Members of GwanYong taekwondo Poitiers, Jérôme Lambert and Laurent Chamaillard received their Danbo black belt in the disabled category on Saturday. A first in France which rewards the beautiful complicity between the two Poitevins and their trainer, Rodrigo Lacattiva.
Ordinary scene last Tuesday, at the Lawson-Body sports complex dojo. Fifteen young teenagers snort on the tatami and follow the exercises. In the middle of the merry troop, six disabled fighters in wheelchairs take part in the celebration. And suddenly, in a voice that carries, coach Rodrigo Lacattiva drops this: “Jérôme, he’s going to get his black belt, it’s not for nothing, he deserves it! I’m not Santa Claus” Behind his mask, the licensee of GwanYong taekwondo Poitiers smiles, happy and proud of the compliment. Since Saturday, the taekwondo player has been a club black belt (Danbo), like his 35-year-old homemate in Smarves, Laurent Chamaillard.
“A real life lesson”
This is a first in France. The Poitevin club has entered into a partnership with the French Federation of Taekwondo and associated disciplines, the French Federation of adapted sports and the French Handisport Federation to define a reference system. “Disability expert members from different French clubs worked together to define specific assessment criteria for different disabilitiesexplains the club. After this grading (DanBo), the group will work on the evolution of the appropriate grades. » Still, there is today “a void in the rating criteria based on disabilities”, recognizes Francis Boutet, head of the club’s com.
Who knows, the rank attributed to Jérôme Lambert and Laurent Chamaillard may make things move. Already, many clubs want to draw inspiration from GwanYong taekwondo Poitiers, which has made inclusion a reality since 2013. Of the 150 members, around ten people with disabilities (autistic, visually impaired, etc.) practice what sometimes called foot fencing. “Me, I came here seven years ago thanks to Rodrigocomments Jerome. I did handisport basketball, archery, rifle shooting, a little karate. Taekwondo is good for my body and my head. Rodrigo is more than a coach, he’s like a brother. » Suffering from a motor problem since his childhood, the Poitevin has“incredible progress. The “do” of taekwondo is the path, the course. And Jérôme gave me a real life lesson,” adds Francis Boutet, admiring.“He can be proud of himself”abounds Rodrigo Lacattiva.
To see him chain the push-ups and lift his leg to reach a target, there is indeed something to be admired. For Laurent, one of the major challenges was moving his leg. And he ended up succeeding. This double Danbo black belt award is also a tribute to Thomas Lodeho, who unfortunately passed away. The 4e Poitiers International Open in 2020 also bore his name. GwanYong’s first disabled sports licensee showed the way to others, like Vincent, who died in 2021.“I gave him the black belt on his hospital bed two days before he left”concludes the Argentine coach, determined that the handicap is not an obstacle on a tatami.
