By Nigel Maxwell

P.A. Karate student kicks M.S. to the curb

Nov 17, 2018 | 1:00 PM

Prince Albert’s Martin Shenher can fondly recall the day his doctors told him he should take up a sedentary type of job, and any activity like the martial arts would not be in the cards.
 
The 53-year-old was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) when he was 22-years-old. Two years ago, after working many years sitting behind a desk at a computer, Shenher found himself needing to make a change.
 
“My weight was way down and I was very unfit. Two years ago my neurologost weighed me in at 140 lbs.,” he said.
 
Soon after Shenher started training Karate at Prince Albert’s Kuro Tora Dojo. He said he found the first year hard, mainly because of his mobility issues.
 
“Like I had to basically sit down to tie my shoes last year and now I can bend over to tie my shoes and pick stuff up off the floor,” he said. “My wife even said you can’t do this, you won’t last.”
 
Shenher who now has his orange belt, said he feels proud of what he has been able to accomplish and has no plans to slow down. His future goals include obtaining his black belt.
 
“I quit smoking and I’m using the money I’m saving to do this,” he said. “I’ve found that Martial Arts is one of those things you can do at any age, to some level of ability, and I want to keep at it,” he said.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell