Lagos chapter and also chairman of the Lagos State Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, speaks highly of these athletes saying, “It is something of note that we have people like them, they are members of NAB and they are personal friends. Their performance in sports is an attestation to their performance in society.”
“They and other people that are into sports need to be encouraged by government and by the society itself. So, we need people that are already sponsoring sports in one way or another to support us, to support them, and to support other people like them, so that they can earn a living.”
Societal Perceptions and Challenges
Due to their conditions, these athletes face significant societal challenges. The stigma associated with blindness in Nigeria, as in many parts of the world, remains a formidable barrier.
Kekere shares a poignant observation saying, “Their belief has been that our challenge is contagious, and it is not. If it was, most of our family would have been impaired.”
This misconception often leads to social isolation and discrimination. Even families of the visually impaired sometimes fail in their duties. Unlike Orimolade and Ogungbemi who had the support of their families, Kekere did not.
From a polygamous home, Kekere was the first of his parents but the only child of his mother. His father remarried and had four other kids from his second wife.
“There was no support from my family when my blindness started, maybe they thought they couldn’t gain anything from a blind person in the future. For them to spend money on me, they found it very difficult,” Kekere told The PUNCH with tears falling down his face.
“I am sure if they read this now, they will be shocked. It was God who helped me as I was sourcing for money. He provided a miracle through my friend who assisted me and I was able to complete my education.”
Orimolade recounts experiences with stigma suffered in the society in Nigeria as blind people attempt to move about their day to day.
“When we move with our guide cane, some people are usually not patient enough and they usually speak to us anyhow to move off their way. If we try to alight from a bus but accidentally step on someone, we get yelled at. It makes you feel bad but you just let it go,” he told our correspondent.
Ogungbemi also acknowledged the challenges but also noted the positives saying, “There are some things that aren’t okay in society, some people appreciate the way we are and help but some don’t and the way they act towards us isn’t great but I am doing my best to not let that affect me.”
Salami added, “You have a lot of folks who didn’t get employment because they still have this perception that the capacity or capability to deliver is not there.
“At times, too, when it comes to having a decent chance of marriage, even when the able-bodied person is willing, their families or even the society will discourage the union. Even at times, some people don’t even want to have their wards in the same school with persons with disabilities.”
These experiences align with broader societal attitudes towards disability in Nigeria. A study published in the African Journal of Disability found that negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities in Nigeria are often rooted in cultural beliefs and lack of awareness.
Dr. Gift Omodiale (OD, MNOA), Optometrist, Entrepreneur, and Head of Programs and Community, Global AI Council Africa, emphasizes the importance of societal support.
“To further foster inclusivity, members of the larger society should endeavour not to discriminate against the visually impaired, both those who are sports inclined and those who aren’t. They should rather show support, consideration and give the visually impaired topmost priority as necessary,” she said.
For these athletes, Judo and Sambo have become more than just sports; they are lifelines.
Kekere articulates this sentiment perfectly saying, “My life is better now since I started sports. One thing about sports is that it’s helpful. Because aside from it being a profession, you gain a lot of things from sports.
“Before I started combat sports, I had won gold and bronze medals for Lagos State in 200m in the Para Games. After athletics, I joined Judo and Sambo.
“I’ve gained a lot in this sport, it has taken us to a very great height, especially the Sambo Games, which we are preparing for. I think it’s a great joy for us to be part of this sport because in Nigeria, I think we are the first in the combat sport, so special thanks to the chairman for the opportunity given to us.”
Ogungbemi told our correspondent that she has been enjoying the sport saying, “I was introduced to Judo through one of my friends that told me that I should go to the dojo at Rowe Park to train with coach Montana. He taught me how to go into the sports and I have been enjoying doing it. Judo has really helped me.”
Sheriff Hammed, the Chairman of Lagos State Judo Association and Joint Secretary, Africa International Association of COMBATIVE sports has been instrumental in championing blind combat sports. For Hammed, it’s more than just a cause, it’s a personal mission.
