Karate demonstration in Fort William First Nation a ‘blast’

By Rick Garrick

FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION—Fort William’s Isshian Ryu Karate Demo was a success with a range of community members trying out the martial art on June 19 at the Fort William First Nation Arena Gymnasium.

“I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the session,” says Esther Pervais, a Fort William citizen who tried out the karate along with her daughter. “I actually learned something in such a short time and I will be coming back.”

Pervais says that she usually participates along with her children in activities around the community.

“[I’m] just doing different things, learning new experiences,” Pervais says. “I let my kids try out new things to see what they are interested in. I enjoy things like this—something that is healthy. It’s active and I try to keep my kids active. I’m really glad that Fort William brings these activities to our community giving our kids a chance to enjoy different activities.”

The free karate demonstration was presented by four members of the KoKoro Dojo karate club from the Thunder Bay neighbourhood of Westfort, which is located across the Kaministiquia River from Fort William.

“We wanted something for the kids to do in the summer and learn how to do things in a positive way and a disciplined way,” says Helen Pelletier, Fort William’s recreation coordinator. “Any kind of martial arts is good for children.”

Pelletier participated in Taekwondo for a couple of years beginning when she was 12-years-old and in kickboxing when she was an adult.

“The part I liked about it was the discipline,” Pelletier says, “to learn how to be more patient, to learn how to listen about instruction and confidence.”

Pelletier says the karate club was invited to hold the karate demonstration to see if there was enough interest in the community for a program over the summer months.

“It gives [participants] a sense of accomplishment and a sense of pride,” Pelletier says. “They’re proud of who they are and they’re more confident.”

James Stewart, an instructor with the KoKoro Dojo karate club, says the karate demonstration was a “blast.”

“The kids were having fun — it was a really good time,” Stewart says. “We are going to try to run a class out here on Tuesday nights going forward starting over the summer. And we’d like to work with our club in Westfort and get the two of them working together.”

Stewart says karate is a good way to burn off energy, work on coordination and practice respect.

“You get to have some fun and blow off some steam,” Stewart says. “Karate begins and ends with respect — that is why we bow at the beginning and end of class.”

Amanda Collins, Fort William’s manager of Youth and Social Development, was pleased to see the amount of community members that participated in the karate demonstration.

“We’re going to make sure we keep this up and hopefully have them here for the summer,” Collins says. “I think it went really well.”

Collins says the karate class could also be held in the fall on Tuesday and Thursday evenings during the community’s gym program.

“And of course parents are always welcome in the program too,” Collins says. “The parents are always interacting with their kids at the program, so that is always awesome.”

Chris Morand, a member of the KoKoro Dojo karate club who has done martial arts since he was young, enjoys the people and how karate is always changing.

“It is never just static — you are always doing something different,” Morand says. “It’s an awesome exercise, you meet great people, you do fun things.”