Confidence, discipline and self-esteem

Times Reporter    

 

Master Mckenzie, owner and instructor of Victory Martial Arts, is a seventh Dan Black Belt, and has been practicing self-defense for 28 years. He’s using his expertise to assist 60 participants in Strathmore twice a week at Westmount Elementary School – from 3-years-old all the way up to 50.

“Age doesn’t matter. Usually I tell them, if you can go up the stairs, that’s a start,” Mckenzie said. “It’s good fitness. It’s good for health, focus, and coordination. Discipline and self-esteem are the biggest things we push with the kids.”

Mckenzie says his students can use Korean Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, and kick boxing for lots of things.

“You can put it on a resume. People can trust them because they’re supposed to be honest,” he said. “We just have to push them to be better. Some of them are still kids but it’s a good thing for them.”

Mckenzie also runs Victory Martial Arts in Calgary five times a week. In Strathmore, the program runs similar to the school year, from September to June. 

“In school, you should see the difference. They improve,” Mckenzie said of his students. “In the start, kids are kids. They are shy and scared because this is something new. But usually, I tell the parents, you will tell me later (how they’ve changed).”

Master Mckenzie’s students begin their lessons with 20 minutes of exercise, and then proceed into the basic drills of kicks, punches, and other self-defense moves. Students are tested every three months, allowing them to upgrade their belt colours; they begin with white, move to yellow, and earn all the way up to black (which can take up to five years).

“We like to wait and see after a year how they’re progressing with their self-esteem and confidence,” Mckenzie said.