“These athletes are special, and their dedication is inspiring. Across Africa, very few blind athletes are in Judo, Karate, or Sambo. In Sambo, I would say to you, categorically, Nigeria, Lagos state particularly has the only blind Sambists,” he said.
“It’s a very emotional experience to see them compete. They deserve recognition and support, not just for their talent but for the message they send, that disabilities do not define one’s abilities.”
Orimolade notes Hammed’s dedication to their welfare saying, “The chairman has been trying for us, he stays with us when we train at the dojo, escorting us to bus stops to get a bus to our destination.”
The impact of these combat sports on the lives of blind individuals is profound. While sports like chess, Sudoku and blind football are more commonly associated with blind athletes, Judo and Sambo offer unique benefits. These combat sports rely heavily on touch and proprioception, making them particularly suitable for blind practitioners.
A study in the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (Postural balance control ability of visually impaired and unimpaired judoists, 2012) highlighted that Judo, in particular, can enhance spatial awareness and balance in blind individuals, skills that are crucial for independent living.
Dr. Ghenorhe Ehimen (OD, MNOA), Optometrist, explains, “Sports or physical activities are highly recommended as it helps build muscle tone, hone well needed motor skills, improve balance and coordination. Paralympics is inclusive of visually impaired athletes who wish to compete on a global scale. People living with visual disabilities can through rehabilitation, lead an active, inclusive life.”
Dr Omodiale adds, “Visual impaired persons in sports is a pointer to how the capacity of one’s mind can expand to accommodate possibilities even in the face of unpleasant circumstances. Over the years we’ve seen how blind athletes have competed in both Paralympics and Olympics games.
“For example, international athlete, Im Dong-Yhun, a South Korean archer won an Olympic gold medal regardless of being considered legally blind. With the continued support from the Paralympics, Olympics and organizations like the Nigeria Paralympics Committee, Nigeria Blind Sports Association and the International Blind Sports Federation, visually impaired persons can continue to thrive and aim at their dreams of achieving huge successes in athletics.”
Orimolade and Kekere’s experiences echoes these findings. “It’s been good, although it’s not easy, our coach was worried about how I would cope but God intervened,” Orimolade says of his Judo journey.
“If not for sports, I would have looked haggard but I am often told I look younger than my age,” Kekere added.
The training process requires creativity and dedication from both athletes and coaches. Coach Montana explains, “It is not easy to train blind people because they can’t see. If you want to demonstrate something to them, they can’t see it. It takes us hours and days to train them.”
The coach’s approach is methodical and patient.
“You do it step by step, you position them on how to do it, ask them to squat down, put their hand on the mat, bend put their head and forward roll. We continue doing that for a week before they get used to it,” Montana elaborates.
Orimolade adds an explanation for how they train, “Assuming we are jogging around the dojo, if I am about to run into a wall, he would tell me to turn, or he’d tell me to follow his voice, that’s how we have been training and how I’ve been coping with that.”
Coach Montana who is a Third Dan black belt in Judo explained how grading and competitions in judo and sambo worked.
“The grading in judo and sambo for belts is up to coaches. The coaches according to their performance in training and the way they attend and score during competitions can change their belts,” the 52-year-old said.
Unlike taekwondo which has its moving technique called ‘poomsae’ where athletes are scored for accuracy of movement and fluidity, in Judo, the equivalent is called Kata.
Like poomsae, Judo ‘kata’ are prearranged patterns of techniques meant to demonstrate the fundamental principles of Judo, such as throws, joint locks, and pins. Kata in Judo are usually performed by two practitioners, a Tori, the person executing the technique and Uke, the person receiving the technique.
However, in Sambo, such does not exist and the focus is on live sparring called ‘randori’ and combat application. In judo, the two competitors with normal sight typically start by standing at a distance of about four meters apart from each other while in sambo, they stand two to four meters apart.
This is however different for the blind.
