Bak

Bak's School of Martial Arts

Black Belt Biographys.

Sensei Gary Napper

My introduction to Karate began with Sensei Herb Hoenig in Hanover and later in Kincardine with Sensei Denis "Rock" Fry . When Bak's Karate opened in 1981 I began training with Sensei John. At that time I was a yellow belt, the highest rank in the club. I have the privilege of being an original student and the first person to achieve a black belt though Bak's Karate. Receiving my black belt (Shodan) from Kyoshi Bill Hind on August 1st,1987 has been one of the highlights of my life.

Under the guidance (And patience) of Renshi John, I have achieved my Nidan - 2nd degree, Sandan - 3rd degree and Yondan - 4th degree black belt ranks. Renshi John has also introduced us to Kyusho Jitsu which compliments and confirms the excellence of our Goju style of Karate. I have also received my Shodan rank in this discipline.

It has been a privilege to watch the Canada Goju Association under the leadership of our friend Kyoshi Bill Hind grow from four clubs when I began with the Canada Goju Association to over thirty clubs spread across Canada.

I will be forever grateful for the positive aspects the Canada Goju Association has had on my life and for the friendships I have formed the through this Association. Also to my Renshi and good friend Renshi John Bak -"You could never have a better friend than Renshi John."

Gary Napper, Yondan

Sensei Al Zettler

My biography is not mine! it's you ! I always dreamed of being a martial artist and finally on my 39th birthday, I walked into your dojo, never expecting a relationship that we would develop and continue to enjoy. The training was very rigorous. I used to run for miles in all kinds of weather. I developed strength, self-discipline and confidence I never knew I had. I trained frequently and hard but loved every minute of it. The sweat came easily, the katas were loud and the friendships I made have been ever lasting. I was worn out at the end of each training session, but I felt as though my mind and body were working as one. I went to bed many times with so many aches and bruises, I'd be in tears, but I kept going back. I guess I was a lot tougher than I realized. The determination was very strong. Even after all these years, karate is constantly on my mind. I have physical strength and self-confidence. I think the course teaches students enough capability, confidence and awareness to do something right away, if they need to. To be finally graded by Kyoshi Bill Hind was an absolute honour and intimidating at the same time. I am happy and privileged to have been able to participate at Bak's Karate. The people I consider my closest friends are those I trained with at Bak's Karate and I will treasure their friendships always. Thank you, John, for helping make me a stronger man.

Sensei Joseph John Bak

Started my training in the town of Walkerton in the late eighties at the age of nine or ten. Received my Shodan from Kyoshi William "Bill" Hind and the Canada Goju Karate Association at the age of sixteen. At present I hold the rank of Sandan (Third degree.) Future plans are to continue training, help at the Dojo and work towards my next Dan ranking.

Sensei Carl Cameron

Sensei Carl started training with Bak's Karate in 1992(ish?) when the club was still in Walkerton . The club moved to Hanover and he was able to expand his training times. The increase in available training helped Carl earn his Black Belt in 1998 and then his Nidan (Second degree) in 2004 . Currently Carl is training in Kyusho Jitsu under Renshi Bak and Sensei Steve Stewart . Carl is a police officer with 25 years experience . He can attest to the fact the training received at Bak's Karate has enhanced both his abilities as a police officer and his physical well-being.

Sensei Matt Sarhangi

My original martial arts training began in my home country of Iran. I earned the rank of brown belt in Shotokan karate. It was always my intention to continue training in karate but unfortunately life was disrupted in my homeland. I was fortunate to be able to come to Canada and in 1998 I found a karate school to my liking. I met Bak sensei and was introduced to Canada Goju Karate Association. In 2001 Kyoshi Bill Hind awarded me my Shodan and in 2003 I was promoted to Nidan. I have also achieved the rank of Shodan in Kyusho Jitsu from George Dillman sensei. My instructors in Kyusho are Steve Stewart sensei and Bak sensei.

