"Hitmonchan Strikes Back With Counter" ft. Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan | TRAINER'S EYE #174

For Harry the Handicapped Hitmonchan, catching Pokémon meant something most of us take for granted: movement, choice, and belonging. 

Born with cerebral palsy and bound to a wheelchair since childhood, Harry the Handicapped Hitmonchan shares a deeply personal journey of strength, storytelling, and self-expression through the world of Pokémon. From boxing dreams and custom wheelchair ROM hacks to trading Legendary Pokemon for friendship, Harry’s story redefines what it means to be a Trainer. He opens up about pain, play, purpose and the joy of seeing himself reflected in a game where anything feels possible.

Listen now to hear how Pokémon became more than a game, it became freedom.

🎧 Listen to heartfelt stories of inclusion, resilience, and connection.
Explore the Pokémon & Disability Stories playlist now!

Sources
Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay 

Transcript

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 0:00

My name is Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan and this is my Pokemon story!

David Hernandez: 0:44

Welcome to As The Pokeball turns, where every voice, every journey, and every memory brings us closer to the world of Pokemon. I'm David Hernandez and I'm joined by a passionate creator, an advocate in The Pokeball community from sharing Pokemon Continent to imagining a world where accessibility thrives, they bring their own unique spark to The Pokeball universe. Harry, the handicapped Hitmonchan. I'm honored to have you on As The Pokeball terms. Welcome.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 1:08

Happy to be

David Hernandez: 1:08

I think you you know, we talked a little bit about it, for those who don't know you have a disability and we're going to obviously dive into that. But you had a very kind of unique question I kind of wanted to bring on, because you have such a unique perspective, you know, living in a wheelchair.'cause a lot of us don't know what that's like. But you had something on your pace to pitch that. I want to ask, if you could bring your own custom wheelchair using any Pokemon abilities or materials, what would it look like and which Pokemon would help you design it?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 1:34

So So that, that's an interesting question. if I If I had to choose, think I I think I would choose ference, The the, and hooking on from, uh, Violet. violence. Mm-hmm. And the And the reason being I I think it would be totally cool because I could totally get a ference power power the chair. Yeah. Like they do the team style, motors and, and, and stuff like that. So I think, Rev think Red Room and I think I'd go I go with like futuristic but not but futuristic. Kind of like that, that, that, oh, what's a good example of like kind like track. Mm-hmm. Track, yeah. think Tron Wheelchair. That, that's how I roll with that.

David Hernandez: 2:14

so you imagine it kind of like the team star, the big kind of vehicle we're talking about. Uh, with river Room, right? Is that what you're talking about kind of thing? Or are you talking about Yeah, but the chair wouldn't be that

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 2:25

But I but I was just thinking you could you could kind of go with that aesthetic. because trust trust me, chairs that big are not practical. Right. realistic.

David Hernandez: 2:33

There's some limitations. Usually the doors or the, I think the ways to get inside usually kind of a big barrier for y'all. Oh

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 2:39

Oh, yeah.

David Hernandez: 2:40

yeah.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 2:41

More than you'd think.

David Hernandez: 2:42

So I thought maybe it could be a Rotom form, but it'd have to be an electric chair to where rot to can possess an electric chair and it kind of runs and you get the kind of, you know what I'm talking about? Like, you get the eyes of like, it's like the wheels instead and then it gets like each time it moves, it's like electric sparks and stuff like that. Chair.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 2:57

chair. Yeah.

David Hernandez: 2:58

Yeah. Yeah. That's what I thought of when I saw that question. It was kind of cute. It was kind of cool to think about. Yeah.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 3:03

Yeah. So honestly, the main reason I didn't do I didn't do that is because me personally, I feel like, a bit is older now. Mm-hmm. they They used it in Galar. They used it in, Sun and and They they used it in the novelty for for me, of kind. off. lemme put it this way, Sure. If somebody came to me and they were like, we're gonna give you a I'm chair. I'm saying, heck yes. But I'm saying from a, And then saying I say in like a aesthetic perspective, and and like, a content perspective, so much I'd love rather do something like rubber because I, I, so I love multiple cars. Mm-hmm. I'm, I'm a I, I'm fan of big fan of old American muscle. and, And, uh, I think it would be totally awesome have have like a chair, like like a car body, but but not like a car, like but just like a car facade, like the is parts about the car. and then like you like you had the, the, then you could I mean you could do like the, the flames. It would, it would be pretty cool. I think.

