Lorraine Bainbridge is a black belt national taekwondo champion who loves nothing more than teaching others about her passion for martial arts.
She’s also a brain injury survivor, who almost died after being struck by a swing as a one-year-old. Not breathing after the accident, it was the quick thinking of a nearby off-duty paramedic who resuscitated her.
“I have no memory of it because I was so young,” says Lorraine, 40. “But the year following the accident, I regularly fell to the ground and stopped breathing.
“After a year or so, those incidents stopped, but it was a scary time for my mum.”
For many years, Lorraine struggled to find happiness and a purpose in life. Her brain injury meant conventional learning was challenging. After leaving school, Lorraine started working at a fast-food restaurant, where she struggled to adjust, especially when she felt others were unkind or didn’t understand her disability.
With her confidence shattered, Lorraine remembers feeling like she was losing all hope.
That was until she saw a leaflet advertising self-defence classes run by Camille Pruckmuller.
“I wanted to do something where I could improve, make friends and turn my life around,” says Lorraine, explaining her motivation to attend the course based on the Korean martial art of taekwondo.
“Camille has been a fabulous influence on my life,” she enthuses. “When I started out with her, I was struggling, but having both Camille and taekwondo has kept me going. Without her and the support of my mum Diane, it would have been a different story.”
Lorraine has risen through the ranks to become a black belt fourth dan – master status – which qualifies her to teach.
Camille, also a black belt, has been blown away by Lorraine’s unwavering commitment.
“From day one, she gave 100 percent. I even had to up my game to coach her,” shares Camille, 61. She reveals Lorraine was the first fighter she had taught with a disability. “I quickly had to adapt, but I found I could do that.
“Lorraine can have good and bad days. Someone might have hurt her by saying something mean and she might not be feeling it, but by the time we have a chat, she is laughing again.
“On the mat, it just took a little longer for Lorraine to pick things up. We just had to be patient.”
Lorraine smiles, “I loved taekwondo from the beginning. It was nice meeting new people, but I especially liked the fighting!”
Her dedication to the sport is so strong that even when she spent time in a mental health unit after a breakdown at the age of 20, she found ways to keep up her practice.
“I used to run away from the unit, do the taekwondo lesson and run back again!” she recalls.
For the last 10 years, she’s been unbeaten in the 75kg heavyweight sparring competitions at the New Zealand Championships and has even competed internationally.
“I love competing,” says Lorraine. “It gives me confidence and shows my strength after years of struggles.”
In 2019, she took on Paralympic bronze medallist Janine Watson in Australia. Lorraine lost the fight, but mother-of-four Camille was incredibly proud of her.
“Janine tried her best to get rid of Lorraine, but she kept coming and Janine has the bruises to prove it!”
More recently, Camille entrusted Lorraine to be one of three diversity instructors who led a team of around a dozen disabled fighters out of the Koryo taekwondo club in Hastings.
“I had faith Lorraine could do it and why not have a diversity instructor leading others with diverse needs?” says Camille.
Lorraine, who also works as a rest home housekeeper, says, “It is a privilege to be a coach, to teach and instruct. It’s rewarding to teach and help others achieve their dreams and ambitions.
Lorraine hopes she will progress and one day reach black belt ninth dan status – the highest level possible – and continue winning in her competitive career.
“Being special needs does not mean anything,” insists Lorraine. “As I’ve shown, I’m out there doing it.”
And no matter what the future holds, Camille will always be in her corner.
“Every day, Lorraine is a part of my life,” smiles Camille supportively. “We’ve had a lot of fun together – she’s like my daughter! When I’m away, Lorraine looks after my house and my animals. I trust her with my life.”
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