Sportrait

Student. Shodan. Sensei.

Scott Bax is all of these things: a student with the Weyburn Wado Kai Karate Club, a shodan - first-degree black belt - and an assistant sensei or teacher with Kathie Day. It's all the result of his involvement with wado kai for the past six years.

"I really enjoy the exercise," he says. "There's so many things I enjoy about it."

Bax, who was first introduced to it by a family member who was studying karate, finds the relaxing effect it provides outside of the dojo (school) particularly rewarding.

"The competition is a lot of fun," he adds.

It must be. Throughout the winter, Bax attends about one competition per month, travelling as far away as Virden, Man., Spruce Grove, Alta. and to Edmonton for the wado kai Western Canadian championship tournament.

Bax has placed and won medals numerous times in competition, but a highlight for him was having his name inscribed on a trophy as a blue belt for placing first in his division in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) at a meet in Manitoba. "That's fairly rare," he says. "That's my goal every year now."

Another fond memory is the occasion when he had the honour of sitting with wado kai's North American leader, ninth dan sensei Shintani, during a competition in Virden.

In the meantime, Bax enjoys improving his skills with the other members of the Weyburn club.

"We do have a lot of fun," he says. "Anyone who does come out and work out with us has a hard time not coming back."

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