David Hernandez: 4:04

And I kind of wanted to ask, what is it about Hitmonchan? Is that kind of your favorite Pokemon, or what's the reason why you decided to choose Harry? The Hitmonchan, what's the story behind your Facebook page?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 4:11

Yeah, so hit the Hitmonchan, kind of an kind of an interesting thing because I had people, funnily funnily enough, my page, I had a guy troll me. He's like, who likes Hitmonchan? Nobody does. And it was funny'cause the main reason that I do is I love boxing. Okay? Boxing is something something I really enjoy. Um, because, oh, I want to beat people up. That's, that's not it. What it is, is I enjoy the discipline, I enjoy the technique. because the thing the thing is boxing is a little bit like martial arts in that respect. respect. Mm-hmm. about It's about discipline. what It what teaches you about how to how to control yourself. also how to. Basically go off when you need to. and I, I and I, I think that's a powerful thing. Um, just I just love the beauty of it. the I love the skill. Um, in and, and he, my favorite boxer is actually it's not not Tyson It's not any of those people that people immediately think when they're thinking of Box. I'm a I'm a big fan, technical boxers like Ali. and and the reason I say that is because, yeah, yeah, Ali Muhammad Ali really strong, but what made him do it his was his technique. Um, could he could do things like the, that that no one else could really. and and I, I just find that utterly. to bring it Bring it back around. The reason I chose Hitmonchan is because I love boxing. Mm. And unfortunately because of my disability, I can't box because quite quite literally I have rods in my my back. and they they basically told me when I, so this was when I was 18. I got the surgery in 20 They basically told before me. If you don't get this surgery, they're like, they organ because. spine was so curved that it was literally starting to compress my internal organs. so so yeah, that, that's that's why I was like, just just, There's just there's just something about it. Like, I think harder. but it, it's, it's just It's just one those things where it's it's something that if you put the work in, you get something. It's not It's not something that's dependent on natural ability, it's not dependent on, whatever. whatever. And the one of the things that I pride myself on is, though even though I can't grasp myself, I I pride myself on technique. So even though I though I can't box, I learned the I learned the technique and I and I memorized it.

David Hernandez: 6:38

Now I want to just switch over to Pokemon real quick. We'll come back to the everything else you're talking about, but What was your first experience with the franchise?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 6:45

My first My first experience with the franchise was actually playing red on my cousin's game boy. Okay. Mm-hmm. He had one of those, uh, 1998. They're called the They're called the Play It Loud Boy. They were They were the, colored ones. So one red, you had, had, blue, had you had green. I dunno if you've ever seen those. They're called Play it loud. And as it turns out a couple of years later, when I was actually 3 or 4, they, they, uh, gave me that really? so they So they actually gave me the play and I this day, and it's in it's in original condition. It messed that's with the screen is still good. The only The only thing that, um, was added to the was the original, screen screen money. plastic plastic parts over the screen itself fallen fallen off years ago. and so I And so I got an one and put it on, put it on, but that doesn't really affect the value or, or or quality at all, it just protects the screen from damage..

David Hernandez: 7:41

What was it like to kind of, I guess, get that play at Loud Game Boy and start playing Pokemon Red? Like what was those first experiences for you?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 7:48

So it it was weird because, it was basically just like I saw a cool monster and, said, oh is cool. And I was like, you know, The fighting the Pokemon to level up, you know? mm-hmm. And of course I was one of those stereotypical kids. who had Who had the starters that was like level 75 of everything. Um, and, and and like who the rest of my team was like and, stuff like that because that was like five, the the real starting point, I'll think starting starting point for me was actually Pokemon on Silver, that I got but I got a few years later, And Pokemon Silver is the first Pokemon game that I beat. Meaning I beat the Elite Four.. I beat all beat all of secondary gym game leaders in Tampa because that's that's like not, not, I know some I know some people are completion, but for but for me Kanto gym leaders, they're they're just optional. like once you beat the Elite Four, I mean the rest of that stuff is just icing. There are some people that are people are. Will you have never beaten beaten the the game unless unless you've all of beaten all of these? I'm like, nah, nah, you were just,

David Hernandez: 8:55

you were just done after Joe though. Dang. You're like, I'm done. I've already done Kanto with Jen, Juan. There's no reason for me to go back.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 9:02

Pretty much. I, I, I did it again recently. In fact, I, I actually phone every every single, every for every single Pokemon game that's currently for the for the main line. own I own every single version. I, so So I literally have red, red, blue, yellow, gold, silver, crystal, ruby, sapphire, sapphire, emerald. I'm not gonna go through all of them, but you get the idea. Yeah. Yeah. basically own owned all of them. I was I was fortunate because I I managed to get red, red, yellow, gold, gold, silver crystal before they they got expensive. So I managed to Managed get all of those, including for like for like 200 bucks. Now Now are you're looking at all 200 bucks per So. a good investment you had. Oh yeah. Oh yeah, my Pokemon Collection I that think it's I somewhere in the neighborhood of three to three 4,000 that's and that's just the game.

