Alberto Friedmann is working on Ph.D. to become medical researcher
Friedmann
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ST. LOUIS -- Alberto Friedmann was supposed to be bound to a wheelchair by the age of 25. Now 35, this graduate student at Saint Louis University is will join the nation’s top martial artists in competing against 40 other countries during an upcoming international competition.
Despite suffering from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a degenerative joint disease which leaves him in constant pain, Friedmann holds fifth-degree master black belts in Tae Kwon Do, Karate and Kobudo. He will join the U.S. Martial Arts Team at the Peace Games World Championships June 18-21 in Barcelona, Spain.
Although Friedmann has followed doctors' advice to not compete in sparring competitions anymore, he will compete in forms and weapons contests. A bit like gymnastics or figure skating, both activities require participants to go through a number of martial arts moves.
While his body is not taking the beating that can come with physical combat, the competitions still can be physically taxing even for those without such a disease. And with the championships on the horizon, he's leading his team through up to six hours of training each day.
Friedmann has endured many operations during his life and will undergo a third round of knee surgery when he returns from the world championships. Some might wonder why someone with such a debilitating disease would go through all of this.
"I do it because I love it," he said. "I was diagnosed to be in a wheelchair by the age of 25. I think martial arts is what has kept me walking."
Not only is Friedmann amazing doctors with his physical abilities, but also he's hoping to join those researching the disease. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in pharmacological and physiological science in SLU's School of Medicine.
Having the disease isn't the only thing driving Friedmann in his quest to be a researcher. His fiancé and her two children have the disease. Friedmann is the first person in his family to have been diagnosed with the syndrome, but he believes that the inherited disease has afflicted others in his family in the past.
Friedmann said his fiancé approves of his participating in the martial arts competitions. In fact, the couple first met while he was giving a motivational talk to children with the syndrome at a medical conference. Although Friedmann doesn’t encourage everyone with the disease to pursue the martial arts, he does send a clear message.
"You don’t have to let this disorder rule your life,” he said "It's not what happens to you, but what you do with what happens."
Friedmann, a resident of Highland, Ill., joins seven other area martial artists -- all of whom are his students -- who have been named to the United States National Martial Arts Team that will take part in world championships. Other members are: Douglas Hynes, O'Fallon; Alicia Skirball, Granite City; Matthew Swiecicki, Zack Depureur, Highland; John Traylor, Sean McEldowney and Robert Bray, all from Glen Carbon. Friedmann, a master level competitor, also will serve as a team coach.
Because the sport, which involves every form of martial arts, has not been recognized as an Olympic sport, the team receives no federal funding. Each team member will have to raise about $2,500 to participate.
To find out more, or to help Team America with a donation, call Friedmann at (618) 651-9454.
