Blind man shines on Judo mat

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- At 29 years old, Adnan Gutic, has been blind his entire life.

"I was actually born blind and I'm totally blind in my right eye" he said.

Gutic is from St Louis Missouri, traveling here to compete in a Judo competition for visually impaired competitors. A judge escorts the athletes on and off the mat for each match.

His visual impairment has never, for a second, made him think he can't achieve success in this world.

"Why? The only thing you can't do is see. You can walk. You can talk, you can exercise. The only thing you can't do is see. What's the big problem," Gutic said.

He teaches braille at the Missouri School for the Blind and Gutic says seeing with your hands is something that translates to the mat.

Paralympic Judo referee and medical doctor Gary Berliner says grappling-type sports allow Visually impaired athletes to excel, even compete against sighted athletes.

"They feel the movement. They feel their body position, their kinesthetic, whether they are top, whether, they're down and it gives them a tremendous sense of confidence and reestablishes them in society," Berliner said.

So he'll keep fighting on the mat with a goal of becoming a Paralympic Competitor.

Plus, Gutic says Judo keeps his mind sharp, and preserves his good looks.

"it's got me more mentally tough then I was before. Uh, physically it makes me look good. Unless I get scratches on my face," he said.