Blind Grappler: ‘Chase Your Dreams Despite The Doubters!’

The Jiu-Jitsu Times believes “jiu-jitsu is for everyone” and will profile several jiu-jitsu students and instructors who are training and using BJJ to overcome limitations and add to their lives.

Clinton Davies is a 33-year-old athlete who competes in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Clinton is also 95% blind.

The Jiu-Jitsu Times caught up with Clinton to talk about what it is like being a blind grappler. Here is what he had to say.

Jiu-Jitsu Times: Clinton, can you tell the Jiu-Jitsu Times readers a little about your
background? How long have you been grappling? Where is your home academy?

Clinton Davies: I wrestled for 15 years. I have been coaching kids wrestling for 10 years and some of the kids I worked with are coming up to my weight. As I have no interest in competing against my athletes two and a half years ago, I started training and competing in jiu-jitsu. I train my jiu-jitsu at Tu Kaha Jiu jitsu under Pedro Fernandes in New Zealand.

Jiu-Jitsu Times: What physical obstacles did you have to overcome to train
BJJ? Which adaptations did you have to make to your BJJ game given your specific conditions? What is your game like?

Clinton Davies: Training BJJ is easier being blind than wrestling. Also, my team are very supportive. The hardest thing when training is not seeing the coach demonstrating technique. However, my coaches soon overcame this buy demonstrating on me when showing the class things. My game is usually top due to my wrestling, but I have worked hard on my guard and have even surprised people in competition by pulling guard.

Jiu-Jitsu Times: How do you feel BJJ has been a positive force in your life? What have you learned from training jiu-jitsu that you have applied to your life off of the mats?

Clinton Davies: Jiu-jitsu is awesome, as I love competing and I feel that I can compete a long time in BJJ. In life, well after surviving tough days on the mat, you know anything is possible.

Jiu-Jitsu Times: Do you have any words of advice for other BJJ students who
are facing obstacles of their own in their BJJ training?

Clinton Davies: When I started wrestling, I lost about 40 fights without scoring a single point in my first two years. The whole time I kept telling people I would be a national champ, and despite many people laughing at me, I kept on and ended up winning 10 wrestling national titles and so far.  I have three jiu-jitsu national titles as well as international titles in both. So, I say keep at it and chase your dreams despite the doubters!

To donate to Clinton Davies, please go visit his Give A Little page.

Check out this video of Clinton grappling below:

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