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POWER FROM WITHIN BUSHIDO is based on the life of Sensei Anthony von Sager, and it is an honor to write this comment about my friend since teenage years, who is like a little brother to me.
About 30 years ago, Anthony walked into the dojo of our Grandmaster Geert J. Lemmens in Heide, Germany, severely handicapped by cerebral palsy from birth and still using a cane sometimes. Therefore, he could not take part in normal Kickbox or any other Martial Arts-classes, and we all had never seen or heard of a person with heavy limitations practicing Martial Arts, let alone come across someone who wanted to become a Martial Arts fighter despite his physical restrictions. It seemed to us a wish out of this world, beyond reach and completely out of touch with reality. So, needless to say, we were all filled with doubts, whether this youngster would be able to step across his limits and accomplish his most desired goal – apart from our Grandmaster. Ahead of his time as so often, he was the only one who believed this possible, opposing the entire Martial Arts world and everybody else. He refused to listen to unfavorable opinions about Anthony and made him a member of his dojo.
During the years that followed, Master Lemmens created a rehab and workout plan customized for Anthony’s needs that led, together with his student’s enormous will power, to success in a nearly miraculous way. Amazing us with his almost daily accomplishments as athlete and person, Anthony overcame his disability more and more and grew into a valuable member of our dojo. Later, he even started to compete and win – although handicapped people were not accepted and, of course, divisions for them non-existent in those days. So, Anthony fought his way through the ranks with never ceasing determination, and the exceptional attitude towards his daily work earned him the respect of us all, especially of my friends Marwan and Lothar and of me, who were on his side from the beginning. Today, handicapped people are allowed to take part in state, national and even world championships and a division for them is to be found in most Martial Arts – to be credited to Anthony and his never ceasing drive to succeed, setting goals with standard for generations. From early on, Anthony showed outstanding readiness to help others and started, still in his teens, to create particular programs meant for people handicapped like him. This inspired me later to start teaching everyone who needs special attention in my own dojos. Now, it is your turn to be inspired by his wisdom, to learn from his knowledge gathered in decades of research and to benefit from the programs he designed for anyone in need to find a better place in life.
And I have little doubt that this book will lead you to move ahead as Anthony’s work has led his many students to success before. As an individual, or pro athlete or professional teacher – it will open your mind, heart and horizon. Enjoy!
Renshi, Mihran ‘The Armenian Lion’ Aghvinian
6th degree Black Belt Kadgamala Karate Do, Kickboxing
Founder of Hye Katch Do Mixed Martial Arts Systems
Former Team Captain of IAKSA National Team, vise European Kickboxing Champion,
Several times German Full contact Kickbox Champion
Anthony Martin von Sager
“From Wheelchair to World Champion”
Sensei Anthony Martin von Sager spent the first ten years of his life partially handcuffed to a wheelchair, crippled by birth due to cerebral palsy that was expected to keep him in that chair forever. While he was serving time in a pitiless orphanage, little Anthony discovered Shihan Geert J. Lemmens training his students in a nearby field. Observing these sessions filled Anthony with hopes and desires that were considered blatantly impossible. Shihan perceived that the little guy already possessed the “power from within”, mind over matter. Knowing the intensity of that power, Lemmens realized that he could transport the kid to places he had only dreamed of. They were off to that castle in the sky where Anthony shed his wheelchair and limped into the fight he was born to win.
Along the way, his combats turned into victories. He was the first 100% disabled fighter to battle fully-able bodies and win! He holds countless undefeated World Champion titles as well two World Records (both in fully able and handicapped divisions). As Anthony won titles and passed from one Black Belt to the next (first of his kind in the world) his triumphant stories made the headlines of countless newspapers and magazines, as well as television shows around the globe. And the kudos keep coming—as he waits for his story to come out in Black Belt Magazine (still in approval stage) he has recently been nominated for the Guinness Book of World Records as the most accomplished fighter with a 100% disability who ever lived. Sounds extraordinary, even for him, but Sensei Anthony believes this power lies within the capabilities of every human being.
Anthony is now retired from competing and has changed his focus to helping others change their lives, especially children with special needs. An inspiration for anybody who wants to better his life, Anthony’s two books, “Born To Fight” and “Bushido From Within,” have been turned into screenplays and are ready for production. Both reflect his life and his life’s work as teacher and mentor for his “Rock Stars,” as he calls them. If you thought “Sea Biscuit” was an astounding true story, then wait until you have read or seen “Born to Fight” or “Bushido From Within.” It moves your emotions, inspires you, and leaves your soul in a different place than it was before.
Anthony believes that everything happens for a reason. Without his handicap, he wouldn’t be the person he is today. He teaches children who, like himself, were “Born to Fight”. He uses the lesson plan life handed him at birth along with intuition and love, to gently and safely guide his students to their own castles in the sky. Recently, he has worked with three students suffering from cerebral palsy. The youngest, five-year- old Case, walks with difficulty, but he is walking. When he first met Anthony, little Case couldn’t hoist his hands over his head without falling over. He now doing jumping jacks and playing baseball with his big brother as his mother watches with tears in her eyes. Monae, 14, did her first sit-up in late June. Both her parents remarked, “I never in my wildest dreams even let myself think that this was possible!” Monae and Case are now doing up to ten sit-ups with big smiles. Sixteen-year-old Eden has trained with Anthony for over a year. Overcoming her earlier despair, Anthony elevated Eden’s spirits tremendously and was able to help her reach new levels of physical, mental and emotional heights. Bystanders hold their breaths as this powerful young girl, a true example of inner strength, does difficult yoga moves. Yoga, combined with physical therapy, mixed with rehab and tai-chi, rounded up with personal experience and self-accomplishments—with a dose of laughter and his gentle heart—is Sensei Anthony von Sager’s secret weapon for success! I know it well, training and co-teaching at his side with an open, loving heart myself. (Shinwa) In good health, Sen. Sempei - Jessica Lynn
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