Karate Kids raise $4387 for Sexual Assault Survivors’ Centre

Over 100 students from southwestern Ontario IMMAF karate clubs invaded Sarnia, Saturday, May 12, for an Interclub Tournament.
International Modern Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) schools from Windsor to London to Sarnia and all places in between, travelled to meet and compete in Sarnia at Dynasty Martial Arts on Murphy Road.
The inter-school event takes place in different cities on a biyearly basis to help students prepare for the ”International Invitational Tournament” held in London each November.
IMMAF students showed off their skills as they competed in forms, patterns (katas), sparring, weapons, and self defense techniques.
The scores, the activities, the flashing weapons, the results of the sparring bouts were important to the students, but IMMAF schools also teach students about social responsibility.
As part of the day’s activities, Dynasty Martial Arts owner Rob St. Jean also hosted a popular, crowd pleasing, fundraiser with the ”Break-a-Board Challenge.” Students sponsored by friends and family challenge themselves to see how many boards they can break in a single strike with their bare hand!
The regulation size karate standard board for breaking can withstand over 200 pounds of pressure. It takes skill and training to break just one, yet students as young as 6 took up the challenge. Participating students earned two limited edition commemorative badges to wear on their uniforms.
At the end of the day, IMMAF students had destroyed over 250 boards and raised $4387.30 for the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Centre Sarnia Lambton.
IMMAF participating clubs included Dynasty Martial Arts, (Sarnia and Blenheim), Snow’s Academy of Martial Arts, (Chatham), Guardian Academy of Martial Arts, (Wallaceburg), Killworth-Komoka Family Martial Arts (Komoka), and Steve Stewart’s Modern Martial Arts, (London). Tiger Paw Martial Arts of Wallaceburg participated by invitation.
Last year the IMMAF clubs raised over $2,000 for the Chatham Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre with the ”Break a Board Challenge,” at an inter-school tournament.
IMMAF affiliate schools participate frequently in national charity events such as ”Relay for Life,” ”Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” and other local causes.

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WHY WE DO IT:
“We take a stance for victims everywhere.
We study and practice our art so we will not be victims.
We hope to be able to help people in trouble, but for the times we can’t be there,
It is incumbent on us to support those organizations who pick up the pieces of shattered lives.”
Mantra of IMMAF affiliate and ”Break-a-Board Challenge” Coordinator, Henrie Timmers

RAPE:
“The most vile, deplorable, despicable crime one human can inflict on another is rape!
Robbery, theft, muggings and even beatings we can recover from. Murder is final, and attempted murder will leave you scarred, but rape is a violation of your soul.
Rape degrades, terrorizes, humiliates, and destroys. It forever ruins your relationships with family and friends, and your ability to interact with others. Rape steals your trust, and robs you of your faith. Rape destroys your spirit, your feeling of self worth and your self esteem.
Rape strips your dignity and pride. It is the invisible scar that never heals.”
J.J. Danner