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Shiai Magazine:
Hello Darryl Johnson , tell us about your life and your martial arts
experience?
Darryl Johnson:In
college I boxed and practiced Tae Kwon Do. However, after college I got
married, bought a home, and had two children, so I became physically inactive.
My disability (severe eyesight loss) pushed me back into martial arts. As a
result, I practice Wing Chun Kung Fu, I am a disability advocate, and I host
an Internet martial show called the Best Defense (www.mogulsinc.com). The
program focuses on practical techniques and martial art styles that people
with disabilities, women, and children can use to defend themselves against
attacks. This show is entertaining as well, since we feature sparring, attack
scenarios, and personal interviews.
Shiai Magazine:
Tell us when occured your disabilities and how it affected your life?
Darryl Johnson:My
wife first noticed my disability six years ago. The disease I have is called
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). In the progression of symptoms for RP, night
blindness generally precedes tunnel vision. Some people with RP do not become
legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some sight all their life.
Others go completely blind from RP, in some cases as early as childhood.
Progression of RP is different in each case. At this point I am considered
legally blind, and I have blindness at night as well as in dim light. I also
have tunnel vision that is persistent even in daylight. My eye disease has
affected all parts of my life. I have loss the ability to drive a car, and I
also had to relearn other basic tasks such as walking, reading, and using a
computer.
Shiai Magazine:
Being Black is already difficulty in the world of martial arts worst having
eye problems, what do you do to improve your problem?
Darryl Johnson:I
do not believe that I have experienced any type of discrimination in the world
of martial arts. There exist an incredible brotherhood in martial arts that
you do not find in other parts of society. Several martial art masters have
offered to train and work on my mobility. I define mobility as the ability to
move from place to place without bumping into someone, falling, or injuring
myself.
Shiai Magazine:
Have you been to Africa before?
Darryl Johnson:
No I have never been to Africa. I would like to go. In college I studied
Swahili. Both of my teachers were from East Africa.
Shiai Magazine:
You are a family man and how did your family helped you out?
Darryl Johnson:My
family helps me in all aspect of my life. They have been very encouraging
during this difficult transition in my life.
Shiai Magazine:
Do you think that martial arts goes hand in hand with God?
Darryl Johnson: I
believe you can learn many things from martial arts. However, I believe the
only way you can get into heaven is to believe in Jesus Christ.
Shiai Magazine:
Do you know the existence of African Martial arts?
Darryl Johnson:
Will Pruitt of Cleveland Ohio, one of the future guests on my Internet
program, Best Defense (www.mogulsinc.com). He practices a form of Combat
Capoeira that originated in West Africa.
Shiai Magazine:
Why the study of Wing Chun martial arts concerning your eye disease?
Darryl Johnson:I
practice Wing Chun because all of its techniques can be done blind folded.
Everything in Wing Chun is done from the sense of touch and awareness of
yourself and others. I have taped my teacher, Carl Dechiara, who was wearing a
blindfold spar against another experienced martial artist was not wearing a
blindfold. In spite of this, Mr. Dechiara was able to control and dominate the
other experienced martial artist.
Shiai Magazine:
Do you think that handicaps or the disable should practices martial arts?
Darryl Johnson:Absolutely.
One of the first things that you lose when you become disabled is the ability
to move about freely. Martial arts gives you increased mobility.
Shiai Magazine:
You produced an Internet-series Best Defense, tell us more about it?
Darryl Johnson:In
Best Defense (www.mogulsinc.com), we will definitively answer the question
that no one has answered before: Can people with disabilities, women, and
children truly use martial arts to defend themselves? Ten different martial
arts masters from powerful and diverse styles have agreed to teach people who
need martial arts the most.
Shiai Magazine:
What are your future projects?
Darryl Johnson: I
am currently a producer for Media Moguls, Inc. We exists to help independent
filmmakers make money, gain an audience, and engage the public in true
independent programming. All of our services are free for our (suppliers)
filmmakers, and original content providers; which include high-quality
Internet channels where programs are broadcasted and receive commercial
endorsement, and if the shows are suitable, they are distributed on our
Internet Pay-Per-View theater, or in niche movie theaters.
Shiai Magazine:
What do you think of African Martial arts movies projects like Money Bag
(Cameroon) and The Way (USA), do you think these films can truly promote
Africans in the world of cinema?
Darryl Johnson:
Yes. I only way people are going to feel comfortable with African martial arts
is to be exposed to them.
Shiai Magazine :
What advice can you give to African child especially the disable who wants to
succeed in life?
Darryl Johnson:
The same advise I give to anyone with a disability. Work hard, develop a trade
or skill, and believe in yourself when others do not.
Shiai Magazine:
What do you think of this online African Martial Arts Magazine?
Darryl Johnson:A
great effort. This will help African martial arts gain exposure.
Shiai Magazine:Any
last words?
Darryl Johnson:No,
I believe I said everything.
Shiai Magazine:
Thank you for accepting our interview, we hope you will visit our beautiful
African country Cameroon. God bless you.
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Best Defense Channel for Martial Arts and
Self Defense on-line Radio interview
(Tactical Hapkido and Grandmaster
Rodemaker Discussed )
Length-1 hour, 8 minutes, 18 seconds
Dr. Kevin Keough, host of the Warrior Traditions podcast,
interviews Mr. Darryl Johnson MOGULS,
INCORPORATED (MMI)
Legally blinded by a rare genetic disease, retinitis
pigmentosa, Mr. Darryl Johnson has dedicated himself to
learning martial arts and helping others like himself to learn martial arts,
both to stay in shape and protect themselves against attacks.
So it begins, at the age of 34, Mr. Darryl-James Johnson
emerges from his sleep in a dream world where he cannot see most things and
the few things he can see are a struggle to bring into focus. Later Mr.
Johnson learns that he has been diagnosed with Retinitis
Pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative genetic disease that typically starts
with the loss of night and peripheral vision; and, over time total blindness
can occur.
Darryl Johnson has been married for the past 15 years and
has two kids. Their ages are 5 and 10. The support he receives
from his family and the steadfast support he receives from Jesus Christ
enables Mr. Johnson to cope with his eye disease.
Mr. Johnson is an advanced level martial artist however he
does not consider himself an expert because he has not received his black
belt. However, he has received a considerable amount of martial
arts training and trains in isolation on a daily basis because Mr. Johnson
believes martial arts helps to develop anatomical and environment awareness.
Mr. Johnson encourages others like himself to learn
martial arts, both to cope with disability and protect themselves against
attacks. Although disabilities may make you vulnerable, Mr. Johnson
does not believe that they have to make you helpless. To this end, Mr.
Johnson produces the Internet-series Best
Defense DEFENSE where Nine different martial arts’ masters from
powerful and diverse styles have agreed to teach people who need them the
most. This program is dedicated to helping people protect, defend, and
project courage in every situation.
The
Best Defense can be found on the following network website at Media
Moguls,Inc
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