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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.