JRParaKarate

A little more about myself

My name is Josiah Rivera, and I have been practicing Shotokan Karate since 2013. I am a black belt (Sempai) at North Shore Dojo in Glenview, Illinois, and a proud member of the U.S. Senior National Para Karate Team.

I live with a genetically inherited condition called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), which affects mobility through progressive stiffness in the lower limbs.

Rather than defining my limits, this challenge has strengthened my resolve. Through discipline, perseverance, and the lessons of Karate, I continue to push forward—training, competing, and striving to inspire others to believe in what is possible.