The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
It's not about hockey or soccer or gymnastics for these athletes. They are all about learning the discipline of karate. Karate, according to Wikipedia, is a "martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese kenpo." Creighton karate instructor Kelvin Brown says it's a sport that is literally for everyone, noting that there was a member in the The Pas recently who was over 70 years old. "It's traditional karate," Brown says, "We get into self defense stuff and awareness of surroundings." According to Wikipedia, "Karate is characterized as a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and openhanded techniques such as knife-hands (karate chop)." The thought of children using their new karate in the school yard is quickly dashed as Brown says it is made clear the students are not to use karate unless it is needed. "They learn respect and tend not to use it," he says. Like tae kwon do, Brown says karate offers similar values Ð as they both follow those of martial arts. "The approach would be different and the style would be different," he says, referring to the difference of karate to tae kwon do. Although he has never participated in the other sport, he says he thinks karate is more "focused on technique." The karate club got started earlier this month in Creighton as they hope to see roughly 20 participants. The club, which practices at the Creighton Community Hall, continues through until December and then pick up again after Christmas with the classes going until the end of May or start of June.
