KUNG-FU

Story By Claire Elliot

KUNG-FU fan Adam Leathem is the first Scot with Down’s Syndrome to achieve a black belt in a Korean martial art - because he was determined to be “the next Bruce Lee”.

Even as a seven-year-old boy, the 19-year-old, from Culloden, Inverness-shire loved copying the moves he had seen on TV.

When he first took up Tang Soo Do six years ago, however, he was not expected to make it past his white belt.

He was just learning to speak, had weaker muscle tone than his peers, and had the concentration span of a young child.

But, the dedicated teenager, who is now heading for the world championships next year, refused to let his disability stop him from achieving his goal.

And, despite many people - including his coaches - thinking he would never cope with the pressure of a gruelling four-hour test, which involved Adam completing 12 patterns, four bo-staff forms, fighting, and pad and line work, he proved them wrong.

He is now the first person with Down’s syndrome in Scotland to achieve a black belt doing this form of martial art.

And he is thought to be one of only three people with the condition to get it in the whole of Britain and America.
 
His proud mum Veronica, 48, who works from home so she can look after her son, said: “It’s just unbelievable. He’s a wee star.

“When he first started I thought if he got the first tag on his white belt, I’d be happy.

“I never thought for one minute that he’d get this far. But he’s worked his socks off and I’m so proud of him.”

Miss Leathem was told when her son was just two years old that he would never talk, let alone achieve all that he has done.

But Adam, who turns 20 this Wednesday (June 13), has a stack of medals to his name and is looking to take part in the World Tang Soo Do Association Championships in America next year.

He said: “It made me very happy to get my black belt.

“There are lots of moves and I practice a lot at home and in the car to get them right. It helps me focus.

“I don’t let Down’s syndrome stop me from doing anything. I like competing and I have lots of cups and medals.”

In 2009 Adam returned from the Special Olympic Games with a gold and two silvers for running, still jumping and shot put.

And he is hoping to return with another Olympic medal when he plays football in the 2013 games.

But Miss Leathem, who also has a daughter Sophie, 18, said: “Tang Soo Do is so mainstream. It’s not a recognised sport for someone with Down’s syndrome because of their floppy muscle tone.

“I’ve had to work hard to get him to the spec he’s at.

“When he was a baby I’d take Adam and his sister swimming four nights a week after supper, then get them changed into their baby grows and take them home and I think that’s helped.

“I just wanted to give him as normal a life as I could give him.

“But on the whole Down’s syndrome isn’t an issue.

“He’s always been that bit slower but nothing has held him back.”

His coach Sally Sweeney, from Phoenix Tang Soo Do, said she was not aware of any other Down’s syndrome sufferer who had achieved a black belt for the 2,000-year-old North Korean martial art in Scotland.

She added that one of the biggest hurdles she had teaching Adam was getting him to slow down so he could retain what he was being taught.

“He just wanted to be the next Bruce Lee,” she said.

“Some things came easily to him but co-ordination sequences were proving difficult for him. But with a lot of hard work from everyone in the club, Adam made progress and by March 6, 2010, he made the grade of Cho Dan Bo (probationary black belt).

“To be honest at one point some of us

did not think he would have stick five years of training. But he was determined that he would get his Dan grade.

“He is a great young man who rightly deserves his belt and I was proud to put it on him.”
 
She added: “His achievement is testament to a determined young man who was not going to allow his disability stop him from achieving his goals. He is an inspiration to all.”

As well as martial arts and sports, Adam goes to college three days a week, helps out a at a local playgroup and is in the process of setting up his own pool league for local disabled youngsters.