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Sensei - Donald E. Roe
My name is Donald Roe.
While living in Victoria, I decided to study the martial arts. I knew
all about the mainstream systems such as, judo, taekwondo, nijitsui, etc.
All the schools were able to offer was groups oriented atmospheres. At
this time in my life, I was only interested in learning on a private lesson
level, so these schools did not appeal to me.
I came across an ad for a dojo that specialized in
private instruction teaching Kenpo Karate. I knew nothing of this art
but thought I would give them a try. Little did I know that I would
spend the next 11 years, studying Kenpo under Master Ralph Chinnick, who at
the time was a 6th degree black belt ( Now Master Chinnick is an 8th
degree).
Kenpo is a combination of
ancient fighting techniques and modern scientific principals. An
unending flow of motion that can overwhelm any attacker. Kenpo is a
practical martial art. Every move creates a specific reaction in your
opponent, each reaction leads you to your next move, every strike is a
block, and every block is a strike. Each move flows into the next,
this logical and sequential flow of action is the essence of Kenpo.
I began my training in 1993, by
1996 I became a certified instructor, in 1999 I received my 1st degree
black belt (Shodan) and with some encouragement from my sensei, I moved my
family to Comox to open my own private school teaching Kenpo professionally.
Since the opening of the school, we have
attended the International Tiger Balms (an international martial art
tournament) held in Vancouver, and have earned 8 gold , 18 Silver and 17
Bronze Medals dating back to 2000. We have received these metals in a
variety of categories ranging from continuous sparring, to hard and soft
Kata as well as the weapons divisions using Bo's (6 and 4 foot staff) and
spear forms. We have also
competed at the Can-Am championships, another major Canadian martial art
tournament, and have won, 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal there.
Twelve of our students (Myself included) have earned
placement on the Canadian International martial arts team. One of our
students went to Mexico in 2003 to represent Comox as part of Team Canada
and returned as a world champion with 2 gold medals at the world karate
championships. I was awarded my
2nd degree black belt (Nidan) in 2001 then in 2004, I returned to Master
Chinnick's dojo, where I had trained over a decade ago, and received my 3rd
degree black belt (Sandan). When I began, it was a hobby, now it is a
way of life. Kenpo can be the
most lethal of the martial arts. To control the power of Kenpo,
You must first control yourself. Train your spirit as you train your
body, developing inner strength, balance, and harmony as you learn.
A master of Kenpo is more than an expert in Karate,
they are a Martial Artist...
Our School Philosophy is:
Learning requires time,
Time requires patience,
Patience will teach one to progress wisely. |