David Hernandez: 9:58

What do you think it was about those early Pokemon games, you know, Pokemon Red and even you can go into Pokemon Silver that kept you engaged with the franchise. Like what is it about Pokemon specifically compared to other things that you found there?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 10:08

I just love I just love the adventure. to be entirely honest with you. It's, it's, it's the Adventure. You can You can do what you. can have your, you know, I mean, yes, it's within the content of the game, you know, the context of the game, but you can do what you want. You're not You're not restricting to, have you don't have to play for the like in some make games worse. you If you don't play for what everyone's playing, then you that You don't you don't have, you know, if I wanna have a team, puff, I can have a team of a jiggly puff, you know, right, I I team, manhan, I can have I have a, It doesn't doesn't matter. Mm-hmm. I going to Gonna do that. No, because you know, thing called strategy, you are you be. Who you you. I Mm-hmm. not I'm not restricted by my disability Pokemon. In Pokemon. I get my I get my starters, around around region. I don't have to I don't have to worry about getting, I don't have I don't have to worry about anywhere. I anywhere. I don't have to worry about doing anything. Mm-hmm. the sheer enjoyment just finding Pokemon Pokemon. love training them And utterly utterly destroying Miami. Like the, that So, so that to me is, is is a win. a win.

David Hernandez: 11:20

you know, obviously you're in a wheelchair Now, when you played Pokemon Red and Silver at the time, were you still confined to the wheelchair or were you still like, what was that disability like at the point period?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 11:29

yeah. Yeah, so question, question, lifelong my is goes. I was born Okay. Uh, what's I have what's called Cerebral Palsy. Not to be not be, but it's an but it's an umbrella term for over 200 different conditions. Right. you, you, if you want specific the form that I have is ID um, which essentially means that my muscles are tight and that, half of my back was affected there. Two of my were affected this in this case, my leg.

David Hernandez: 11:57

So at that time period you were already com

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 11:58

in a wheelchair and. I on my first move of three, actually. really? Um, that, yeah, that's that's actually the age where start start making chairs. Mm-hmm. There are no chairs for anyone longer than that. so I've been I've been in 28 now. I've been chair for the for the last 25.

David Hernandez: 12:17

Well, I was gonna ask though was, you know, as you grew up with Pokemon, was it kind of different, you know, being in a wheelchair compared to like everybody else, maybe around your school crowd or anything like that?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 12:26

It, yeah, I yeah, in in truth, I did feel a little bit left out sometimes. Mm-hmm. that But that wasn't due to anyone else except me me. Sure. I'cause what I learned about As I as I grew up was life is life was perception. Okay? Okay. So yeah, things happen to you that you You can't control, but you have you have control how over how you experienced. I'll quote or Eleanor Roosevelt, can make one can make you feel inferior without your consent. And that that is absolutely true. with disability. You have You have to worth. That's That's not something that other people can give you. if And if you're searching for other people's validation, I, I've I, I've got a for you, for not gonna not, That that is something that you to to do for yourself. yourself And and Pokemon on for me, was a one way where I could, I. Experience in some in some way my what my as able-bodied people, because the avatars were were, None of the the. have been disabled ever in the history of the franchise. I And I understand why they do that. And I'm not saying they should. saying not saying gonna I'm not gonna go company, go. need to You need to make a realtor for a second. why I know why they don't. Mm-hmm. But But it's it one of things where it it allowed me to realize in eight way, a way, a very limited way, but a meaningful one. it was like What it was like to walk around, it was what it was like to climb a hill, it was what it was like know, fall fall off a thing or legend get attacked by a bear. you know?

David Hernandez: 14:06

I mean, you could still get attacked by the bear in her wheelchair. Let's be honest, bro.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 14:09

But, you know, see, I'm smart enough not to go near the Years my wheelchair. See? ago.

David Hernandez: 14:14

Oh, fair enough. Fair enough. Yeah.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 14:16

But, uh, but yeah, that's me. So

David Hernandez: 14:20

what was it like to kind of connect with your friends? As you know, y'all were both playing Pokemon?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 14:24

So I so I basically just battled with my friends a lot. and this more more in the DI wireless wireless communication became, Because when I was when I was growing up, most of my friends didn't have a cable. and the and the few did, battle with battle with them. We just traded with so like, Hey you need to evolve this Pokemon, or Hey, I need I need this Pokemon. And And it's funny because one of The one of The Pokeball that I have to this day, I got I brought in a trade a from a queue. So I So I had Emerald and he had something, I can't I can't remember what it was. I think I had, and he and he had moved. Sapphire. And he he, me, me, the whole team and I and I. my legendaries. Because back then, you know, the legendary just sat in my back since I used them. Um,

David Hernandez: 15:16

you would never use a legendary Pokemon?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 15:18

so I So I did. I will So I'll say GPA era, I mm-hmm. Okay. fact fact, I still have my Rayquaza I've that I've had eight I old.

