Fee: $30 (limited to 30 participants)

Kyoshi Bak has over 40 years of Martial Arts training and currently holds a ShiChiDan (7th Degree) in Gojyu-Ryu Karate and a Sandan (3rd Degree) in Kyusho Jitsu.
Sensei Bak has been studying Kyusho Jitsu and Tuite since 2000 and through this seminar, will provide us with a deeper understanding of these techniques and their applications.
This seminar is open to Teen and Adult students with Kyu ranking of Green Belt or higher.
Please Contact Elora Gorge Karate to register:
519-846-9002 or info@gorgekarate.com

This Tournament associated Seminars are open to all Elora Gorge Karate Students, and pre-registration is required,forms are available at the Dojo. To register for this event or if you have any questions please speak to Sensei Bill, Sensei Jerry or Sensei Astrid.

December 2012 Belt Presentations

On Wednesday December 19th, we gathered in the Dojo for the Children’s Belt Presentations. Thank you to all Karate-Ka and Families that attended.

Congratulations to Cameron, Ewan, Evan, Mya, Shayla, Ari, Aiden, Christopher, Joel, Rebekah, Carter, Madelyn, Blaire and Natalia on your new Kyu Belt ranks. Congratulations to Francesca who was awarded the rank of Shodan-Ho. Stripes were awarded to Nicholos, Reese, Troy, Celine, Wesley, Damian, Sarah, Braydon, Brendon, Cole, Shaedon, James, Andrew and Adrian.

On Thursday December 20th we gathered again for The Adult Belt Presentations, followed by a traditional Meibukan Gojyu-Ryu Karate-Do Kata Class. Thank you to all Karate-Ka who participated and their families for attending and observing the class.

Congratulations to Bryon, Jarrett, Susan, Jake and Matthieu for grading to your next Kyu level, and to Avery for your stripe.

Thank you to students and Families for a wonderful 2012!

KARATE TOURNAMENT
Some of the members of the Elora Gorge Karate Dojo who took part in the 2012 Budokan Gojyu-Ryu Karate Tournament. Back from left: Astrid Van Esch, Bill Stimpson, Tommy Dalton, Jerry Van Esch. Front, from left: Madelyn Richardson, Francesca Van Esch, Brayden Fletcher, Ben Franchetto. Absent from photo: Sarah Clark, James Hutchins, Bryon Brideu, Matthieu Campbell and Jake Chalkley.

Gorge Karate student place well at tournament

On Nov. 3, students from Elora Gorge Karate Dojo travelled to Brantford for the 2012 Budokan Gojyu-Ryu Karate Tournament.
This event had students test their skills in Kata, Team Kata and Kobudo (weapons).
Winners from Elora, in the children’s divisions are : Junior White and Yellow Belt (7 & 8 yrs) – Ben Franchetto 2nd Kata; Senior White, Yellow and Orange Belt (12-14) – Sarah Clark 3rd Kata and 3rd Kobudo (White Yellow and Orange Belt); Junior Orange Belt – Brayden Fletcher 3rd Kata and 2nd Kobudo (White Yellow and Orange Belt); Intermediate Orange Belt (9-11) – Madelyn Richardson 2nd Kata; Intermediate Green Belt (9-11) – James Hutchins 3rd Kata and 2nd Kobudo (Green and Blue Belt); Senior Brown Belt (12-14) – Francesca Van Esch 3rd Kata.
In the Adult Divisions, winners are: White, Yellow and Orange Belt – Bryon Brideau 1st Kobudo; Blue and Brown Belt – Tommy Dalton 3rd Kata; Green, Blue and Brown Belt Kobudo – Jake Chalkley 2nd, Matthieu Campbell 3rd; Shodan and Up Team Kata – Jerry Van Esch and Andrew Pieon (Ryukyu Karate Centre, Dundas ON) 2nd; Shodan Kata – Astrid Van Esch 3rd; Nidan and up Kata – Bill Stimpson 2nd.
For more information about Elora Gorge Karate please visit www.gorgekarate.com or visit us on Facebook.
(Fergus Elora News Express: Vol 161 Issue 47 – Wednesday, November 21, 2012 PAGE 21)
Elora dojo does well – On Nov. 3 students from Elora Gorge Karate Dojo travelled to Brantford for the 2012 Budokan Gojuy-Ryu Karate Tournament, testing skills in kata, team kata and kobudo (weapons). Front row from left are: Madelyn Richardson (second place in intermediate orange belt kata), Francesca Van Esch (third, senior brown belt kata), Brayden Fletcher (second in kobudo and third in kata, both junior orange belt), and Ben Franchetto (second, junior white and yellow belt kata). Back: Astrid Van Esch (third, shodan kata), Bill Stimpson (second, Nidan and up kata), Tommy Dalton (third, blue and brown belt kata), Jerry Van Esch (second, Shodan and up team kata, with Andrew Pieon). Absent are: Sarah Clark (third in both kata and kobudo, yellow and orange belt), James Hutchins (third in kata and second in kobudo, intermediate green belt), Bryon Brideau (first yellow and orange belt kobudo), Matthieu Campbell (third blue and brown belt kobudo) and Jake Chalkley (second blue and brown belt kobudo)
(PAGE FOUR – Inside Wellington – Second Section of the Wellington Advertiser, Friday, November 23rd, 2012. see the digital edition  or visit www.wellingtonadvertiser.com)

