FT. WAYNE, IN (WANE/CNN) – A man with Down syndrome decided to give karate a go after he visited a karate studio near his job.
David Lash, 32, took to it quickly and is now a green belt.
It's more than training for Lash.
"I am weak, or do we say I am strong?" said Sensei Basche, the karate instructor to Lash.
"I am strong and powerful and faster," Lash responded.
Karate has become his passion.
"It gives me good energy here, gives people hope to get to our (their) dreams," he said.
Lash works a couple of doors down at GiGi’s Playhouse.
He's been training with Basche for more than a year now and is one of his top students.
"In today's society, there's so much negativity and I think David is a great inspiration because he projects so much love and light and acceptance," Basche said.
Lash has gotten a lot stronger, physically and mentally.
"That's a wonderful way to keep them active and working on gross motor skills as well as personal skills like mental health, and working on harnessing all of that energy in a very positive way," said Holly Tonak of GiGi's Playhouse.
His karate instructor agrees.
"He's always been a great person, a great young man,” Basche said. “But I noticed his confidence is a lot better, too, since he started the program."
Now a green belt, he's got his sights on the next achievements.
Lash wants to better himself in hopes of becoming a teacher one day.
"Someday, I'm going to be the best teacher," Lash said.
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