David Hernandez: 15:29

So you never restarted these game files? You've just started once and that was it.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 15:33

Yeah, I Yeah, I mean, I've a restarted a few over the years. years. Um, most most of them I left un touch. the The main reason? Is because this is gonna sound sound. So, but the but the main reason, because quite frankly, because um, because of my disability gaining a lot, uh, uh, causes actually, a great deal of pain. so when it comes to a Pokemon game that I've sunk 60, 70 hours in, I'm not as inclined to put those 60, 70, 80, hours in. Again, not because I dislike the game, but because that 60, 70 hours is, is quite a bit of exertion for me with my disability and the way my body just is Anymore. And And so have to I have to working, bursts. when I when I was a kid, I used to around 5, 6, 7 on my original G-B-A-S-P, you You know, that's, I used to do, to I used to, I used to I used, dungeon. but I can't I can't do that anymore, unfortunately. I. lot of a lot of the times when to I go start playing the game, I'm lucky to get an hour, hour hour half before it starts hurting to where it gets it gets harder to continue. So I don't I don't play as much about you being that outta love, but but of the sheer fact that fact that I don't have, like I used to.

David Hernandez: 16:56

well, just that detail adds more, I'll say more presedence of you giving up your legendary Pokemon because you're not restarting these games. Legendary Pokemon. Usually people don't give him up as easily. What made you want to trade your legendary Pokemon for your friend's? Pokemon.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 17:12

Well, Well, he had some really cool of all, Okay. And, uh, I think I think it was doom, Charizard, Um, I can't I can't it's'em. It's been so long, Like Like still I still have most of them, to be honest with you.

David Hernandez: 17:29

you feel like the tray was kind of worth it, it sounds like.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 17:31

yeah, it Yeah, it was, um, because and you yeah, you asked, I this is this when I was seven, see I didn't see the value of keeping the Regi's. You Right. see the value of, keeping these and moving them from game to game. That wasn't really a thing. Sure. oh, the new Pokemon game came out. I'm gonna gonna play it. And I trade with my friend, I'm gonna, you you know, X, do x yz. you know, Yeah. to be. the good Good news though, and this and this is actually very good news, handheld games do not actually hurt me much as much as playing on play a PS five because I don't I, it is. I, I guess I, it's because require me to use my. Central nervous system as much for like the, what I mean by that is of my disability is fine motor motor skills Fine. Motor by motor skills are things like writing, using using stuff stuff like that. Mm-hmm. My, my motor skills are kind, They're not not great. So so a handheld where it's more more, actually gives actually dexterity opposed to, say where where. apart. And I also have to look up at a screen. It, it's hard to explain'cause unless you have have it, it kind of That's just how it shakes out. But fortunately for me, The Pokeball games are on handhelds, and those handhelds allow me to play for the hour, for the two hour, Yeah. can Can I just save my name and turn it out? Mm-hmm. to I don't have worry that I'm not connected with my tv. I don't have I don't have to worry that it's it's really gonna lose power I'm a I'm a complete idiot forget to charge my, that's that's, that's why I do that. And that's, I love head. it allows me to play those games that I've played for years, and it allows me to still enjoy a franchise that, quite frankly, I enjoy I enjoy on more probably more than any franchise I've ever played in my life. and, and that's partially because I I say it on my, mm, It's on it's on my terms. not It's not on somebody else's terms. not It's not dependent on physical capabilities lack lack. It's dependent on my strategy, my ability, my desire. Right?

19:51

Hey you. Yes, you with the ears. Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back. Love hearing real stories from real trainers. Help As The Pokeball turns become the best Pokemon interview podcast like no one ever was. By joining our Patreon, you're not just supporting the show. You're helping more fans share their journeys with the world. As a thank you, you'll get accustomed Pokemon Wristband each month themed after a featured Pokemon. Head on over to patreon.com/ As The Pokeball Turns and join our community today.

David Hernandez: 20:25

Now, I wanted to know, since you played a lot of Pokemon games, what do you have a particular favorite generation of games that you enjoyed playing the most?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 20:32

so my favorite is probably four. but the reason I love gen four is it was the first game that I got at night launch, like the official, like midnight launch. That was the first game I ever got, that way. And I remember just looking at the box art of Palkia because I got Pearl and my brother got Diamond. remember I remember looking at the back thinking, and thinking, man, what the heck? This is so so awesome. And it it just was amazing, So, it was just magical.

