Sportrait

There's more to martial arts than just practising kicks and punches.

Kathie Day, a nidan (second-degree black belt) in wado kai karate, has known that for some time. A sensei (teacher) with the Weyburn Wado Kai Karate Club since its inception three years ago, Day has studied the art for a total of six years.

"Wado kai is concentrated on the whole person," she says. "Character is really important in our style."

Wado kai is, in fact, a family-oriented style of karate that encourages participation by children and women, of which the Weyburn club has quite a few. The reason, says Day, is that wado kai recognizes the fact that people do not come in only one size and are not all equally strong. It emphasizes conservation of energy and focusing at one point of a technique instead of remaining focused all the time.

Day originally studied judo in Manitoba, which she enjoyed, but as the only woman member the inequalities in size and strength rapidly became evident.

She became involved in wado kai in Redvers and now heads up the Weyburn club with the help of fellow sensei Scott Bax, where the atmosphere is very mutually supportive and encourages good sportsmanship.

"I think we try to make each individual student be a teacher," Day says, adding that it is never a humiliation for a teacher to be beaten by a student - it actually means the teacher has done well.

"That's always been one of our goals."

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