“When they want to fight, you bring them the two blind athletes together, ask them to get their grip on each other’s uniform. After holding their grip, you now say start, and then they start fighting, anyone that has the opportunity to throw each other gets points,” coach Montana explains.
“If you throw anyone that the full back touches the mat that is four points, from that throwing, you go down and hold him, that would be a pin fall and that is another four points, which makes the fight over but if you throw him and only half of the back or side touches the mat that is one point or two points, it depends on how you throw your opponent down before they decide. And after the fight is over, you touch them and announce the fight is over, at least they hear, it is their eyes that have fault, not their ears.”
• Orimolade (left) during the visit of former Japan ambassador to Nigeria Matsunaga Kazuyoshi
Breaking New Ground: The World Sambo Championship
The inclusion of blind athletes in the 2024 World Sambo Championship marks a significant milestone for para-sports. The competition is set to take place from November 7 to November 10.
Hammed who is also the Vice President and General Secretary of Sambo Association of Nigeria, sees this as a groundbreaking opportunity.
“It’s going to do a lot and it’s basically giving them hope. What this means to me, with their challenge, they’re not deprived of anything, that can actually make a living, do something for themselves and make themselves proud and it’s quite amazing,” Hammed said.
“Based on funds and sponsors, we’ll see how many athletes we can take because it’s still self-sponsored for now, we’re seeking for collaboration from government and private organizations to see how we can actually take more of them.”
Roman Novikov, Chairman of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities, confirmed Kekere’s participation in the championship on October 2.
In a message to Hammed, Novikov stated, “Your athlete meets the criteria of the international classification rules for blind sambo in class SVI-1. You can declare your athlete for participation in the World Sambo Championship (blind sambo discipline).”
The inclusion of “SAMBO for the Blind” in the World Championships program is a testament to the growing recognition of blind athletes in combat sports. As Vasily Shestakov, President of the International Sambo Federation, put it, “Sambists with health limitations show a great desire to compete on an equal basis with other athletes, demonstrating their steely will and fortitude.”
World Sight Day and Eye Health Awareness
Dr. Omodiale explains the importance of eye health saying, “Vision loss and blindness can result from various causes, including genetic factors, injuries, diseases, and age-related changes. While some forms of blindness are present from birth, others develop gradually or suddenly later in life.
“Many cases of blindness can be prevented or their progression slowed through regular eye check-ups, early detection, and proper treatment of underlying conditions. Common preventive measures include regular eye exams, protecting eyes from injuries, managing health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and avoiding smoking.”
Dr. Ehimen, provides sobering statistics, “In 2021, a report by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness revealed that 295 million people were living with moderate-to-severe visual impairment and of these, 77% could have been completely prevented or treated, simply because they lacked access to appropriate eye care.”
Dr. Ehimen also warns against harmful practices saying, “Harmful practices like couching or treating common eye infections with some traditional eye medicines, battery acid, urine or breastmilk can further worsen the symptoms, damage the ocular surface and could result in ocular morbidities like corneal scars, endopthalmitis, ulcerative keratopathies.
“It is advised that when experiencing any eye health challenge like blurring vision, redness, eye pain, itching, eye lid swelling, do not delay but visit a certified eyecare practitioner.”
Last week also marked World Sight Day on October 10th, a global event dedicated to raising awareness about eye health and Dr. Omodiale notes, “In Nigeria, many vision centers and eye clinics offered free eye screenings throughout the week to the public.”
Kekere and Orimolade are married. Kekere has a seven-month-old son Dominion with his wife Rachel and both enjoy perfect eyesight.
Orimolade was married before his blindness but after losing his sight, they separated, however, they had a son from the union named Oluwatobi who stays with Orimolade’s sister in Ondo State. He remarried to Yetunde and together, they have a son Oluwatosin.
It is ironic that these impressive blind athletes who are defying odds will not be able to read their stories in the paper directly. However, on The PUNCH website, they can use the text-to-speech function to listen to the publication. Their stories, heard or read, continue to inspire and challenge societal norms, paving the way for a more inclusive future in sports and beyond.