David Hernandez: 21:10

I can understand that.'cause especially that was also the first time we had wireless play and especially'cause of Mount, I think it's Cornets what it's called, it made the region feel much more bigger than it probably was.'cause you know, you couldn't go anywhere without going through Mount Cornet. I don't think there was any part of Seno you could not pass. Yeah. And that alone kind of just made it seem more, as much as I love Gen three, gen three, the big thing it struggled with was, establishing, its kind of, I'll say height in a way. It was very flat. Hillen was outside of Mount Chimney, but gen four, you had Mountain Cort. You felt like it was hilly. Like it added that depth to the game, I guess was what I'm trying to say. Yeah.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 21:47

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. It really was a huge depth change, The way they handled it you know it's kinda funny, people critque Gen four and they say, you. They say, oh man, so, Oh oh man, this stuff. And I'm like, know, know, maybe I feel differently because I'm disabled. What I mean by that is I. I learned very early on that life really is is great. is beautiful. You need to take the Take the time to to life because those moments that you have, you may not you may not get, right? yeah. to seize to use the To use carpe diem, deal, to you have to seize right? right? to You have to seize every moment because that makes that makes it great. So for me, that of Gen four kind of mirrored how I I had, because of my my disability, so for me, never never felt like an I a to, slower. It never it never felt like an imposition just to in take in the atmosphere to just. Marvel at all the things that were there, because the truth is The Pokemon games are a lot deeper than people give them credit for. but a lot of people just gloss over it and go,"oh go, oh, it's just a monster catcher, you know? you know? Oh, you know? more than that. it's It's very obvious that intended for it to be you imagining yourself as a kid a world that's that's new in a world in a world that's different. just Just like it's right? Right. The world is magical. Things Things are magical things things. and then we get a little older and we realize, oh, it's not mystery. It's just whatever phenomena, you know? Oh, it's just the Aurora Borealis, or it's just the whatever. But when But when you're a kid mountain you that you see over Murphy, you wonder you wonder if there's a dragon inside or or you wonder if things are gonna are gonna come out. And I guess Pokemon kind of did that, right? Right. you go to the mountain and you And inside pretty pretty cool ones depending on the game. and and what it really is, is it's the mystery. it's the joy. and I think they try really the joy of the joy. Being at the joy of Joy was just experiencing a world is that was different. Mm-hmm. Different from the world that lived as people.

David Hernandez: 24:16

do you still have that kind of joy when it comes to Pokemon or even just the life in general?'cause you said for you it was normal for the game to be slow, I guess in a way. Do you still find that kind of sense of mystery when you play Pokemon or even life now?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 24:29

