Clinton Terry is a force to be reckoned with. Popularly known as the “Blind Grappler”, Terry lost his eyesight at just two years old – but that didn’t stop him from chasing his dreams.
He started training Olympic wrestling at 19 years old – and lost his first 40 fights without scoring a single point.
However, he kept going. And he first found success in 2007, when he won his first national title; after which he won 10 national titles and a number of International titles.
Then, in 2014, Terry started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu… Today, he is a coach and academy owner, as well as a newly crowned BJJ black belt!
The belt promotion took place 4 days ago:
Today I was the first blind person in New Zealand to be awarded my black belt in BrazilianJiu Jitsu by Pedro and all my coaches at Tu Kaha Jiu Jitsu.
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On the road to black belt, one of Terry’s biggest supporters was his wife, Andrea:
I have been threw a lot in my younger life of which blindness was not the hardest thing I have had to deal with.
A handful of people know my full story but when Andrea met me I was rather broken.Andrea helped heal me and show me I could aim high in my life.
Andrea has always believed in me and supported me and without her yesterday would not have happened.
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And Clinton’s message for everyone? Support people’s dreams:
I’m the blind guy that wasn’t supposed to be here… Remember, everybody, please: if somebody comes to you with a big, crazy dream – don’t tell people they can’t do it.
Make dreams. Don’t kill them.
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