A small, non-profit karate club switches hands as its sensei of over 30 years retires.
Canadian Associated Schools of Karate-do (CASK) runs out of the James Bay Community School gym twice a week to teach kids age six to 14 the martial art, which teacher and incoming sensei, David DaSilva said is not about fighting.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes people perceive karate as a way to fight and be a big tough person, but itB次元官网网址檚 not at all,B次元官网网址� DaSilva said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 100 per cent about never having to get into a fightB次元官网网址� But if it ever does come down to it, they know what to do.B次元官网网址�
The school was opened in Victoria in 1982 by Sensei Greg Reid, and has since developed into a larger network with schools being opened by students and teachers in North America, the Cayman Islands and Europe.
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The schoolB次元官网网址檚 methodology, a karate style known as Wado, was founded in 1918 by Hinori Otsuka in Japan. OtsukaB次元官网网址檚 teachings found their way to Canada through his student Masaru Shintani, who trained CASK founder Greg Reid to get his black belt. Reid has since opened a school in the Cayman Islands, but fellow student Charles LaVertu has been a sensei at the James Bay location for decades.
B次元官网网址淭he lineage is short, and very traditional. The way Otsuka taught in in 1918 is the way we teach it today,B次元官网网址� DaSilva said. B次元官网网址淲e incorporate a lot of Japanese in the school.B次元官网网址�
But the traditional teachings in the small school gym are struggling to keep up with larger, national corporations who DaSilva believes are running more like businesses than schools.
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DaSilva said heB次元官网网址檚 looked at what other schools are charging, which is nearly triple what CASK charges.
B次元官网网址淭hey charge $130 per month, where we charge $50,B次元官网网址� DaSilva said, adding no student has ever been turned away if they canB次元官网网址檛 afford it. B次元官网网址淎nother thing is we have six belts, and they will have 12. TheyB次元官网网址檒l not just have orange, but orange stripe, so over time when you grade up it costs you money.B次元官网网址�
DaSilva added that his teachings are not about branding.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really about karate and the kids; itB次元官网网址檚 not about anyone making money or getting their logo on a gi,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣obody has ever said you need a gi, sometimes kids just train in their sweat pants. ItB次元官网网址檚 about getting kids up and moving and confident.B次元官网网址�
Still, as DaSilva moves into a leadership role at the school, he struggles to see how it can stay afloat in the future. Previously, the school would host at least 30 students, while now they are down to eight.
B次元官网网址淲e will be okay for the next year,B次元官网网址� DaSilva said. B次元官网网址淏ut how can I keep this school in Victoria for a lot of years? What can we do to make sure that it is there for kids in the community?B次元官网网址�
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