New Belts for Karate Kids

The new year started off great for 19 martial artists from RMA Karate Centres who tested on January 25th for their new rank and after passing, were presented with their belts. The students demonstrated their skills in front of RMA instructors Craig Ridout, Tressa Young and Linda Young. They were tested on their technique, form, self-defense, martial arts history and knowledge.


“It was great seeing everyone work so hard giving their own personal best. It was a special day for all of the students who were testing especially Sale Berube who has worked so hard leading to this day to be presented with her junior black belt rank. She has grown into a confident young lady and I have no doubt she will continue to do great things in the martial arts. The best part at the end of the testing was hearing shouts of joy from her parents and a round of applause from everyone watching Sale receiving her black belt rank”, Ridout said.

RMA Karate Centres is proud to announce the 2015 competition team, the RMA Dragons who will be representing the karate school with pride when participating in several tournaments this year.  

RMA Karate Centres, instructors and competition coaches are very excited for the new team and are ready to help them reach their sport karate goals!  

The Competition Team member bios are available on the official RMA website page on the website at http://www.rmakarate.com/eliteteam.html .

RMA Instructor Kicks It on Film Set

One of RMA's main instructors, third degree black belt Tressa Young has been busy on the sets of many tv ads and music videos.  

Here's the latest music video Sensei Tressa did the stunt work on. It's great how film can make it look like the other girl is doing it but if you look at the video and slow it down at 2:50 you will see Sensei Tressa's face clearly while doing the sweep.  Great job Sensei Tressa!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPSbuJo8sOQ

NEW BELTS & AWARDS

STUDENT AWARDS

RMA Karate Centres handed out 38 new belts at the Christmas party to students from ages 4 years to adult who passed their recent testing.  Along with the new karate ranks being presented, 7 special awards were also presented to select students.    Every year the students and instructors at the karate school vote for the recipients of the annual awards.  Receiving their recognition awards were little dragon student Noah Ledyit for the outstanding little dragon of the year, advance brown belt Sale Berube for the female competitor of the year, purple belt Shamus Berube for male competitor of the year, blue belt Jacob Allen for most improved student of the year, orange belt Cian Febbraro for spirt of the year, blue belt Brian Tracey for Soke Kwan memorial award and black belt Tressa Young for instructor of the year.

Receiving their new belt ranks were:

·         White Belt with Yellow Stripe Henry Lorriman , London Perry, Jacob Steven, James West and Logan Brooker

·         White Belt with Orange Stripe James Nabialek and Noah Ledyit

·         White Belt with Red Stripe Maia Ikonikov and Lennon Vandervliet-Gurr

·         White Belt with Green Stripe Graydon Beleskey

·         White Belt with Blue Stripe  Lotus Laycock

·         White Belt with Brown Stripe Kai Ikonikov and Claire Boushy

·         Yellow Belt  Alexander Rozario, Austin Nabialek, Cole McKendry, Hudson Perry, Liam Hankin, Madden Brown, Quinn Rozario, Stefan Badea, Tristan Perreault and Tabitha Wilson

·         Orange Belt  Abigail Oster, Emma Khan, Cian Febbraro, Hannah Mills

·         Green Belt Noah Dennison and Sheyon Puvaneshwaran

·         Blue Belt Phillip Sauer, Todd Stubbs, Brian Tracey, Devin Strachan and Nathan Leonard

·         Purple Belt Isabelle Rayner, Shamus Berube and Robbie Lovell

·         Brown Belt  Sam Stubbs

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REFERENCE:

RMA Karate Centres – www.rmakarate.com

13 WORLD MEDALS WON

Four Barrie martial artists have returned from the world karate championships in Dublin Ireland with some well-earned medals.  The four who train out of RMA Karate Centres made the national karate team in May traveling with the team to compete among the world’s top martial artists. 

Third degree black belt Tressa Young, a renowned martial artist and world champion, was all smiles after winning 7 gold medals and 1 bronze medal at the WKC World Karate & Kickboxing Championships in Dublin this past week.  The RMA school owner and instructor also went on to win 2 grand championship titles in the traditional forms and creative forms divisions.

Third degree black belt Linda Young, an instructor at RMA’s north Barrie location, held her own for her second year making the team, winning 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. 

Advance brown belt Sale B did an amazing job for her second year on the team winning 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.  Blue belt Shamus B gave a strong showing for his first time on the national karate team and competing at the world championships.  On the world’s stage competing alongside other countries and athletes he placed fourth in the team kata division with his daughter Sale and was handpicked to be a member of the men’s veteran fighting team who took 5^th place.   In total the four athletes from RMA Karate Centres brought home 13 medals for Canada.

“You cannot rest when you compete on the world’s stage among the toughest martial artists.   That’s why we already have several students and instructors starting to train in preparation for the 2015 Canadian team and the world championships in Florida next year.  I am proud to know these fine athletes from RMA whose goal is to represent Canada next year at worlds.  They train hard, never giving up and always giving their best.  They want to be the best, they want to be part of the national team and they want to win gold for Canada.  It’s about putting everything you have into your training”, Tressa Young stated. 

YOUNG LEAVES HER MARK

Third degree black belt Tressa Young competed at the North American International Karate Championships in Dearborn, Michigan this past weekend and competing alongside the men did not dissuade her from entering the event.  Young found herself competing in all but one division with the men.

The black belt who is a national and international gold medalist, trains out of RMA Karate Centres in Barrie being the head instructor at the south Barrie location.  In divisions with men and women competing together, Young was the only woman to reach top 4 placement including winning 2nd place in musical weapons.  Young also went on to win 1st place in hard creative forms, 1st place in creative weapons and 3rd in womens all weights sparring.  With 2 first place wins Young advanced to the grand champion division for creative weapons and forms.

Young was all smiles after winning that division defeating three male competitors and earning the title of Black Belt Adult Creative division grand champion.

Young along with fellow instructor Linda Young and students  Sale Berube and Shamus Berube are headed to Ireland in three weeks to take part in the world karate and kickboxing championships as members of the WKC Canadian National karate team.

To learn more visit www.rmakarate.com 

READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD

Five Barrie martial artists ranging in age from 9 to 50 years old are Ireland bound this fall as part of the Canadian national karate team.  The five train out of RMA Karate Centres and after securing their spot on the 250 member Canadian team, are ready to take on martial artists from 19 other countries.   

Third degree black belt Tressa Young is a seasoned national team member making the team for the ninth time.  With 56 world medals under her belt including multiple world champion titles since first making the team in 2003, the head instructor of the south Barrie karate school has the experience and skill to bring home gold once again.  Last year at the world championships in Italy, Young won 7 gold and 2 silver medals for Canada.  The nineteen-year-old black belt started training in karate at age four accomplishing more than most at such a young age.  Coined as “Canada’s Sweetheart” by World Karate & Kickboxing Commission’s director John Douvris, Tressa Young continues teaching national and international champions while also dabbling in film stunt work on the side.

Also making the national team and heading to Ireland is RMA black belt instructor Linda Young along with students Liam North, Sale Berube and Shamus Berube.   Under the instruction of fourth degree black belt Craig Ridout and third degree black belt Tressa Young, all five continue with their dedicated training with their goal of bringing home gold. 

To learn more about RMA Karate Centres or the athletes heading to Ireland visit www.rmakarate.com.