Put Down the Controller and Take Martial Arts

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I first started training BJJ with Arashi-Do in 2013. I was originally looking to learn the art simply for fun, but soon came to realize that training could benefit my life in a number of ways. One of my favorite aspects of martial arts is the mental training, specifically learning to clear ones mind. I can honestly say that I am far more focused now than at any other point in my life. I have also learned the importance of dedication, determination, and driving to achieve goals that once may have seemed impossible. I am proud to be a member of the Arashi-Do family, and could not imagine surrounding myself with a better group of people.

As an instructor I like to focus on teaching and reinforcing the basics. To me the fundamentals are like the foundation of a house. Without a solid foundation your house would crumble, so why would you wish to learn anything differently. In my mind you can always improve upon the basics, and they will carry you far. I love to teach people of all ages and walks of life, and especially like it when I can get a shy individual to come out of their shell. Going into 2018, I am hoping to continue my training, as well as imparting knowledge on other people to help them grow in all aspects of their lives.

I started training with Arashi-Do Lom Pa Yu in 2011. My instructors were Kyoshi Mike and Renshi Setsu. I took up BJJ in 2013 and was immediately drawn to the effectiveness and efficiency of the art

My role as an assistant instructor began in 2014 at our Acadia location and I stepped into the role of main BJJ instructor in 2015. Later in the year I also started teaching at West Hillhurst.

My previous martial arts experience includes:

●  Red belt in Tae Kwon Do in my early 20s

●  Purple belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu as a young teen

●  One year of Krav Maga

●  Orange Prajied in Muay Thai

In the summer of 2015 I traveled to Brazil to compete in the world championship. Our Cochrane location opened in 2016 and I began teaching there as well. I was honored to receive my purple belt in spring 2017 from Mastre Behring.

I have recently begun training karate again, it’s always great to develop new skills.

I started my journey in martial arts at the age of 14 with karate. Achieving my purple belt by my sixteenth birthday, I decided to try a kickboxing lesson and since that day have not looked back. I have been involved with martial arts for 10 years now, more than half of which has been under the tutelage of Arashi-Do Martial Arts. I am currently a full time Muay Thai instructor and it is truly amazing that every day I get to be surrounded by people who are full of commitment and a positive attitude.

I have had the opportunity to travel to Thailand multiple times and to get a true feel for what Muay Thai really is, and in so doing have changed the way I train and teach. I strive to teach based on situations I have experienced inside and outside the ring, which I feel is important in a sport like Muay Thai. I believe fitness is vital to any sport and include unique workouts in my classes.

As an athlete, I have had over 30 ring fights and my greatest accomplishment thus far is winning the CMTC-A western and National Muay Thai titles. The knowledge and support that I not only receive from my instructors, but from my students as well, is something I can take home with me and I in turn strive to be successful in life. Muay Thai has become more than just a part of my life; with the never ending support of my family and friends it has become so much more.

I began training karate at age 6 or 7 in Rocky Mountain house with my uncle, Renshi Russ Dahms. Trained for 2 years and got my green belt and then I dropped out of karate. As a kid I wasn’t blessed with an abundance of motivation. I picked karate back up when my cousin started training again and I decided I should get back into it too. I achieved purple belt and then moved to Calgary.

I started assisting teaching Sensei Logan and Sensei Ashley at Rutland Park. I got my blue belt and moved back to Rocky to finish high school with my friends. Upon finishing high school I moved back to Calgary. I had no idea or grand plan after school but teaching and training karate had become very important to me. On the advice of my uncle Russ I gave Kyoshi Mike a call and within 24 hours I was being paid to help teach in Calgary and had been found a place to live. I was helping teach again with Kyoshi Mike, Sensei Logan and Sensei Ashley and achieved my brown belt. I began to teach more and was eventually teaching by myself.

I got my black belt in 2016. I now teach in four different Calgary locations and truly love it.

My experience with martial arts generally and Arashi-Do specifically started when I was eight. At that time, my family was living near Caroline, AB so I started training with Renshi Chris Bonde in his first karate school. I remained until I received my green belt and then had to choose between my two great loves: martial arts and all things equestrian. Horses won out at the time and I took a few years off karate, focusing on training my young horses and competing with them in many different disciplines such as local shows, hunter/jumper circuit, paint horse breed shows, 4H and I finally found my favourite equestrian sport- eventing- which I pursued up to provincial championship levels.

Martial arts stuck with me and I had the opportunity to return to Arashi-Do this time in Bowden with Sensei Lynn Jennyc for about six months in my final year of high school. After graduating I moved away and put my black belt dreams on the back burner. I had a couple years of adventures and then got married and settled near Airdrie, on my husband’s family farm. We are the 3rd generation on the farm and raise beef cattle and mules. I had my daughter in fall 2008, shortly after that I happened to see an Arashi-Do sign in my new hometown. I pulled in and got signed up and I have not looked back since. My daughter was 7 weeks old at the time. I was fortunate to be instructed by both Kyoshi Gary Vig and Kyoshi Mike Bonde while training in Airdrie. When I was expecting my son I had to take a break from training and after he arrived I returned, this time at the Calgary Deerfoot North school with Kyoshi Mike Bonde, Renshi Setsu Wetteskind and Renshi Jason Bryant. At this time I branched out and started training Muay Thai and was quickly hooked. I am also excited about learning more BJJ and applying it to self defense situations.

