Fall Semester Kicks Off at the St-Henri Dojo

Last night felt a lot like a homecoming. The fall semester kicked off at the St-Henri Dojo, and what I saw was a testament to the spirit of our community.

In the family class, the energy was infectious. We had our returning karate kids, all smiles, thrilled to be back in their routine. Their joy was a great welcome for the new, shy faces who, by the end of the class, were laughing and high-fiving their new friends. The most heartwarming moment? A little girl, her face beaming with pure pride, watching her mom, a brand-new karateka, show off what she'd learned in her very first class. That's what it's all about: a shared journey.

Kids class

A Challenging Return for All

Later, the adults and advanced students lined up. It was a mix of seasoned practitioners eager to get back to their craft and new adults taking that brave first step. We all knew what was coming: an intense warmup. Let's be real, most of us took it pretty easy over the summer, and it showed!

But we pushed through. Shihan Ray took the new students under his wing, guiding them through the foundational basics, while the rest of us dove back into kihons (basics) and ido geiko (moving basics). We finished the class by coming together to practice katas (forms). The heat was intense, the sweat was profuse, and everyone gave it their all.

Working up a sweat

The Most Important Step is Showing Up

The biggest takeaway from last night is a simple one, and it's for everyone, especially those who were on in the dojo for the first time. This journey isn’t easy. It will be challenging, and you’ll want to quit some days. But the most important thing you can ever do is keep showing up for yourself. Not for your friend, not for your neighbour, but for you.

This is your journey. There's no final destination, no end of the road. It’s a continuous path of self-improvement and discovery. At the St-Henri Dojo, we’re all just along for the ride, sharing in the knowledge of our Kyokushin Kenbukai journey. Welcome back, everyone. Let's get to work!

Shihan Ray leading the class in meditation before a special grading.