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Injury no handicap for karate instructor

By Brian Gomez

Kyrene Corridor resident Rob Corcoran was a thriving karate specialist before a near-fatal car accident changed his life forever.

Five years ago, he was driving back to the Valley with a friend after a martial arts tournament in California. Corcoran was snoozing in the passenger seat during the wee hours of the morning when the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

He was hurled through the windshield and out of the car at 75 mph. He broke his back in the impact and, as a result, lost all feeling below his waist.

Since then, Corcoran has been confined to a wheelchair and cannot move his legs because,  according to doctors, pressure on his spinal cord prevents his brain from transmitting messages down the rest of his body.

As the reality of his condition set in, Corcoran's third-place finish in the martial arts tournament suddenly seemed insignificant.

He was distressed, even contemplating suicide several times before discovering a reason to live.

"I felt like the quality of my life was gone… it was taken away," Corcoran said. "I realized that I needed change."
Corcoran initially wanted to quit karate, but later found refuge from his restricted lifestyle by becoming a martial arts teacher.

He now has a new outlook on life, he says, teaching young people at the Tempe Family YMCA.

Teaching has done more than touch the surface of his psyche, says Corcoran.
"I'm a way better person than I was before my car accident.”

The 43-year-old Corcoran uses teaching methods unlike any other karate instructor because of his handicap.

He relies solely on his massive upper body to present various tactical skills to his young learners. Several large mirrors are positioned throughout the studio so that the children can see his every move.

And, despite his disability, he still interacts well with the kids.

"I've had to learn to teach since I've been in a wheelchair," Corcoran said.

"I'm surprised every day when anybody shows up to my classes. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a path. It amazes me that I have a following."

The purpose of karate is to teach self-defense mechanisms that can be used while in danger. However, karate teaches so much more than that, according to Corcoran.

Those who learn karate are not only instilled with a sense of awareness of their surroundings, but have a much better knack for identifying potential predators.

Karate even teaches individuals how to escape from attackers if faced with a violent situation.

But most importantly, a high level of self-esteem and willingness to take control in pressure situations is embedded in those who study the popular self-defense technique.

"I don't think many things in life really prepare you for adversity, but that's what karate is all about," Corcoran said.

"Hopefully, you'll never have it in your life, but we all do at one time or another. Nothing taught me how to handle adversity as much as karate."
The ambitious youngster was born at a naval base in Iwakuni, Japan, and his family moved to the United States six years later.

Corcoran originally was introduced to karate at the age of 11 by his father. After Corcoran was beat up in a fight, his skills rapidly progressed.
"I wish everybody could have a passion in life," Corcoran said.

"But I think most people don't, and I feel sorry for them. Karate has been my passion and has made my life rich."
Corcoran graduated from high school in 1976 and then worked as a military police officer during a four-year stint with the Air Force.

He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in political science from Cal State Fullerton in 1987.

Although he has accepted the limitations his injuries placed on him, Corcoran still holds a slim ray of hope that a portion of his spinal cord could be regenerated through surgery, which would allow him to regain mobility in his legs.

"Sometimes I just try to live with what I've got, enjoy life and don't try to think the grass is greener," Corcoran said.

"All I want is a little more mobility, and my life will be better. I don't know if walking is really the goal, but being able to feel an inch more of my body would be pretty big."

Brian Gomez, a graduate of Corona del Sol High School now studying journalism at Arizona State University,  writes regularly for Wrangler News. Email: brian.gomez@wranglernews.com.

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