A Fighting Chance (2010)

Directed by Takashi Doscher and Alex Shofner

Starring Kyle Maynard
Runtime 90min. - Not Rated
4 Stars (out of 4)

"A Fighting Chance" is not part of my Quirky Documentaries series. It is, however, free on Crackle, Snagfilms and Hulu.

Just like Kyle Maynard, "A Fighting Chance" makes a real impact. His legs stop at just above where the knee would be. His arms seem to be two different lengths with the longer one extending a few inches beyond his elbow. When most people catch a glimpse of someone in this condition their initial response is pity. If you treat Maynard with pity, he may choke you unconscious. "But Dusty, how could he choke me if he can't even reach my neck?", you ask. Well, he won an ESPN Espy Award in 2004 for his accomplishments in wrestling. He'll bring you to his height, then he'll destroy you. Kyle Maynard isn't a destroyer by nature. He's actually a dreamer at heart. The film follows him on but one of those dreams; becoming a MMA fighter.


I was truly left in awe by the family footage of Kyle as a child. He's a congenital amputee, which means he was born with his disability. He never let his disabled status slow him down. He could ride a bike and control his toy ATV. He could even drive a go-cart. He'd play with just about any toy that the other kids played with. Kyle could use a toy shovel as good as any child with hands. Sports weren't an issue either. There's footage of him playing goalie in a game of street hockey and defensive lineman in peewee football. From an early age Kyle has seen the word "disabled" as more of a challenge than a fact.

Kyle's physical independence was not only due to his determination, but to the wisdom of his parents. His mother admits that she would have taken care of him forever, but she was smart enough to let her husband's theories to be put into practice. He began to insist that Kyle do things independently. It must have been torturous for them to watch their son struggle with feeding himself or changing his own clothes. The results, however, were satisfying enough to make them forget that torture.

Kyle was very lucky to have a father and coach who supported him when he decided to try wrestling. That support was even more evident after he was beaten over and over again. One day, like magic, something changed in Kyle's mind. He decided to lose his own fear and feed off the fear of his opponents. His father says that he learned how to win. His mother says he learned how to be mean. Either way, it worked. His wins began to pile up and eventually he won a junior varsity state championship.

It seems unfathomable that a grappler could be successful without legs or hands. One thing that helped ease that disadvantage was Kyle's strength. He qualifies for low weight classes, but a lot of that weight is lost in his missing limbs. The body that he has left is the size and strength of a man 50 pounds heavier. Having a low center of gravity can also be a help in wrestling and Kyle's hips are basically at ground level constantly. It's actually pretty amazing to see him use his disabilities as an advantage. That's not to say it puts him on equal grounds, but whatever advantage that remains for his opponents is overcome by Kyle's pure talent.

There aren't many avenues for wrestlers to continue their sport beyond college, MMA has became a popular option. Many of the best MMA fighters in the world come from a collegiate wrestling background. Kyle Maynard sees it as a logical progression in his own athletic career. His family worries about the decision, but they all gave up on trying to deny Kyle's wishes long ago. He befriends a fight promoter and the two of them go in front of the state athletic commission for licensing. Kyle has already been training for weeks when he get's shot down. The commission doesn't think it's safe for a limbless person to fight. They say he won't be able to defend himself. Truthfully, I think they fear liability more than for Kyle's health.

Not one to take "no" for an answer, Kyle seeks other avenues. His promoter tells him that the neighboring state of Alabama doesn't regulate MMA. Therefore, no need to go in front of the athletic commission. Kyle is thrilled, but the rest of the MMA world isn't so happy. Fans and commentators across the nation express outrage at the idea of Kyle fighting. They call for the fight to be stopped and others insist Kyle will be killed. Most of them call the fight a freak show and insist that Kyle has no chance. They say he isn't qualified because a man with no legs and arms can't win a punching and kicking contest. To his credit, Kyle doesn't really let it bother him. I suppose he's been the subject of ridicule and doubt since birth and he's proved all of those doubters wrong. His family takes the public outcry pretty harshly. His sisters and mother are sickened by the messages they see on internet forums.

Since you may not have seen the fight, I won't tell you what happens. It doesn't matter much anyway. The fact that Kyle gets the chance to fight is far more important than whether he wins or loses. As an MMA fan, I actually followed this story while it was current. I was initially shocked that he would be allowed to fight. After I saw him grapple on YouTube my doubt turned into inspiration. I never really thought he would win an MMA fight, but I knew for sure he wouldn't get beaten up.

To me, the most mesmerizing parts of the film are the simple observances of Kyle Maynard's everyday life. Watching a man with no arms or legs driving a car is both inspirational and fascinating. We get to see him brush his own teeth, shave, shower, and zip his pants. He can dial a phone or type faster than my parents (and probably yours too). He admits that it once took him 45 minutes to open a can of dog food while dog-sitting for a friend, but not quitting or asking for help shows a level of integrity not found often in society.

I mentioned that Kyle won an ESPY in 2004. On 7/11/12 he will be vying for his second ESPY Award. This nomination is for an accomplishment that took place after the events of "A Fighting Chance". In January of 2012, Maynard became the first quadruple amputee to summit Mount Kilimanjaro without assistance.

The filmmakers have done a great job at chronicling the life of a true champion without interjecting their own voices. The documentary is sweet, tender, and truly inspiring. Kyle Maynard is involved in so many things other than athletics that the film will work for any audience. Kyle himself is a strong, warm and surprisingly funny human being. His personality could carry even a poorly made film, which this is not. Kyle does confess to being a Christian and the word "God" is thrown about from time-to-time, but things never get preachy. This is the kind of documentary that puts life in perspective.