Huron Expositor, 2003-11-26, Page 1414 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 26, 2003
Sports
Decker achieves io years
of teaching karate lessons
By Sara CampbeN
Expositor Staff
By day, Brian Decker can
be seen driving students to
school but at night he is
teaching students lessons in
karate.
The Kippen resident has
been offering traditional
karate classes for the past 10
years to children, youth and
adults in the Seaforth area.
"It's hard to believe it's
been that long," said Decker.
"It's been a lot of good years
and a lot of students."
Decker, who is a bus driver
for the Avon Maitland School
Board, started taking karate
classes in Holmesville nearly
20 years ago when he had
broke his back.
"It was the best form of
exercise for me and
something that I enjoyed," he
said, adding that soon after he
had his children involved.
Later, Decker became
licensed to teach karate
through the Martial Arts
Centre/ Dojo Association and
started teaching classes in
Exeter and Zurich.
After many requests, he
began teaching classes in the
Seaforth arena but due to
increased rates he moved the
classes to St. James School
this past fall.
Presently, he said he has
about 30 students in Seaforth,
teaching all six coloured belt
levels.
"It's up to the individual
how fast they go through the
levels, whether by how much
they attend the classes or
practice. Some can complete
a level in three months or
others it could take three
years," he said. "It's a lot of
mental and physical work."
The 54 -year-old teaches
classes for youth and adults
and children, as young as five,
and parents. He said he only
charges a monthly rate as the
classes take a great deal of
commitment.
"They say you can go
through a thousand students
before you will have one that
has earned a black belt, but I
think my students arc doing
better than that," he said.
"A lot of younger kids just
want to try it out. They think
within a week they can
become Ninja Turtles or
something but it takes a lot of
work and a lot of dedication."
Decker said he has more
woman students than previous
years who are using the
classes as lessons in self
defense. However, he added
that his first black belt was a
women and ho is now
teaching her children.
He said his classes do not
participate in competitions or
tournaments as many other
area classes no longer practice
only traditional karate and
create their own moves.
"I rather them be punching
or kicking a punching bag
rather than punching each
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Sara Campbell photo
Brian Decker (right, kneeling), of Kippen, has been offering
traditional karate classes for the past 10 years to children,
youth and adults in the Seaforth area.
other in a competition or
tournament," he said.
"I believe they'll learn
better from punching a
punching bag with all their
strength which will prepare
them for an actual incident."
He added that he doesn't
grade students on a regular
basis but constantly monitors
their individual progress at
every class.
"It's not a team sport but it
is about being a team player,"
he said.
Decker said students will
also learn Japanese while
practicing and stretching.
They count to 10 in Japanese
when doing steps and learn,
definitions of their moves and
the history of karate.
At the end of the classes,
Decker said he spends fivc to
10 minutes to discuss
incidents that people need to
get out of, whether it is
someone grabbing them or
bullying at school.
He added that he tells all his
students when they are being
bullied, the best solution is to
walk away.
"I hope that out of all the
things they learn; the most
important thing they learn is
respect. Respect for
themselves and respect for
each other, in and outside of
the classroom," he said.
Anyone can join the classes
at anytime. The classes for
children and parents are
Mondays and youth and
adults are Wednesdays, both
beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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