Chattanooga’s Ryan Rogers Setting Karate Records Despite Aspergers Diagnosis

June 23, 2015

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF) Chattanooga’s Ryan Rogers is emulating his karate heroes, and he now he might be inspring others. Rogers is setting karate records despite being diagnosed with a form of autism in aspergers.

Ryan Rogers admits he was drawn to karate because he saw some cool guys on TV performing cool stuff.

"Over time I started getting interested in Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li, mostly those three."

Rogers eventually earned a black belt, and then he basically decided to start over by learning a new form of karate under Corey Green.

"So, whenever he came here, he surprised me by how fast he was able to make the changes he needed to make."

And all this time, no one was aware that Rogers had aspergers, which is a form of autism.

Said Green,"I became more curious, and so did several other people. We kind of thought he might have had something going on, but we couldn’t figure out what it was."

Once the diagnosis was made, Green believes it helped further Rogers career.

"I think it made him able to understand himself better. It’s not like you label someone, but you’re able to understand why you are the way you are."

Said Rogers,"Some people come up and ask me what’s it like. How long have you been doing this and can anyone else do it. I tell them yeah."

Now Rogers is setting all kinds of records, and he’ll be shooting for more next month as he returns to the Karate Nationals in Fort Lauderdale.

Said Green,"2012 when he went to Nationals he became the first person with autism to win medals in the non-handicap division. He was in the novice division and won silver in sparring and bronze in kata."

Reporter-"What are your goals as you go back?"

Said Rogers,"First time, I’m going to try for five divisions. And the first time I will try for weapons. I’m starting to enjoy weapons a lot more."