Sensei Suzi Blackburn

Suzi Blackburn, Sensei.....where do I start? I guess the beginning would be a good place.. ..First the basics. I have lived in Hanover all of my life...sounds kind of sad but I love living here, I know lots of people, they know me (sometimes that's good, sometimes bad. ...) I have two beautiful children, Chase 8 and Sierra 3. Myself, I'm old enough to know better...and much too young to care... I work at Meridian Credit Union in Owen Sound and enjoy my job. I work with a great bunch of people who are my second family, we even fight like that.....but we always make up....Karate - my life with karate started back in July 1996. I worked at a restaurant with a great friend, Lori Karcher , aka Cobra. We were sitting around one night at work and she got on the subject of karate. She had just joined and I had never heard anyone talk so adamantly about anything as she did about karate. I asked some questions and she told me to come with her one night. And as they say, the rest is history. I had the best time. I met new people; got some much needed exercise and had a goal to work towards....my black belt. I was pregnant with Chase when I got my yellow belt and orange belt. I was so dedicated that I was training the night before I went into labour with him. I remember joking with Sensei Darryl that night about how funny it would be if my water broke and he had to clean it up....ok, a little gross but if you know me you'd understand....Went back to training a couple weeks after Chase was born and worked my way up the ranks. Then it was my time to go for my Shodan....I was lucky enough to be graded with two other wonderful people, Dunja Loncar, Sensei and Matt Saranghi, Sensei. It just seemed easier with someone else being in the same boat as me. We all did well and received our shodan rank June 3, 2001. Then I was on to my next goal.. ..one more child. I wasn't as intense training while I was pregnant with Sierra. I got to class but socializing overcame training more often than it should have. Again, if you knew me, you'd understand....I did train as much as I could with being pregnant and looking after a 4 year old at home and on April 2, 2002 I had a beautiful little girl. I again started training a little harder a few weeks after her birth....had to get rid of that extra weight....and went for my Nidan in November 2003. This grading was special to me because I got to receive my rank in my (well Renshi John's) dojo. Another milestone in my life. I am currently working toward my Sandan, keeping busy looking after two active children. I thank Renshi John for everything he has done for me. He'll kill me for saying this but I consider him a second much younger father. He is always there to help, whether it's to learn a new kata or hook up an icemaker. I don't know where I'd be without his help and just know you are always appreciated. I could go on about every other sensei in the club and how much they've helped but I would be writing forever. I will however give a big thanks to Gary, Darryl, Joe, Matt and John for helping me move last year. I owe you all a lot..you're not getting anything but know that I will be there if you move...please, please don't move... You all know who you are and know that you are appreciated as well. I look forward to furthering my karate with my third family. Along my journey's I have also trained with many special people. Top of my list of course would be Kyoshi Bill Hind. He has taught me a lot and I try to pass on what I learn from him.....except the song...sorry Bill can't sing it as well as you. There is also Sensei Steve Stewart. I have my shodan in Kyusho Jitsu and am continuing my learning. Sensei Stewart is a great man with a vast knowledge and I can only hope to learn and retain a quarter of what he knows.

Sensei Dunja Loncar

I began my training at Bak's Karate in late 1996. I joined with my little Sister and Mom and it soon became a family sport. The more that my training progressed the more I wanted to learn. As my knowledge grew my confidence and self-esteem were lifted. Karate is not only a great from of exercise but it also strengthens your mind and gives you the confidence you would lack in crucial situations. I attended many tournaments and seminars and never left without learning something new, the learning process is endless. After years of training and what now seem like endless push ups (Ha ha) and practice I attained the level of Sensei in June 2002. I achieved my Black Belt and was able to teach classes at that point. Being able to pass along the things that I learned from Renshi John is a very rewarding experience. I achieved my Black Belt and I gained a Karate family from Bak's Karate along the way. Nothing beats that !

Sensei Deri Russell

I began my training in January 1997, I was 35. I joined with my daughters Jordan who was 6 at the time and Justyne who was 4 (going on 16). I joined to be able to share the sport with my girls, to get fit, and to learn a little more about martial arts. My younger sister had taken another type of Karate and it had always interested me. Working with Renshi John has been an incredible learning experience. I have enormous respect for the man as well as all the other senseis within our dojo and the Canada Goju Ryu Association, particularly Kyoshi Bill Hind.Because of my training with Renshi I had achieved my 2nd Kyu in time to start training with the blackbelts when they began the first classes that were attended in Kyusho Jitsu in 2002. We traveled to London monthly to train with Sensei Steve Stewart, 8^th Dan. Another man I have great respect for. I received my Shodan (1^st degree) blackbelt in Kyusho Jitsu on Oct.1^st 2003 in Pennsylvania, and my Shodan in Goju Ryu 6 weeks later on Nov 15^th 2003 in our home Dojo in Hanover. It was extremely hard work.On the 24^th of March 2005 I received the necessary attunements and completed the courses and assembled the knowledge to acquire my 3^rd Degree in Usui Shiki Ryoho. (Reiki) I graded to Nidan (2^nd degree) in June 2006 at the hombu Dojo in Toronto. I hope to continue to enjoy training and the teaching has added an entire new perspective. My journey has carried me a long way, but it is a much longer road ahead.

