As the government turns on people with disabilities, removing independence payments and most importantly social help of all kinds, no one can understand the full import of what becoming disabled means. We all have a different story and I’m lucky that I’m still able to work and support myself, with a lot of family, friends and students around me to help. Others are not so lucky.

Having been an independent, fit, strong career martial artist for most of my life, becoming disabled and losing my leg meant that I lost 95% of my life. If asked if I would rather lose a leg or my life, I would have chosen the latter. In fact I have lost my life as it was and have had to become a totally different person.

Losing my mobility meant that I went from 5 foot 10 inches to around 3 foot 6 inches in height being in a wheelchair. Everybody treats me differently.

It means that I can’t go anywhere on my own without someone driving me, able to put my wheelchair in the vehicle and be in attendance wherever I go.

I have absolutely no freedom. Anything I want to do involves help from others making me a burden whether others mind or not – I mind. If I can manage without, I go without, living a very spartan life by choice.

Losing a leg means that everyone looks at me in a different way. Kids are fascinated and adults hide it well, but I see that unguarded expression before they hide it.

I’ve gone from completely independent to completely dependent. There are so many physical and health problems that I don’t even want to talk about, but you get the gist. Having cancer didn’t improve things either.

I’m a strong person and have adapted. I still have to work on my emotional health every day to cope. It’s made me a better teacher of martial arts, character development and a better writer.

I honestly don’t know how others cope. I meet them in hospital, the limb centre and other places, no money, no home or work adaptions, I’ve paid over £30k for mine so far without any assistance, what the hell are they supposed to do? They have no one to help and no support network, if we can’t look after them or care for them, believe me, it doesn’t take much to persuade them to lose their body. Is that what we’ve become as a society?

I get the distinct impression that’s what a lot of people will vote for – actually it seems that they already have.