This Tournament is open to all Elora Gorge Karate Students, and pre-registration is required,forms are available at the Dojo. To register for this event or if you have any questions please speak to Sensei Bill, Sensei Jerry or Sensei Astrid.

Summer Gasshuku 2012

In September, Sensei Bill and several of his students had the priviledge of training with Sensei Akihito Yagi, Kyoshi 7th Dan IMGKA president. Sensei Bill completed several seminars in Brantford and Guelph. Other students who attended the training sessions were Sempai Dave, Sempai Bryce, Sempai Jerry, Sempai Astrid, Francesca, Tommy and Natalia.

Thank you to Akihito Sensei, Renshi Ken, Sensei Mark and all other Karate-ka in attendance at the seminars for some great training sessions.

St Catherines Shochu Geiko 2012

On Saturday August 18th, Sensei Bill traveled to Camp Wetaskiwin in St. Catherines to join several other Mebukai and Karate-Ka to train in several different martial arts styles, including Meibukan Gojyu Ryu Karate, Wado Ryu Karate, Kobudo, Iaido, Judo & Kali.

Thank you to Sensei Robert Toth (St Catherines Martial Arts Centre) for organizing the wonderful day.

Canada Day

Sunday July 1st, marked another day of Community Spirit!

Several Karate-Ka started their day off with a 5K or 10K Run.

Participants in the 5K were Francesca, Natalia, Jake, Jerry and Astrid, Sensei Bill ran the 10K accompanied by Andy. Congratulations to all on completing the run!

After a short recovery period Sensei Bill, Francesca, Natalia, Jerry and Astrid were joined by Ben, Madelyn, Brayden, and Adrian to walk the Elora Canada Parade route.

Thank you to all for another great day in the Community.

June 2012 Belt Presentations

On Saturday June 23rd, we gathered in the park for Belt presentations. Thank you to all karate-ka and families for attending.

Congratulations to Damian, Ben, Carter, Jordan, Madelyn, Sarah, Brayden, Brendon, Cole, Sheadon, James, Dalton, Kirin, Adrian, Bryon, Colleen, Avery, Brad, MacKenzie, and Tom for grading to your next Kyu Belt. Stripes were awarded to Nicholos, Ewan, Blaire and Natalia.

Congratulations also to our Senseis on their new ranks: our  newest Sensei, Nathan received his Shodan.   Sensei Bryce moved up to Nidan and Sensei Dawn to Sandan.

Spartan Sprint Team

On Sunday June 24th, a few of our students accepted the challenge of a Spartan Sprint and traveled to Oro, Ontario to join our fellow Meibukan brothers and sisters from Guelph Budokan Centre of Martial Arts, Kitchener-Waterloo Meibukan Centre for Martial Arts and Middlesex Meibukai Glencoe.

Aroo! to Francesca, Natalia, Nathan, Avery, Sensei Bill, Phil, Jerry and Astrid for persevering through the rainy weather and completing this challenging and very muddy course.

Thank you also to Kelly for serving as our support person.

