United by Karate: A Team Journey to Japan
by Nicoleta Sobraneschi and Nicholas Brand Reyes
Some experiences in life leave a deeper mark than others. For some, it's achieving a unique goal, and for others, it's a once-in-a-lifetime journey. For the athletes of the Plateau Residents' Association, both apply. As one of our athletes, Nicholas Brand Reyes, notes: "For me, the experience in Japan was an excellent opportunity." The other athletes agreed. Japan was more than just a tourist trip--it was a turning point in our lives as athletes.
The renowned Wado-Kai International Cup 2025, a karate competition held every five years, was the main event of our trip. Our team of competitors--Dominic Julien, Tristan Hagman, Nicoleta Sobraneschi, Nicholas Brand Reyes--and our coach, Sensei Simon Raybould, represented Canada alongside teammates from Alberta and British Columbia, including Norma Foster, president of JKF Wado Kai Canada, who received an award of excellence for her contribution to the sport and its development. Not to mention Chloë Raybould, who won a bronze medal in her team kumite division alongside her teammates Danae Fell and Ethan Strohbach. Seeing our team and other competitors in our karate style unite at such a high level of competition was an incredible feeling that made us proud of the work we do at our dojo. It's fair to say that the experience gained during the competition was both valuable and enriching. In addition, we formed important connections with people from around the world, including England, Ireland, the United States, and our friends from Serbia, notably Tanja Petrovic, who visited our training camp in Niagara Falls in May.
Our dojo also greatly benefited from participating in a variety of training sessions and the Technical Seminar of the International Cup, a highlight of our stay. We had the chance to meet many renowned Japanese Senseis, each of whom shared a portion of their knowledge. Through these trainings, we experienced immersion in teaching styles unique to Japanese dojos and followed routines we had never practiced before. During daily training, we also practiced with other members of our style from around the world. The atmosphere was overflowing with a thirst for learning, as we could all learn not only from the Senseis but also from each other. During the Technical Seminar, two dojo athletes, Nicholas Brand Reyes and Tristan Hagman, also had a unique opportunity: a black belt examination before a Japanese panel. This demanding test determines if one meets Japanese expectations as Canadian karatekas. Both demonstrated exemplary performance for their current level of knowledge. For his part, our Sensei, Simon Raybould, took an instructor exam, which he successfully passed with distinction.
In conclusion, our involvement in these events allowed us to gain knowledge that will help us grow as individuals and athletes. This approach, embracing a new way of doing things, helped us see the sport from a different perspective for which we are grateful. This year also marks an important milestone for our karate program, which celebrates 15 years of existence. Since the beginning, we have faced difficult periods, notably the pandemic, but being here, stronger than ever, is a true source of pride. May this be just the beginning of many more years to come.
