CANADA REPORT - Continued #2
On arrival in Ottawa Dave was supposed to train and was initially disappointed to find that the session had to be cancelled. Kyoshi had made a commitment elsewhere, in fact to attend his God-daughter Miva's 4th birthday party. So Dave was invited along as well to enjoy the hospitality of the local population and to accompany Kyoshi and his wife Christine who is also a noted black belt.
But this was no ordinary 4th birthday party.
The Therien dojo is like a big family with several hundred students at each.
It was one of Kyoshi's senior black belt instructors who chose Kyoshi as godfather. This again shows the enormous respect and special relationship Kyoshi has with his students. Moreover, Aline (the mother of the birthday girl) was also a past student and black belt in the art of Goshindo, founded by Alain Sailly who Dave had previously brought to New Zealand to run seminars in Rotorua. Dave had trained with Aline in France and Canada previously so it was a pleasant surprise.
Also at the party were other instructors of the Therien dojo both from Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu and a sizeable presence from the royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ottawa Swatt team. Being a capital city there is clearly a high level of security required and much of this expertise comes from Kyoshi John Therien and his team of instructors.
There was also a Cuban connection as Aline (Goshindo student) has an immigrant Cuban as partner, who has also taken up martial arts at the dojo along with members of the family from Cuba. Needless to say there was a mix of French, Spanish and English spoken and the food was also internationally representative including a specially roasted Cuban pig, and many smoking fine Cuban cigars. It wasn't martial arts training, but it was very interesting mixing and talking with such a wide range of top level martial artists on my first afternoon in Ottawa.
And they all want to come to New Zealand!
Despite the change in plans, the dojo training did come, and it all happened during a heat wave in Ottawa where temperatures stayed up in the mid 30 degree range - topping out at 37 Celsius. Different from a Kiwi winter.
Next Report: in the Therien Dojo. Visit this page in a week or so to hear about the Dojo.
But this was no ordinary 4th birthday party.
The Therien dojo is like a big family with several hundred students at each.
It was one of Kyoshi's senior black belt instructors who chose Kyoshi as godfather. This again shows the enormous respect and special relationship Kyoshi has with his students. Moreover, Aline (the mother of the birthday girl) was also a past student and black belt in the art of Goshindo, founded by Alain Sailly who Dave had previously brought to New Zealand to run seminars in Rotorua. Dave had trained with Aline in France and Canada previously so it was a pleasant surprise.
Also at the party were other instructors of the Therien dojo both from Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu and a sizeable presence from the royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ottawa Swatt team. Being a capital city there is clearly a high level of security required and much of this expertise comes from Kyoshi John Therien and his team of instructors.
There was also a Cuban connection as Aline (Goshindo student) has an immigrant Cuban as partner, who has also taken up martial arts at the dojo along with members of the family from Cuba. Needless to say there was a mix of French, Spanish and English spoken and the food was also internationally representative including a specially roasted Cuban pig, and many smoking fine Cuban cigars. It wasn't martial arts training, but it was very interesting mixing and talking with such a wide range of top level martial artists on my first afternoon in Ottawa.
And they all want to come to New Zealand!
Despite the change in plans, the dojo training did come, and it all happened during a heat wave in Ottawa where temperatures stayed up in the mid 30 degree range - topping out at 37 Celsius. Different from a Kiwi winter.
Next Report: in the Therien Dojo. Visit this page in a week or so to hear about the Dojo.
Labels: Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Kyoshi John Therien, Ottawa Swatt Team, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Therien Dojo
posted by Chris at
12:12 PM
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