My interest in martial arts sparked after watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid. As a result I started training karate under Kyoshi Mike at the first Arashi-Do Dojo In Calgary. I was ramping up my training for my Jr Black Belt test when I was attacked by a dog. After several years off I returned to Arashi-Do, received my Black Belt and started teaching in Bowden and Penhold for Sensei Lynn. At this point I was going to the University of Calgary for Electrical Engineering so I taught part-time and continued to train. When I graduated I was faced with a choice: Karate or Engineering.

I spent six months trying to do both before I finally realized my experience teaching had ignited a passion for martial arts I couldn’t ignore. I love everything about the lifestyle; from mentoring assistant instructors to organizing classes to working with kids. I find it rewarding to see improvement in my students and I enjoy the everyday challenges I face. One of the greatest things about my job is being part of the Arashi-Do family; I get to train with world class martial artists who also happen to be amazing people. Kyoshi Mike has had been a mentor for me and I am continually in awe of and inspired by the skills exhibited by Arashi-Do school owners, instructors and fighters. My long term goal is to continue to grow as a martial artist by teaching, training and competing as much as I can. I would like to expand my knowledge of martial arts by delving deeper into Muay Thai Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Eventually I plan to become a school owner running a successful school. Martial arts is my life.

Following my 4-year-old daughters footsteps as a little dragon, I joined Arashi-Do at the age of 34 in Aug 2003 with no background in martial arts at all. I was out of shape and a smoker. By Blue belt I was a Sempei (Senior rank Assisting), lost 60 lbs and quit smoking. By Brown belt I was filling in teaching when needed and on Nov 24, 2006, I was privileged to receive my black belt. I took on the role of instructor on a more permanent basis teaching for Kyoshi Mike at Two schools in Calgary, Hillhurst and Springbank. This was just the beginning of something life-changing.

My travel on the path with Arashi Do has been a good one both in mind and body that I plan on continuing for as long as I can try to pass on all the passion and knowledge that I can.

●  2003 Joined Arashi-Do Karate

●  2005 WKA Provincials took gold for Kata and sparring

●  2006 Achieved Black belt first Degree

●  2006 Full-time instructor at Springbank dojo

●  2006 Started Cross Training in Muay Thai

●  2008 Joined the BBCC as an owner by franchising Springbank.

●  2010 Achieved assistant Instructor in Muay Thai and opened a class at Springbank

●  2007 Competed in and won my first Muay Thai tournament.

●  2008 took my first Amateur Ring Fight

●  2008 1st trip to Thailand to continue Muay Thai Training

●  2009 Started Training In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Under Master Sylvio Behring

I am originally from Japan. I came to Canada back in 1996 to study English, and met some people from Arashi-Do Martial Arts. I started karate to be healthy and quickly I discovered that it was more than just a workout for me. I wanted to be better every day and could not get enough of karate. I have competed in many tournaments in Alberta in order to test myself. I earned my first degree black belt with highest points on November 25, 2000.

I earned my first degree black belt with highest points on November 25, 2000. I have been an instructor since I received my black belt in 2000. I have won grand championships for both forms and sparring. On October 23rd 2004, I received my second degree black belt.

●  Over 22 years of Martial Arts training experience.
●  Athletes always represent themselves in a sportsman-like, professional and respectful manner.

●  5th Degree Karate Black Belt awarded by World Ging-Wu International Martial Arts.

●  Instructor/Trainer Level in Muay Thai, supervised by Kru Chris Bonde.

●  Associate Instructor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Gracie Barra Black Belt Josh Russell.

●  Shoot Wrestling Canada Black Belt Level.

Arashi-Do Martial Arts has its roots in traditional Shotokan Karate with an emphasis in Western Kickboxing and Muay Thai Kickboxing. I got involved at the beginning of a style evolution. In 1988 my partner and I, along with some students took over from our instructor on a full time basis as he was going to school and could not teach as much as he had in the past. In 1992 we changed the name from “The Martial Arts Center” to Arashi-Do Martial Arts, and introduced several new styles we had been cross training in. We started with one school and expanded slowly over the years to the 20 locations in Western Canada that we have now. My role aside from teaching classes is to help the new school owners and instructors through some of the harder aspects of trying to mix a successful business with the traditions and values of a respect based martial art.

Over my 25 years of experience, I have changed my opinions about style and system of martial arts but I can honestly say that the values the martial arts embodies are what kept me involved; Respect, Loyalty, Discipline and Integrity to name of few. The relationships I have built over the years with students, instructors and parents of kids in karate and kickboxing have stood the test of time. Some of the best people I have ever met came to me through martial arts and I still count them as close friends today.