So, I'm going to be one of them contrarians and be like Gen 9 in the best they have ever been. and reason the reason I say that is, is, gen nine gen nine has technical issues. Yes, you can go nauseam about the technical issues, but but you know what they mean. They They manage things do things they've been trying to do over for over a decade, they and they managed to do them the in the game. Not only Not only that, they but they managed to do it in a way we've that you've never seen before. The Pokeball show up on the Overworld. Okay. So So into a into a field, you walk into a, there's a there's a giant rock master of you. That's that's never been a before. and and count don't count in that in that because technically title, Even though it count. I'm not I'm not necessarily. it because it's not a mainline. but that really did, In nine nine really tried a lot of things and they did a lot of things very well. And, and And, and quite frankly, when I look at Gen nine, gen gen nine was an experiment. I can I can tell by Gen Gen nine was They they wanted to what they they could do. And I, And and quite quite frankly, I think I think that Legend Z ca is gonna is gonna be the fruition. it's, know, it's gonna be the culmination what of what they figured out with. Gen gen. I think that we're a certain a certain challenge coming in, um, that we didn't see before. And And I, I think that's the fact that the the. they're starting to be more younger fans again.'cause you know, it's kind of a cyclical thing, right? So the younger fans grow up and Then they become older older and then and then those older fans have, and then and then their kids, you know, grow into the the franchise. And And so I think I think we're gonna see Great and full disclaimer to those people saying, how can you say Gen nine is the best gen? Well, I can say that that, that as someone who literally played every single game, didn't I didn't stop A lot of a lot of people. said, They said after after I just couldn't I just after gen six, I just after six, I just it. The thing about Pokemon is, and this is, this is just a personal thing, and this is not an attack toward anyone but I think what people need to get better at doing in the fandom is is, each game as if it's not connected to the rest of them. Take each game as it is. Don't Don't try to say, well, it's not it's not like that game I played when I was, so it's so it not, I think you I think you a disservice by doing that. think that allowing nostalgia to be the lens through which you view Pokemon is a mistake because it's always meant to be about new experiences, about new things. So treat the games that way. Treat them as a new experience. Do not treat them as a 25-year-old. Franchise that you've played since you were four, because guess what, guys? The games aren't any easier. You just got better. Um, that's That's basically the thing is, is, you know, and I, Warners and I, and I, and I promise you there's gonna be comments, people this and they're gonna go, you're just a new Jenner. You're not a Gen Warner guys. I am a Gen Warner. I grew up on that stuff. And you cannot cannot tell that the that the gen one the and the gen two and the gen three objectively better better than the modern eight. can You, you enjoy you enjoy them more because they with your childhood and they, but you but you cannot tell me that that they're objectively better because that is an outright. And I'll And I to say that anyone wants come at come. it, because. It is, true. I'll use a perfect example. gen five introduced experience for for catching Pokemon because for those for those who don't remember, to prior to gen five, when you caught The Pokeball, you got nothing. Mm-hmm. could you level 70, legendary, go go through all stuff entire entire wiped, and you you catch it and you nothing for it The than The Pokemon itself. Whoa. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. like what a letdown. And, and then, and then gen five came along and they were And they like, finally gonna give you experience for battling, which which makes, even even from a standpoint. You're, you're gonna tell me that my Pokemon. fights this other Pokemon but it doesn't doesn't. for it because I decided to catch it. So what happened What happened to that experience? It just magically disappear either. Like so, So, I so it pretty that they actually made a lot of quality life improve that that have been steadi over over time. the last thing I'll say on I'll say, I do not I do not think Game Creek is lazy. hear I hear people say, game oh, game Creek lazy Oh, they've never done this. They're never doing doing this. Well, news flash to you guys too. You obviously don't know how corporate structure works because the reason that the time, so tight, some of these some of these games have been a within a year and a half When when some other games take three, four years. reason reason that timeframe is a year and a half to maybe two years maybe, is is because that's a corporate mandate That is that is not the developers going, we're gonna put a game out two years. promise you. They're you. They're not sitting there going. okay guys, let's do this again. not That's not what they want be, I promise promise you. But But they're accountable to people and and you can't just go, oh, well we didn't we didn't feel it was ready, we're we're, we're, we're not gonna You can't do can't do that. that That is not a, I have friends who live and and work in, you you don't get that level of mm-hmm. And so for all those people who say that they're lazy, and that they don't uh, they don't care about the game that is from from somebody who played them, one, one basically That is complete complete loaded, It's not not true. it's very obvious obvious that they, because how, how much how much of it, times do many we. of characters from previous games? A lot. How many times do we see Pokemon from previous games or battle people? Uh, I'll use Sun and Moon. We got to fight Fight in Sun in from the the original game, They just they just randomly show up and you get to fight at level. They obviously cared a lot lot. And so I feel like its rude of us as fans that they say that they don't care because if that if that were the case, Why do they go out of their to give Charizard Mega forms? Why do they go out of their way to always add new mechanics?

David Hernandez: 31:29

Well, my last question just in regards to gen four

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 31:32

Mm-hmm.

David Hernandez: 31:32

if you were gonna do a play through, what six Pokemon would you have on your team?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 31:36

So Torterra, Lucario, Hitmonchan. If I can even get one, I'm, I'm not even, have to look that up. It's okay. No worries. I can judge you on that. Um, Um, Hitmonchan if I if I can, which think I think I can, I think, think I'd have I think I to trade it up from technically I could. I, and and then I'd also do Luxray because I love Luxray and Gastrodon, pink one, not the blue one because I just love that little slug. And, and, uh, the one probably Magmortar. Although Magmortar is kind of a big of. because. I usually didn't have anyone to trade with at the time, I almost was never able to get them. In fact, I don't think I I don't think I dropped original play through of Pearl. I don't think I got Magmortar or Electivire until I had already I like like 600 hours. so Oh, time to get Magmortar, 600 hours. 600 hours.

