The “Five Dragons” are five Adults with Special Needs
who have been training in the Martial Arts for 7 years
and have come a very long way. They now hold the rank of
Blue Belt.
These Special People were told 7 years ago that
they were incapable of learning Martial Arts. This made
them determined to prove they could. They contacted Prof
Ed McLachlan and told him they wished to learn the art.
Prof Ed took the challenge and formed a class of these 5
students at no charge to them. Soon after they began
taking classes they decided to give themselves a name.
They wanted to be called “The 5 Dragons”.
Friends and supporters of Ed and Special People were
very generous. They were given new GIs with a large
dragon on the back, made and donated by friends who own
an embroidery company; they received leather Canada
jackets from another group and Prof Ed provides them
with equipment to train and donates his time. They meet
every Sunday for an hour and train hard. Their assistant
Instructor, Sensei Rob Short and Prof Ed work with them
and they now do demos all over Ontario and in Ohio.
The “Five Dragons” have done several
demonstrations all over Ontario, including the Canadian
Nationals in Acton, a Martial Arts event at the Fairview
Mall in Kitchener, at several Association for Community
Living Fall Family Dinners and for the last 5 years at
Canada Day in Pinafore Park, in St. Thomas. December
1/06 they went to Niagara Falls to do a demo for Active
Living Alliance which is a group of people with special
needs. In 2005, 2006, & 2007! And again
in 2008! The Dragons did a special demo for Gov.
Arnold Swartzenegger, at Arnold’s Martial Arts Festival
in Columbus Ohio.
For more information about
"The Five Dragons" Instructor, or interested in
teaching Special Needs Students. See
"Special Needs" link above left.
