The Elora Gorge Karate Dojo has much to celebrate, including new black belt rankings and an invitation for two young students to participate in the opportunity of a lifetime.
Francesca Van Esch, 11, and Michael Corbett, 13, will participate in the 2012 International Dai Sensei Mei Toku Yagi Memorial Celebration in Okinawa, Japan next March.
These achievements stem from the June 5 tournament of the 2011 IMGKA World Karate Championships, hosted by Guelph’s Budo Kan Centre of Martial Arts, where over 200 participants competed.
Under the guidance of Sensei Bill Stimpson, owner of Elora Gorge Karate Dojo, Van Esch won first place for Kata and second place for weapons in the junior brown belt division, and Corbett won third place for Kata in the senior brown belt division.
Their achievements resulted in a coveted invitation to the 2012 international event in Japan, honouring the 100th birthday of the late Dai Sensi Toku Yagi, the forefather of the discipline of Karate in which these students participate.
“I am extremely proud of them both,” said Stimpson, who’s known as “Sensi Bill” in his dojo.
“They are fairly new brown belt students, so it is nice to see them achieve and see that the message of hard work and commitment that is Karate has been put into practice.”
Corbett says the philosophy at Elora Gorge Karate Dojo is what helped him compete to win this honour.
“I stopped listening to every thing, blanked out all the noise and focused,” the youngster said. It is that same determination that helped Van Esch win too.
“It was surprising to me, to win, but I had self-confidence,” she said. “I hoped for it, and tried my hardest, and blanked out everyone around me and just did my thing.”
Their success came a day after Stimpson celebrated the achievement of another young student; 16-year-old Philippe Campbell was awarded his first degree black belt.
Seeing that level of confidence and commitment is what inspires Stimpson.
“I learn more from my students than I do anywhere else, so it is amazing to see them achieve,” he said.
But the honours did not stop there. Stimpson will now be known as Renshi, having himself been awarded the fifth degree black belt ranking.
“This was a surprise to me,” said Stimpson, who has been training for close to 20 years.
“I had been working toward that level but was told I would not see it happen before December,” he said.
While Corbett and Van Esch have not decided yet if they can make the trip to Okinawa, the importance of the invitation is not lost on either of them.
They are optimistic, yet they understand Karate is not just about the accolades.
“This club is my second home,” said Corbett. “It means everything to me.”
Van Esch agreed. “I like to train here. It’s an important place for me, and I hope to eventually get to another level,” she said.
