Brave Oscar is no pushover

Oct 11 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

LION-hearted Oscar Fradgley is proving a real karate kid, despite being born with no hands or feet.

The plucky four-year-old, the only child in the country to be born with his disabilities, is amazing martial arts tutor Rob Lock with his talent.

Rob, who runs a martial arts academy at Lye, near Stourbridge, said that Oscar had marvellous balance despite his problems.

"Oscar has had about five lessons with us so far and seems like a natural," he said.

"He is fired up with so much energy and enthusiasm, and that's a great start.

"He is obviously at the beginner's stage at the moment, doing punching, bouncing and kickings.

"You wouldn't think there was anything wrong with him they way he gets stuck in.

"I am a pretty loud character and I think Oscar was alittle taken aback at first but he has taken to karate like a duck to water."

Proud dad Chris Fradgley said that little Oscar "moved like a ballerina" and had terrific balance.

"Oscar has got some artificial legs but is far more mobile without them," he said.

"Oscar really loves his karate classes. All the walls and floors at the academy are padded so he can't hurt himself as he wrestles with the other kids.

"It's a great way of building up his confidence and self-esteem and Oscar certainly gives as good as he gets despite his problems."

Oscar, from Kingswinford, was born without hands or feet, a short tongue, facial palsy and eyesight problems. He suffers from the extremely rare condition Hanahart Syndrome.

Chris and his wife Lisa launched a campaign almost a year ago to raise £100,000 to help Oscar make the most of his life.

Thanks to an astonishing response, a staggering £87,000 has been collected and a celebrity dinner at the Copthorne Hotel, The Waterfront, Brierley Hill, on November 2 could see the family achieve their target.

More details on martial arts at www.roblocksacademy.com