MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Being blind and physically challenged hasn't stopped 5-year-old Christian Buchanan from doing just about anything other kids his age can do - including karate.
"Christian, punch it one time," commanded instructor Bill Taylor of Murfreesboro, who has been giving Christian one-on-one instruction since May. "Make it pop. Ichi!" said Taylor, holding up a sheet of X-ray paper for the boy to hit.
"Ichi," responds a smiling Christian, striking the X-ray paper with a reverberating pop.
"Good one!" said Taylor as Christian giggled, "Hee, hee, hee."
Earlier this month, the kindergartner earned his first belt at Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate.
"It's been a slow process," said Christian's mother, Lacey Buchanan, as she held her squirming son in her lap. "But it's been amazing."
He's been doing physical and occupational therapies at Special Kids Nursing and Rehabilitation for years. He's unable to participate in team sports, so Lacey Buchanan felt karate would be an activity that could challenge him mentally and physically.
"I knew I'd be pushing him farther than he wanted to go ... out of his comfort zone," Lacey Buchanan said as Christian practiced with Taylor in a small room in the karate school.
Christian was born with Tessier cleft lip and palate, which caused malformation to his mouth, upper teeth, sinus cavity, skull and lips. Christian also has microphthalmia, or "small eyes," and is completely blind.
There are sensory issues as well, Buchanan explained. So the first karate lesson in May wasn't easy.
Christian sat curled in his mother's lap and cried. Taylor was patient, she said, and gradually Christian began to come out of his shell over the next months.
"It's really helped him have the discipline to understand when it's OK to jump, and when it's not, and have a little more control over body movements," Buchanan said. "As far as confidence, he was very withheld and reserved and very shy. Now he goes into karate and we have to get onto him for being goofy. He's just so comfortable now."
And you can tell he's gained confidence, as he's not shy about joking with his instructor. He giggled and pretended to do moves as Taylor encouraged his pupil.
Buchanan said one of the biggest lessons karate has taught her son is special awareness.
"He can't see where his hands are. He has to feel and be aware ... where his hands are in space (around him)," she explained.
The sport also has helped him build muscle and strength, too, she said.
"He's moving and active," she said.
As lessons progressed, Taylor also had a few learning curves.
"My biggest challenge is trying to convey the message (of instruction) to him because he can't see me show him where to put his hands or move his feet," Taylor said. "I've come up with all kinds of games to get around his visual impairment."
Taylor focused on the basics, like the various stances, principles of karate and manners. Those aspects are what he was tested on earlier this month. He earned a white belt with a yellow stripe.
But it's just the beginning, because Taylor has big plans for his star student.
"My goal is to integrate him into my group classes. The only limitation he's got is his visual (impairment). He's compliant, he listens well, he follows directions, and he tries very hard," Taylor said.
He's like "every other kid his age," with good days and bad days, Taylor said.
What's most impressive to Taylor is not his student's abilities, per se, but his attitude.
"He's my hero. ... So many people come up with reasons why they can't do this or that. And he's out there and blind, with other challenges, doing it," Taylor said.
While Christian has come a long way, Taylor said he's "gotten a lot more out of this" than his student.
"It tickles me to death to see how far he's come since May," Taylor said.
Buchanan said she hopes when others see her son doing karate, they'll be inspired to take on challenges, too.
"I don't want people to say, 'That poor kid.' I want them to think, 'Wow, look what he's doing," she said. "I hope they'll say, 'If Christian can kick butt in karate, I can do anything, too.' "
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Information from: The Daily News Journal, http://www.dnj.com