Page 15 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 47

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David Wattie Opens Wattie Karate Dojo in Cornwall

By Molly Kett at the Monkland Karate School, from training in the martial arts, and in a rank for a long time. If they
eventually being held in the gym at I hope that folks come out to meet haven’t earned it, then they’ll just
Tagwi SS. me,” says Wattie. “I know that once have to keep working on it. Period.
they come out and see that I’m not
“I earned my first degree black belt I will not budge on that. Similarly, if
in 2003, and continued my training in really all that scary of a guy, we can they are learning a lot and working
work together to grow a new karate
Monkland, teaching more and more,” family in Cornwall!” very hard, they will be able to
says Wattie. “I ended up taking over advance more quickly,” says Wattie.
the Monkland Karate School with a An average class at Wattie’s dojo Wattie is passionate about Karate
couple of my black belt friends for starts with a warm-up followed by and really enjoys seeing the growth
a number of years, and also started technique work.
of his students, regardless of how
teaching more and more in NY in “Being able to complete punches
my own dojo. I returned to living in and kicks with the proper technique long they stick with the sport.
Canada in 2010, continuing to run the reduces the chance of injury, “I have some students who have
Monkland dojo. In 2013, just after I increases the effectiveness of the been with me for a couple of years,
earned my 3rd Degree Black Belt, I student, and makes every other and their rank increases have been

opened Wattie Karate in Winchester. aspect of their training stronger,” slow and far between, while I have
I’ve been teaching there ever since. I says Wattie. “Then we work on one others on the other side of the
rarely take more than 3 weeks off a or two other elements of my program
spectrum,” says Wattie. “I encourage
year, and I most often see youngsters between traditional kata, two person
all of my students to practise and
come through my doors more than self-defence techniques, street self-
spend a good amount of time
adults - but I’m hoping that to open defence, sparing, and weapons
Photo Submitted up.” training. My students do everything training, and I see them grow and
increase in rank accordingly. When
hirty-year-old David Wattie Wattie says opening his dojo in from running and jumping to sitting
Thas decided to open his new Cornwall made sense to him, as it on a wall and talking about history, an athlete finally “gets it” it’s a really
cool moment. The smile on their
dojo, Wattie Karate, in Cornwall, allows him to find new students to to attempting a double spinning
after leaving his career in retail work with while being in an area he jumping side kick!” face is truly wondrous, and it only
encourages them to try harder. That’s
management, to pursue his martial wants to be in geographically. Wattie says he stands firm on his
arts and first aid training programs. pretty cool!”
“I’m really excited to open up in principle that you earn what you get.
Wattie has been training in Karate Cornwall. I know there are youngsters “I absolutely will not pass a Stop by Wattie Karate to see what
since 1995, beginning with classes and adults alike who would benefit youngster just because they’ve been it’s all about.