The students and teachers at Oku Damashi Martial Arts Dojo (Karate School) in Langdon have a lot to be proud about. This Dojo, which studies a traditional Japanese style of Karate called Goju Ryu, has done an outstanding job at the provincial level and now 15 dedicated students are off to try out for a spot on Team Canada in Ottawa.
Oku Damashi has been open for 12 years, six of which have been in Langdon. Over the past year, they have had 25 outstanding youth and kids join the competition team (Team Oku). These athletes have dedicated up to 10 hours a week training for competitions and that training has really paid off.
In April, they attended the Western Provincial Open (a WKC Qualifier for Team Alberta Karate) at the Sports Dome in Edmonton where 20 students from Oku Damashi tried out for Team Alberta and all 20 of them made it onto the Provincial Karate Team.
The Alberta Karate Team consists of only 33 individuals and will be travelling to Ottawa on May 14-17th to compete for a spot on Team Canada. Sensei Tammy Thankachen, owner of Oku Damashi explains that if these young athletes make Team Canada they will then be on a journey to the WKC World Championships in Orlando Florida in November.
“These awesome individuals through it all have stayed grounded, remained humble and they are incredibly respectful and always extend a hand in friendship everywhere they go – they inspire me daily,” says Thankachen. “It has been my honor and privilege to be their Sensei, I look forward to the future to see what these kids will do. I know they will go far in life, utilizing the skills they have learned by training in Martial Arts.”
11 year old Payton Canty is one of the young athletes going on to compete in Ottawa, “I want to go to Ottawa because I think it will help me be a better Martial Artist. I also really want to join the Olympics when I’m older so Nationals would help a lot with that.”
Another competitor explains why she is looking forward to the experience, “I like to compete and learn what others do. I also love Karate so it’s really cool to go and compete in a big karate tournament” says 9 year old Kailey Lang, “This year I am going to try and make it to Worlds, this is a really big opportunity for me. It makes me feel happy, proud and nervous.”
“At Oku Damashi we enable individuals to train in a fun, safe environment and it helps kids to learn focus, discipline and life skills that will guide them throughout their lives. We are a traditional Martial Arts Studio where individuals learn the Classical side of the Martial Arts that is steeped in interesting history” states Sensei.
“I have taught my students to have a clear and concise vision of obtaining their goals,” Thankachen says, “A big life lesson they have learned early on is that if they work hard, have dedication and put their minds to something, they can achieve it, no matter how challenging it may seem.”
Thankachen adds that she would like to recognize all the people in Oku Damashi Martial Arts. “All our students are outstanding individuals who train hard and have helped develop our dojo to what it is today, and I am eternally grateful for that”
The programs available at Oku Damashi Martial Arts are Goju Ryu Karate, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kobudo, Tai Chi. Martial Arts are filled with fun and excitement as individuals learn skills, techniques, self-defenses and attributes to benefit them and is the stepping stones to creating a strong mind, body and spirit.
