To think martial arts is out because of forward roll fear?

[TaylorWift]

DS 13.
I really want him to learn a martial art.
He is shy, sensitive, quiet, and his self esteem is ok but very easily knocked for a number of reasons too detailed to go in to here. He had amazing self esteem as a young child, but I've watched this get knocked since the age of 10 due to a series of different things that happened to him. Obviously im working hard all the time to rebuild it, but bottom line is his view of the world and the people in it has been turned upside down over recent years and his self confidence is now low.
Anyway, big bullying incident at school a few of months back. Led to the bully being permanently excluded.
DS isn't confident in a sporty way, unfortunately. He's always refused to join any sports clubs that involve higher levels of competitiveness, i.e. football.
I feel like I need to get him in to martial arts. Not only to teach him self defense but also to make him carry himself confidently and to give off an air about him that shows he's not an easy target.
I chatted to him and he's open to it.
So I've had a long phone conversation with a local martial arts trainer who was great and really helpful and he talked at length about the philosophy behind martial arts. I told him all about DS and he said martial arts would be great for his self confidence. I could hear his passion for it. But then, as soon as I said DS can't do a forward roll, or a head over heels as I used to call it as a kid, he straight up said DS won't be able to join his class until he can do one.
But DS literally cannot do a forward roll. And I don't mean he can't. Can't, and won't practice. He also cannot dive. In his swim lessons, he can't go up to the next stage because he can't dive.
He has tried to dive and tried to do forward rolls but he can't do them.
He says he cannot do anything where his head has to go forward and down under the rest of his body and then for his body to follow over his upside down head. I don't know if I'm explaining this properly 🤦‍♀️
So is that it? Is DS blocked out of learning a martial art because he can't do forward rolls?
I'd really love advice from anyone who foes martial art, or whose DC do, who might know about this?

What about something like capoeira? In my experience it's very inclusive - the class I go to with my kids is a family class and there are lots of children with various needs, a child with Down's Syndrome who just sits and drums the beat, a few children with autism, everyone feels included

I haven’t read all the replies but I’ve been doing Taekwondo for two years and have yet to do a forward roll 😬

most of taekwondo and kick-boxing is done standing up. Think karate also similar. Other martial arts such as judo and jiujitsu have a lot more floor work involved. There are so many different styles I am sure you will find one to suit your DS. Some clubs focus more on the fighting/sparring elements whilst others do traditional forms/series of movements.

most local clubs will offer a free trial session to try it out. Look for clubs with friendly instructors that aren’t treating it as a money making exercise. They should work around people’s personal abilities and limitations and help them learn new things and push their limits in a controlled way.

you will have to sign a disclaimer - injuries do happen!