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Clarifying concerns about martial arts in Trail

I’m almost at a loss as to where to begin in addressing the recent letter to the editor of the Trail Daily Times entitled “Buyer Beware When it Comes to Martial arts” (Sept. 14). As Mr. Hutcheson is new to our community let me start by first welcoming him to our great community.

I’m almost at a loss as to where to begin in addressing the recent letter to the editor of the Trail Daily Times entitled “Buyer Beware When it Comes to Martial arts” (Sept. 14). As Mr. Hutcheson is new to our community let me start by first welcoming him to our great community.

As I am the only one in our region who teaches both Ninjutsu, BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) and MMA (mixed martial arts) I can only deduce that a good portion of his letter was directed at not only myself but the gym I teach at, that being Pride Gym.

As Mr. Hutcheson hasn’t had the courtesy to introduce himself to me or any member of our staff or even attend our facility that has been teaching martial arts for over 20 years allow me to assuage some of his concerns.

Pride Gym has never, nor will it ever teach a “Blood Sport.” It does however teach MMA to adults along with a myriad of other martial arts to both children and adults. While he may not like MMA, it is a sanctioned sport with certified referees, athletic commissions, governing bodies and professional athletes sponsored by such companies as Burger King, Nike, Under Armor and more.

He further suggested in his letter that BJJ is not a “legitimate” martial art; however, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which has its roots in Judo is the fastest growing martial art in the world.

Its governing body is the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. It is a sanctioned part of the Pan-American Games, World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as well as the American, Canadian and European national championship to mention just a few.

In regards to his opinion on Ninjutsu; one only needs to do a quick Internet search to see how wrong he is.

If he had attended even one of our classes he would have realized our tot classes are all about fun and positive peer reinforcement. Our goal in working with children this young is teaching them respect and getting them used to a class environment.

Unless you find the playing of “duck, duck, goose” somehow threatening I don’t think any of these children will become “conditioned into the violence of a blood sport at three or four will program a child into becoming an instrument of violence unrecognizable to a loving parent and a danger to society at large as they have learned right from infancy only one way to resolve conflict,” as he so eloquently stated in his letter.

Based on his thinking Trail should be one of the more violent communities in the Kootenays as Pride Gym has been teaching “blood sports” for quite some time now, decades in fact, it’s a wonder the streets aren’t rampant with roving gangs of Pride Gym Ninja Assassins.

Ironically, the RCMP, School Board Trustees, City Councilors as well as thousands of former students and parents have personally thanked Pride Gym for their commitment to the youth of our community and keeping kids off the streets and drugs and in school.

I will not respond to any more of Mr. Hutcheson’s letters publicly as I find that distasteful and not particularly fruitful, nor honorable. However, if in the future he has any concerns with my conduct inside or outside of the gym I would be more than willing to sit down with him and a third party of his choice to discuss ways of correction. I can be contacted here info@pridegym.ca.

Corey Colwell

Trail