Amelie

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

It’s something that will stay with her for ages to come. Because Kyokushin can be practiced as a sport. For her, its a lifestyle she can incorporate into how she acts and responds to things outside of the dojo. She dances on the side which she enjoys just as much. But, she tells me often that dance is a hobby, something to enjoy for the foreseeable future, but karate, is something that will last forever, until she can no longer keep up. After that she’ll teach full-time for younger generations.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

Her biggest inspiration is her dad. He started his journey 30 years ago and wanted to include his kids. At first, she didn’t enjoy it at all. But it grew on her, especially when her twin brother decided to join her. They both would compete against each other, who could do the most pushups? Who has better flexibility? She ended up very close to both and decided to pursue their dreams of making Kyokushin a universal community, something that everyone enjoys, even if they have zero experience.

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

She competed in the International North American Championships where she got 1st place, being 1 of only 2 Canadians who brought home a trophy. She was also the only female competitor from the Canadian team. This victory showed me how much dedicated and determination that she puts into Kyokushin. It’s inspired many of her students to do the same which I know makes her proud as much as she made me. We’re both looking forward to taking this win and become selected for the 2027 World Cup in Japan.