Get to know Winchester鈥檚 karate student Julien Carruthers
CORNWALL, Ontario — Julien has been training at the Winchester dojo of Wattie Karate since 2018, travelling to Cornwall to take belt exams. For some time he has even been assisting in children’s classes.
Julien鈥檚 instructor, says: 鈥淭eaching others can offer new perspective on your own training. Senior students are encouraged to work with newer students as it benefits everyone. Sometimes that means turning to someone saying, 鈥榣et鈥檚 do this technique together,鈥� and sometimes it means standing up in front of the class, testing your nerve as you lead the class.鈥�
Julien now jumps at the chance to help out at kids and adult classes.
Julien has been training with Wattie Karate for five years, even remaining a dedicated student in online classes during the pandemic. Karate Mom Jill remembers how Julien would find reasons to ask every couple of weeks to try karate. 鈥淚t was, 鈥業 want to try karate, I want to try karate, I want to try karate.鈥� When he鈥檚 interested in something, it doesn鈥檛 go away.鈥�
At a young age, Julien was very excited to try, so his parents found an opportunity for him, and he stuck with it.
Over his years of training, Julien has gone from a fairly young boy, to a strong youth who works hard and really succeeds. Karate makes a positive impact on him. Jill tells us that even if he has a bad day, Julien always comes home from karate feeling better. Now that he attends adult classes, he enjoys it even more: 鈥淗e likes how it鈥檚 progressed for him, getting more challenging for him and that鈥檚 much more fun for him as well.鈥�
On a cold windy day in December 2022, a 12-year-old Julien walked into the exam room with confidence. With familiar faces to help by holding pads and serving as sparring partners, Julien was ready to go.
Traditional kata, over 1,000 repetitions of technique, grueling sparring matches and board breaking were some of the ways this committed young man demonstrated his knowledge, skills and abilities in a five-hour exam. Senpai Phil (assistant instructor) says, 鈥淭his was my first time attending a Blue Belt exam for a younger student. It was impressive to see the amount of commitment to effort and dedication.鈥� Pushing through, and never giving up, Julien succeeded and earned his Blue Belt.
After it all, Julien continues helping others while training and preparing for his next steps in karate. 鈥淢y goal is to continue learning and make progress while still enjoying it and not feeling forced to be there.鈥�
Julien is very mature for his age, and still knows how to have fun while pushing himself. In fact, his favourite karate move is a double spinning jumping front kick 鈥� talk about a challenge!
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