David Hernandez: 32:37

So eventually you start your Facebook page and I wanted to know what the inspiration behind that was. For those who dunno. It's called Harry, the Handicapped Hitmonchan Facebook page. What made you wanna start that page? It started last year, I believe.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 32:49

Yeah, it was it was, Um, um, what made what Made the page Page was I looked at The at the person community and I was like, there's no Hitmonchan. I was like there's no Hitmonchan page And I was like, Hitmonchan is my favorite Pokemon. And nobody ever talks about Hitmonchan'cause they really don't. In fact, I don't think most people even remember Hitmonchan unless they played the early games. but, looked at that and I was like, you know, gonna make a I'm gonna make a Hitmonchan page and then I I'm not just gonna make a Hitmonchan page I'm gonna make a disabled Hitmonchan page because I'm disabled too. and and quite literally my thought process was. I'm disabled, you know, and, I wanna reflect what actually like for me as a fan. And so I did. one of some of the funny things that joke joke with because I'm with a bunch of Pokepages One of the admins, I always joke that, uh, my, my, my favorite would be, So I just, I just roll up on them and sky uppercut. But, uh,

David Hernandez: 33:54

well, well, doesn't that mean, you know, rollout? Probably.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 33:57

oh. Um, Um, a, so a, a little bit of an aside here. um, Um, because with what you're talking about with my page. page, in The Pokeball community there is something called ROM hacking. I don't know if you're familiar with with that, Essentially, essentially you modify the old ROMs and add new features. Well. had a friend who I love dearly. he is a rom hacker and he helped me make a rom hack called Rolling Thunder. Now you might be thinking, why is it called Rolling Thunder? the answer to that is both of the protagonists that you can choose, the boy and girl have custom sprites and they are in wheelchairs. the custom sprites, you actually You actually them pushing their the over world. it's a it's fire red, so it's gen three. and you get an extra group of starters and they're all wheel based starters. So one of them is Sandshrew, one of them is Mareep, and the one is Spheal. And um, really cool because. The characters are in wheelchairs, and the dialogue is adjusted to reflect that. in fact, the rival conversations with Blue, he actually makes jokes about your disability in oh my gosh. So it's actually kind of funny. Um, but uh, no, it, it was great. And, and I'll be honest with you, when I, when I played the finished product, I actually cried a little bit. that was that was the first time I that I played a game where the where the character reflected me me. Mm. and it changed things things. A because no no, was I just I just, a random I was a trainer in a in a wheelchair, through The Pokeball world in a world in a world that's not people for people like me, just like world, built for people people like me. And And it was a very meaningful experience because, I got to roll through the grass and and Pokemon like like I imagine that I were a real thing. So it So it was a very experience and one which which I absolutely do absolutely do not regret. to take it take it back to Facebook page. it's funny when When I started the the page and I page and I other at the other page, some of some of them left messages on my thing and they said, you why you handicap tip handicap? And And answer the answer to that is not use the term term to handicap. myself. most people do Not that are, that have disabilities. In fact, in fact, it's actually considered, um, derogatory, derogatory in some circle. don't I don't consider it derogatory, Uh, uh, because truth, truth, most people aren't being derogatory when they do this. They just don't understand that it's that it's not appropriate. but But the reason I did the alliteration. So Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan, triple H, for, for wrestling fans out there, triple H maybe. Anyway, um, to play the game. but that's why I did it. It was the alliteration and And to reflect the fact that I am disabled. Right? right. different. and to be to, honest with you, I am utterly blown away by the response that I got from people, because it's been mostly positive. you get your share of trolls, which of course is the internet. just That's how, it's But the the vast the majority of the people that I with been. Beyond beyond. In fact, I have I friends that I would not have made otherwise if it weren't for the page. so to all my Pokemon page made friends out there, are gonna be listen to some later. I love you I love and you and you know, you know, my impacted my life in ways that I, I can't believe, express words. And if I and I. I don't think they'd I don't think it be adequate, it's been a it's been a beautiful thing. I've b een able to see Pokemon just not just as a game, just not just as a car just as an anime, but but as a group of people who just enjoy something so much that brings so brings so much joy to their life. And I I great great pride in knowing that I was a part of that. I was a I was a part being, good, good, happiness to to someone, because for me, that's is. It's happiness, it's joy, but not just in the super metaphysical way way people say, oh my gosh, too much. it's beautiful in that it brings so much much happiness to everyone. much Pretty much that I everyone that I know in the community, brings brings them so much joy and it's and it actually saved some people from making life decisions that wouldn't have been good for them. that. Mm-hmm. It it really is a beautiful thing. So those for those people listening, okay okay to love Pokemon. It's It's okay to, you you know, your have Pokemon tshirt Pokemon Plushies, which I actually have a few on my shelf back behind me. it's okay. okay. There's There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, fact, frankly, being comfortable with that that and having that part of life that's literally positive because it makes makes you happy and that and that. matters way more than what Than what people think about you than what than what people you you know, might think about working on. joy that that joy, that's all that's all that really matters because your experience with Pokemon is entirely your own, and and that's what makes you great.

David Hernandez: 39:41

Now, I know you mentioned how earlier you understood why Pokemon doesn't, you know, have a wheelchair avatar choice. do you ever hope they will someday, and if so, do you want them to be like an avatar? Do you want them to be actual character within the game?