Bak’s Children’s Tournament

 Karate winners – Students from Elora Gorge Karate Dojo travelled to Brussels for Bak’s Martial Arts Children’s Shiai. The event had students test skills in Kata, Kumite and weapons. the group included, from left: front, Madelyn Richardson, Cole Hopkins, Kirin LeGrow, FrancescaVanEsch, Sarah Clark, Sheadon Sullivan and Brayden Fletcher; back Sensei Bill Stimpson, Astrid Van Esch, Jim Kurtz, Natalia Van Esch, MacKenzie Nelson, Blaire Bauman, Dave Lyons and Jerry Van Esch. Andrew Gardner was absent when the photo was taken.
(PAGE TEN Inside Wellington – Second Section of the Wellington Advertiser, Friday, June 1, 2012 – see the digital edition or visit  www.wellingtonadvertiser.com)

KARATE WINNERS – On Saturday April 28, students from Elora Gorge Karate Dojo travelled to Brussels, Ontario for Bak’s Martial Arts Children’s Shiai.  This event had students test their skills in Kata and Kumite as well as Weapons.  All students were winners for their participation. The group was Madelyn Richardson, Cole Hopkins, Kirin LeGrow, Francesca Van Esch, Sarah Clark, Sheadon Sullivan, Brayden Fletcher, Natalia Van Esch, MacKenzie Nelson, Blaire Bauman and Andrew Gardner. Instructors were Bill Stimpson, Astrid Van Esch, Jim Kurtz, Dave Lyons and Jerry Van Esch. For more information about Elora Gorge Karate please visit www.gorgekarate.com (Fergus-Elora News Express May 16, 2012)

Bak’s Hosts Children’s Shiai

On Saturday April 28 Bak’s Martial Arts hosted a children’s shiai in Brussels. Almost 60 competitors took part while many friends and family members watched them perform kata, kobudo and kumite . Along with the trophies and medals that were won lots of smiles were seen leaving Brussels dojo after a great fun day . Many thanks to all competitors, volunteers and of course our friends from other dojos who traveled to Brussels to contribute to this event. (Bak’s Karate)

Karate dojo returns from tournament in Japan

by Kelly Waterhouse

Seven members of the Elora Gorge Karate Dojo have returned from the International Dai Sensei Mei Toku Yagi Memorial celebration in Okinawa, Japan, held March 1 to 6.
“The Okinawa experience, as we are calling it, was an awesome trip. The junior students were our main focus,” said Sensei Bill Stimpson, owner of the dojo.
Francesca VanEsch (11) and Michael Corbett (13) were two of the youngest students invited to compete in the tournament.
“Our students competed in two events: single Kata and team Kata,” he explained.
“I told my students they were competing on a world stage so they were already winners. My only expectation of them was to go out and do their best” Stimpson said.
“Though they did not place in their competitions, I know they did their best, and I was very proud of their efforts. Both Michael and Francesca agree that it was a great experience just to compete.”
The event, held at the Okinawa National Theatre, was part of the celebration of the life of Dai Sensei Mei Toku Yagi, the master of the discipline of karate that Stimpson and his students practice.
“Our small group participated in a mass demonstration of karate, and that was a great honour. Our small dojo performed a group Kata Tenchi on stage before an audience of about 500 people,” Stimpson said.
Getting to see Japan, staying in both Tokyo and Okinawa, was a cultural experience for the team from Centre Wellington.
“We met great karate people from all over the globe,” Stimpson explained. “The language was not a problem. We had karate as our common bond. Some of our students understood the Japanese terms used in the dojo, but of course, some translations we just didn’t understand, so we helped each other out.”
For Stimpson, a fifth degree black belt with more than 20 years of martial arts training, was inspired by the opportunity to go to the birthplace of karate.
“My biggest thrill was to train at the Hombu Dojo with master Meitatsu Yagi,” Stimpson said. “You could feel the history of the building and the two hours of personal training was incredible.”
Stimpson said it was the trip of a lifetime, and he hopes his students gained a global perspective on their sport.
“The people were all so kind and helpful,” he said. “We estimated the time spent training in two weeks was equal to one month here at home.”

