Kickboxing Champion Teaches Kids Some Quick Moves at Palisades Library

Baxter Humby, also known as “The One Armed Bandit,” stopped by the Palisades Branch Library on Saturday with an important message for the kids participating in the Summer Reading Program: The only limits you have are the ones you put on yourself.

“I’m missing an arm and I became a world champion fighter,” he said. “People told me I couldn’t do it, but that just inspired me to work harder so I could prove them wrong.”

Humby, 38, is the current Muay Thai World Super-Welterweight Champion. He was at the library to demonstrate and teach kickboxing techniques, but first he showed the kids a documentary made by Current TV called He Punched the Sandman. The title refers to his work as a stuntman in the 2007 movie Spider-Man 3.

“It’s just basically a rundown of some of the movies I’ve been in and some of my fight highlights and it shows other programs I’m involved in like the Reserve Program for the LAPD. I’m actually an LAPD reserve officer,” Humby said.

Humby was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his right arm so tight that the arm had to be amputated just below the elbow, but that didn't stop him from doing pretty much anything he put his mind to, he said.

“Even someone with one hand can become a world champion, the best in the whole world,” Humby said.

Humby teaches martial arts at Gerry Blanck’s local studio and at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA. But on Saturday, with help from one of his students, Michael Arsone, 14, classes took place beside some good books.

“Remember, all this stuff I’m teaching you is for self-defense. I don’t want to see you guys using this out on the playground,” he told the group.

Young Adult Librarian Mary Tyler liked the rapport Humby had with the kids.

“I think they’ll learn to have a little more confidence from doing this, because strength brings confidence,” Tyler said. “But most of all they’re enjoying it.”

Ingrid Sorensen was at the program with her mother and three siblings. She said she enjoyed learning some new moves.

“It was really fun. It’s nice that you can use these skills in real life and not just when you’re fighting in a ring,” she said. “I think it’s amazing that he just kept trying even though he has one arm. It’s really inspiring.”