HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-05-10, Page 21'Wednesday, May 10, 1989
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'SECOND SECTION
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If you were to visit the Seaforth Karate
Club Dojo and meet black belt instructor
Steve Lonsdale, you'd never guess that 17
years ago -in his pre -karate days- he had a
ponytail and an earring and was way out of
shape.
But 17 years ago, when he was 1'8 -years -
old, Sensei (a Japanese word for karate in-
structor) Lonsdale attended his first Karate
class and changed the direction of his life.
It was a television program that got
Sensei Lonsdale interested in martial arts -
Kung Fu with David Caradine.
"I was a hippie and the philosophy he
spoke during his Show appealed to me. I lik-
ed his gentle, soft spoken manner, and yet
he could handle himself," recalls Sensei
Lonsdale.
So when the opportunity to join a karate
program at his college campus came, he
decided to go to a class, hear the instructor
and sign up. But the instructor, a small
Malaysian sensei, had other ideas, and he
held a regular class beginning with a karate
workout.
"I passed out after five minutes," says
Sensei Lonsdale. There were about 35 other
people taking the class and another 100 wat-
ching, so it was embarrassing to black out
from exertion, but Sensei Lonsdale wasn't
. turned off karate.
"For some reason, for the first time in my
life, I decided I was going to finish
something. I wasn't going to quit ,"
And as he pursued karate Sensei Lonsdale
• says it started to change his outlook qn life
and "I cleaned up my act." The ponytail had
to go after it got caught in his gi (karate
uniform), resulting in his being accidentally
punched in .the face. He .began to gain self
confidence, and over the years his formerly
non -athletic body got into shape. Even an
explosive temper he had was cured with the
help of 'his sensei, Kim Hooi Wong, in an
unobtrusive way.
WEAPONS PRACTICE - At the higher levels of karate training
students begin to practise in a controlled manner with traditional
Japanese weapons. Sensei Steve Lonsdale's weapons of choice
are the sai which are rounded, blunted, three pronged daggers
useful for blocking other weapon attacks. Sensei Lonsdaleisseen
here parrying a low strike by a student using a bo (staff).
SENSEI LONSDALE uses:sai to'block a.blow from Hasson and counters with a strike of
his,own.. orbett;photo.
In July of 1979, after six years of learning
and training, Sensei Lonsdale became a
Sensei. And getting his black belt was, to
say the least, important in his life.
"It means more to me than getting my
Grade 12 diploma," he says "It is equal to
me getting married, and the birth of my
first child."
As an instructor Sensei Lonsdale looks
back at how his own 'Sensei Wong taught
him.
"I hope to emulate his qualities. He was
always positive and helped people along,"
he says. "And when I'm teaching I always
try to think of what if was like for me when I
first started. I try to teach with patience,
perseverance, and tolerance."
One thing Sensei Lonsdale does insist on,
however, is respect for others in the dojo
"I will tolerate an uncoordinated person,
but not a person who doesn't respect proper
etiquette. I'm a very traditional teacher,"
he said.
As a traditional karate instuctor Sensei
Lonsdale doesn't like to see his martial art
used for competition.
"Karate is not a sport," he says. While he
feels tournaments are a fine way for karate
students to compare their techniques with
those of other clubs, he doesn't like the com-
mon outlook on competition.
"We shouldn't train behind closed doors,
we should get out and share ideas. The thing
I don't like is the attitude around the sport
-win at all cost. People will only do techni-
ques that catch a judge's .eye, and that
waters down the art," he explains.
"Karate is not a sport and it should not be
a sport. For those who really follow it it's a
way of life."
There is an element of the Zen philosphy
which comes with karate, so Sensei
Lonsdale says you get more out of it than
blocks, kicks and punches. Zen philosophy is
not easily summarized, but Sensei Lonsdale
knows what it has done for him.
"What I got out of karate is my respon-
sibility to my wife, my children and the
community I live in," he said.
While the philosophy is what attracted
Sensei Lonsdale to karate, he admits the
almost religious Zen philosophy does drive
off some potential karate students.
"But I think that's what's missing today.
People don't have a code of morals," he
says. "You look at hockey, the only impor-
tant thing is to win. And you look at hockey
.players, they're agressive people."
"You need • a path. You need "t6' follow
something that's going to keep you in line."
"I• know I'll neverbe perfect, but the act of
trying heightens the spirit."
Sensei Lonsdale now has three dojos
across Huron County. His first is in
Goderich and has about 30 members.
Another was recently opened in Clinton and
has about 15 students, and about a year ago
he began teaching at the Seaforth Martial
Arts Fitness Centre which currently has
about 30 full-time members.
Sensei Lonsdale began teaching in
Seaforth in the absence. of Sensei Rob
Malloch, after being requested by students
here. His clubs are all still members of the
YICKF Karate federation.
Sensei Lonsdale says he was hesitant to
teach here at first because his is a different
style of karate. But karate styles all come
from the same roots, and students here have
begun to learn the new style.
All Sensei Lonsdale's clubs are operated
on a non-profit basis, and members pay just
enough money to provide them with a place
to train. •
"We don't do it for the money or any
glory. We do it because we believe in what
we're doing," he says. "The most important
thieg you'll learn from us is courtesy,
. respect and tolerance."
HIGH BLOCK - Sensei Lonsdale wards off a punch from one of his Seaforth students,
Chuck Hasson. Corbett photo.
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