(Inside Wellington – Second Section of the Wellington Advertiser, Friday, March 23, 2012 – see the digital edition or visit www.wellingtonadvertiser.com)

Local boy fundraising for Japan karate trip

by Kelly Waterhouse

Off to Japan – Francesca Van Esch and Michael Corbett are the two youngest members of the Elora Gorge Karate Dojo to be invited to participate in the 2012 International Dai Sensei Mei Toku Yagi Memorial celebration in Okinawa, Japan this March.
photo by Kelly Waterhouse

ELORA – Fundraising efforts are underway to help a local teen fulfill his dream of competing in Japan.
Michael Corbett, 13, is one of seven members, including fellow junior student Francesca Van Esch, 11, of the Elora Gorge Karate Dojo heading to the 2012 International Dai Sensei Mei Toku Yagi Memorial celebration in Okinawa, Japan from March 1 to 6.
“Getting to go to this tournament is a real honour,” Corbett said. “It means I will get to compete on the world stage in my sport, right in the birthplace of karate.”
Corbett won the invitation to compete in Okinawa after taking third place for kata in the senior brown belt division at the 2011 World Karate Championships hosted by Guelph’s Budo Kan Centre for Martial Arts last June.
“I am really proud of him,” said Corbett’s mother, Maureen. “Michael’s really excited to have this experience, and he’s never flown before, so it will be quite a trip for him.”
But it is a costly trip, too, and one that has made this experience nearly unattainable for Corbett.
A fundraising event was held at Crazy Carole’s Restaurant in Elora last month that included a silent auction and door prizes.
“The silent auction was really great,” said Maureen Corbett.
“I’d like to thank local merchants in both Elora and Fergus who donated items to the silent auction, including artist Tim Murton, and the help of Sensei Phil McCullough and Brad Graham for their generous donations. And of course, my staff at Crazy Carole’s”
The event raised $1,051, but the ultimate goal for Corbett’s trip is $6,000.
The trip involves two weeks in Japan, including airfare, food and accommodations.
For Corbett, it will be worth the debt he will incur just to be a part of the honour of this event.
According to Sensei Van Esch, being included in this event has put the Elora Gorge Karate Dojo on the international stage.
“We are now a part of the international Meibukan Gojyu-Ryu Karate-Do Association,” Van Esch said. “We are now training directly with our source and now the only dojo in Centre Wellington or North Wellington to be certified by or officially registered with this association of 62 dojos.”
Despite concern about raising the funds for the trip, Corbett is focused on putting forth his best effort during the competition in Japan.
“I’m not really nervous,” Corbett said. “I am to excited to see the culture and sites in Japan.”
A bake sale fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 11 from 9am to 1pm at Crazy Carole’s Restaurant on Wellington Road 7 in Elora. Donations for Corbett’s Japan trip can also be made at this location any time.
A bank account has been arranged for donations via the TD Canada Trust branch 2402 in Elora, with account number 6273260. To contact the Corbett family, email maureencorbett@wightman.ca.

(Inside Wellington – Second Section of the Wellington Advertiser, Friday, February 10, 2012 – see the digital edition or visit www.wellingtonadvertiser.com)

Gorge Karate off to Okinawa, Japan

As the result of an interest in the origin of the art and student achievement, Gorge Karate was accepted into IMGKA International Meibukan Gojyu-Ryu Karate-Do Association. This means the oldest Dojo in Elora can trace its art back to the source in Okinawa, Japan.

Under the guidance of Renshi Bill Stimpson, the students have been accepted and will travel to a memorial tournament for Meitoku Yagi the founder of Meibukan in March. Renshi Bill and his students have trained with Meitatsu Yagi who is the current head of IMGKA and Renshi Bill has also trained with his son Akihito Yagi. Meitatsu has trained at Gorge Karate as well.

“This trip will help bring our students to the source of our art,” says Renshi Bill.

INSPIRING STUDENTS
The achievements of students like 11-year-old Francesca Van Esch and 13-year-old Michael Corbett inspire Renshi Bill. Last June, Francesca won first place for kata and second place for weapons in the junior brown belt division at the 2011 IMGKA World Karate Championships held at Guelph’s Budo Kan Centre of Martial Arts. While Michael won third place for Kata in the senior brown belt division. They will both compete in Okinawa this March.

BUILDING POSITIVE HABITS
The Elora Gorge Karate Dojo was established by Kyoshi J Purdy in 1984. Gorge Karate teaches a proven martial arts curriculum for adults and children from beginner to Black Belt. Respect for others is only one facet of how karate training can build positive life habits. Students can improve learning valuable self-defence skills.

Are you going to be the next success New classes start January 16th, so check out their website and Facebook page for details. Call 519-846-9002.

(The Grand River Booster Magazine Jan 20, 2012 www.booster-magazine.com)

Local dojo wins international acclaim

by Kelly Waterhouse

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.

(Wellington Advertiser Vol44 Issue 26 July 1, 2011 www.wellingtonadvertiser.com)