Sensei Joanne Murphy

As far back as I can remember I have had a fascination with martial arts. It always seemed to be calling me. I would stop what I was doing if Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris were on television and marvel at what they could do, and how could I do it. Of course my brothers would say, "girls cannot do karate", and I thought why not? So over the years I pursued other sporting interests. I thought provincial volleyball would be the high point of my athletic life, but always in the back of my mind was karate. I pursued my nursing career as well as coaching theory thinking, I would coach a volleyball team. Alas, life happens and I married and moved to Bruce County and married a wonderful understanding man.
My karate life started like Sensei Deri, taking the kids and watching at the back. Finally I stepped onto the dojo floor in 2001 and after many bumps and bruises I was honoured with the rank of shodan in 2006. I can tell you that it was not an easy road and Renshi John received a few grey
hairs preparing me for my day, but I can honestly tell you that it was a journey I would take again. The most valuable thing Renshi John has taught
me is the mind is stronger than the body. My thanks also go to Sensei Gary who like Renshi are the roots to our club. I have made many friends
from other clubs who also have enriched my karate life.My goals for the future are to continue in karate and hopefully see my
children be successful in their pursuit of the karate-ka .

Sensei Doug Avery

I was like many of those people who had long had an interest in the martial arts but always found excuses not to train. Well in November of 2002 that all changed when during another uprising of the interest in me I found the Canada Goju Karate Association web site and the link on it to Bak's Karate in Hanover. I called Renshi John and went to see him . He impressed me immediately as did the atmosphere in his dojo and I signed up that night. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute since, though some were a tad painful. In late 2004 Renshi Bak was kind enough to allow me to join a Kyusho Jitsu study group led by Sensei Steve Stewart and in December 2005 I was awarded my shodan in kyusho. The biggest day of my martial arts career came on December 2nd 2007 when I was passed to shodan by Kyoshi Bill Hind of the Canada Goju Karate Association . I would like to publicly thank Kyoshi Hind for the association , also my fellow students, all the sensei who have helped me on my journey and especially Renshi John Bak for his undying support , leadership and friendship.

Sensei Norm Boyington

To say that my son Caleb likes hockey is an understatement. So back in 2003, just before that hockey season began, I was put in the difficult position of having to remove him from hockey. My job, that had allowed me the flexibility to get him to all the games and practices now did not. So now Vicky and myself were left with what to do now. After much anguish and searching, we decided to give Bak's Karate a call. Both Vicky and myself had some experience with people that had trained there, so we felt quite sure that enrolling Caleb would be a good thing. Anyway, I did give Renshi Bak a call one evening in late September of 2003, and there's been no looking back. I remember my first night of karate like it was yesterday. Sensei Darryl was leading the class. We began with the warm up.... Now before I say much more, I have to say that I was in excess of 330 pounds (no that is not a typo).... Anyhow, we started with the jumping jacks... and more jumping jacks. I believe that I might have lost a belt size by the time the workout was over. We then started into some open sparring. My first fight that evening was with Sensei Doug Avery, who was a green belt at the time. He was very encouraging and told me that I did very well (he's a very nice man, but I think he lies a little). I thought that I was a pretty good fighter before that fight, but by the end of it I came to the realization that a person with even a small amount of training has a huge advantage. I believed that I would never be able to fight like Sensei Doug. The last part of that class was spent with Renshi John. We started working on Sanchin Kata, part way through the lesson he told me to make myself strong, to flex my arms and try to resist what he was about to do to me. He put me down to my knees with one finger and his other free hand, simply by bending my wrist, and there wasn't a darn thing that I could do about it. There has been a lot of lessons like that over the years. Needless to say I needed some work.... It's now December of 2008. I still need to lose some weight but I'm weighing in at 250 pounds now. I am stronger, a tiny bit wiser, and have a world of more energy. I still need a lot of work. My life in Karate is still an ongoing thing; but for now I have achieved my first rank of Black Belt. Thanks to all of the Sensei's at Bak's Martial Arts for being patient with me when I was not being so patient with them. Thank you most of all to Renshi John Bak, who I am sure has wanted more than once to throw his arms up in the air and tell me to take up something less demanding, something like knitting. You have been a most excellent teacher and I am honored to be your student. Thank you so much for not losing faith in me.

Your student, Norm Boyington

Sensei Vicky Boyington

I did not want to start karate. I did not believe I could do it. Thankfully there are those who will believe in you when you cannot believe in yourself. I started training in the fall of 2003. In Nov. 2008 I received my black belt. The 4 years between taught me things I never knew I could do. Not just physically but mentally as well. Karate is a personal discipline, training at your own speed and capabilities to stretch yourself to new levels. Yet without the assistance, encouragement and challenge of others I never would have succeeded. Becoming a sensei opens a new challenge to teach as well as I have been taught. I look forward to this challenge as well as hopefully adding new milestones to this biography as I continue to learn.

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