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 39:54

So, I want to be the player character. And and reason the reason I say is is. there are lots of gamers like me. we're not talked about a lot, but disabled gamers are actually, I think I I think I looked up a metric somewhere. think they I can think that disabled make make a, uh, actually I'll just actually, I just use general term. Sure. in general, constitute a$1 trillion labor market. So for businesses,$1 truly To put that in perspective of the United the United States. I think somewhere in the neighborhood. trillion. So disabled people make up one 17th of the nation's gross domestic product. So there definitely is a is a place for for that in the in the series. But But given that Pokemon Japanese Japanese franchise and and historically the Japanese have been very, I don't know how to describe it, um, um, careful in their portrayal certain things I don't I don't think they will ever do. and and doesn't doesn't upset me. doesn't doesn't bother me. Um, because Even even though we make up a much larger, than most most people, it's it's still a very, part of the overall fan base. financially speaking, speaking, it it doesn't actually make that much sense. But as a fan who has been playing since I was a child, it would be something great to see. And if they don't give us a wheelchair A wheelchair because animating many wheelchairs are actually kind of crazy, um, um, especially in ay environment, which games are. Um, made a they a character like that, that would actually be kind of cool because heck, heck, we seen more veterans, we've seen, you know, know, scientists and despots and mob bosses. So there's there's some room in there, I think, for people, Mm-hmm. people. Yeah. But at at the end of the the end of the day, also what's that's also what's great about Pokemon on because even if even if they don't add it in, I still can play can, I that I choose, I can I can still to to pretend that my character in wheelchair, I don't I don't, it there because I have I have control over what my character does. I have control over team I team I have, what what bag I get first, what, what, you know, elite form member I like the most. Always love choices that I get to make. Mm-hmm. for me. So.

David Hernandez: 42:31

So, Well, I want to finish this interview on this last question, for those who maybe don't have a disability or don't know what it's like to live in a wheelchair, what's one thing you wish people understood better or maybe take home with them from this interview about living in a wheelchair or living with your disability? Be

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 42:48

Disabilities are exactly that. They do not define you. It is lack of ability. It does mean a lack of humanity.. So what I mean by that is, a lot people automatically assume that people with disabilities, they just and they just assume that we, I don't, I don't, and this is an assumption on my part as well, and I'm not gonna that, not sure, but I, I get the feeling that people assume that that we don't experience like way, when in actuality we experience the same things that other people do. Heartache, loss, pain, joy. We experience all of those things, but experience them differently. And to, to, to, to wrap up your question, the other the, would say I would say is take take time to get to know the disabled people in their life. Because most people, people, whether it's mental, a physical one. Take physical, the time the time to ask what life is right for And and instead what life is like for them, ask them. in closing, I'll leave you with something that changed my life life in a way that is that is unique. When I When I was a kid, I used to I used to me very upset. and I And I used to be mad because my body didn't do it. I used to be I used to be upset. I used to, me know, piss me off in, express. and I I used to say, you know, my you know, my dad would say, you know, are, why you. this? What you know, what's going on? How can I help? Can I, say, I used to say, well, you just won't understand. You just won't understand. And I used to say that. then And then one day my dad my dad told me something and completely changed how you been. And he And he said, well, then well, then help me understand. And the the moment he said that my world world changed because realized that that times time that I used to say that have I couldn't have even said Been teaching teaching people been and helping them understand what what life was like for me. And And so just just remember may we may look different. and this is And of speaking of this be for general, may we may look d we may we may differently but at our at our core. are We, you. And, and, and, and that that that is something that I wish people. could just, I wanna shout it from the rooftops. We are We are not different. We, we We we're, we're different in our lives. not We're not different in our humanity. And that that probably the crux. If if more people did that and understood that, I think I think most of the things that I struggled wouldn't wouldn't be a thing anymore. Some of those biases would probably disappear. Some of Some of them would stay, but but some of them would probably disappear.

David Hernandez: 45:40

Well Harry, if people want to connect with you, if they wanna check out your Facebook page, where can they go? By all means, please plug away.

Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan: 45:46

So my page is Harry The Handicapped Hitmonchan. Um, I also stream on Twitch, not by my Pokemon handle, but for those who want to, see my streams. It is at the Real Wheel, Lord, Twitch and YouTube. So.

David Hernandez: 46:02

well, thank you for listening to, As The Pokeball Turns, if this story resonated with you, share the podcast with a fellow trainer and don't forget to follow us. For more voices, more journeys, and more memories. I'm David Hernandez, and remember, your next Pokemon adventure begins here.