Gerry Campbell is marking a couple of milestones this year, and the local sensei is inviting former students to join in the celebration.
Campbell, owner of Severn Karate Dojo, earned his black belt 40 years ago and began teaching karate in the area 35 years ago.
He opened his first dojo in 1985 in downtown Orillia. He has operated out of his current location, at 1084 Brodie Dr., Unit 3, Severn Township, since 2015.
When Campbell was looking for ways to celebrate those anniversaries, some former students suggested a reunion, so that’s what he decided to do. It will take place Sept. 26 at the Geneva Event Centre from 7 p.m. to midnight. It will feature a dinner and dance and will be catered by Melanie Robinson, of Eclectic Café.
“People who trained in judo or karate or Little Dragons will be able to reach out and reconnect with their friends,” Campbell said. “I’d really like to touch base with some of these people. When you’re a karate instructor, you meet a lot of people and they move on. I want to reconnect with as many of them as possible.”
That desire became stronger as Campbell began attending celebrations of life for some of his former students, where he and others would say, “Let’s do this again under better circumstances.”
“I have a lot of fond memories of my students, so it would be nice to see each other while we’re still functional,” he said.
Campbell got into karate at a young age.
“I got into fights as a kid and my mom had hoped that I would settle down if I got involved in karate, and I did. It was a life-changing experience,” said Campbell, who was also “fascinated” with Bruce Lee. “I thought, ‘Who is this little guy who can kick down steel doors? I want to do that.’”
He quickly learned karate was about much more than strength and fighting.
“We’re all pursuing a common goal. Everybody is trying to be a better person, a more fit person,” he said.
He has been passing those life lessons on to students of all ages, including the three- to five-year-olds in his Little Dragons program.
“I was resistant to it at first because I didn’t want to be a babysitter, but I started it 12 years ago and it just took off,” he said. “I’m hoping the parents I got to know also want to attend (the reunion). The relationships I build aren’t only with the kids, but the parents, too.”
Campbell’s reunion weekend will be extra special. James Pankiewicz, of Dojo Bar in Okinawa, Japan, will be in town during his first visit to Canada to offer seminars and teach karate at Campbell’s dojo Sept. 25 and 26.
“I’m thrilled to be the first to bring James to Canada. He’s pretty well known in the karate world,” said Campbell, who has gotten to know Pankiewicz during visits to Okinawa over the past eight years.
Anyone who trains in martial arts — whether it’s at Campbell’s dojo or elsewhere — is welcome to attend those sessions.
Tickets to the Sept. 26 reunion cost $60. To purchase them, or for more information, contact Campbell at [email protected] or 705-325-5445.
More information about Campbell and his dojo can be found here.
