A Long Island Taekwondo black belt with Down syndrome is on top of the world after not only being crowned a national champion in the martial art but also a para athlete of the year.
“It means I’m confident, and it makes me happy,” 22-year-old champ Brendan Ryan of Garden City told The Post.
Ryan won big in the para division at the Amateur Athletic Union nationals a month ago. He put on a nunchuck display for the ages in the weapons discipline and won another gold in the form category.
The young man’s talent and perseverance led to Ryan being named the top para contestant in the AAU competition.
“I wasn’t nervous about a thing,” insisted the athlete, who also racked up fans and several friends during the Fort Lauderdale events.
Ryan has been training in Taekwondo at Champions Martial Arts in Oceanside for about seven years — after being inspired by both the “Power Rangers” and “Captain Marvel” franchises to learn the fighting technique.
Master Nadine Pace saw that Ryan was exceptionally talented from day one.
“He’s magical. He’s just amazing,” Pace said of her star second-degree black belt. “He learned so quickly. He was so enthusiastic and so happy, and fit in with everyone.
“There are no limits because of his disability — there was nothing. He was in a regular class, and he just learned like everyone else and did really well.”
What makes the gold medalist’s recent feats even more impressive is that they occurred during his first-ever appearance at nationals, which Pace said is quite a rare happening.
“He came and did it himself without any help, and he did amazing,” she said of Ryan, who is also handy with swords and bo staffs.
Ryan graduated from Garden City High School as an 18-year-old and remained for supplemental education classes until he turned 22.
He’s worked jobs at local grocery stores and pizzerias. Ryan is also a talented skier who does advanced black diamond slopes — all while taking three Taekwondo classes per week with Pace and her fellow instructors.
Ryan will soon attend a program at Molloy College in the fall that is designed to help individuals with special needs develop independent life skills.
But Ryan has a one-track mind about what he wants his future to be.
He’s committed to earning a fourth-degree black belt, which, if all goes according to plan, will be obtainable in about a 10-year track, according to Pace.
“I must have the power,” the hopeful master-to-be said.
Once Ryan gets the advancements on his black belt, his ultimate goal is to join Pace as an instructor at Champions.
As it is, classes of all ages can’t get enough of Ryan, his sense of humor and goodwill.
Pace said Ryan already fits right in with his unrivaled enthusiasm — and a reputation for yelling “AYAH!” from the top of his lungs while throwing a kick or punch.
“He has no problem saying what he thinks,” she said with a chuckle.
And for Ryan, it’s a chance to give back to somewhere that’s built him up, he said.
“I’m going to make this place my home,” he said.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
