Sensei Gerry Campbell is often recognized in Orillia when he's going about his daily life.
That's because Campbell has been running a karate dojo in town for almost 40 years.
"I've had students that have been with me for 35 years," said Campbell, 67.
Over the years he's taught thousands of students in Okinawin Shorin Ryu karate, a traditional, non-sporting style of the ancient martial art.
Campbell has third-generation students. In one case, a mother who was a police officer came to train with her six-year-old son. He's now grown and has come back to the dojo to train with his son.
"The best part is having students come back 30 years later, shake my hand and say 'Hey Gerry thanks. I really got a lot out of it. It really helped me form my life," he said.
In February, Campbell will celebrate this 40th year of running a dojo in Orillia.
He opened Orillia Martial Arts Centre on Coldwater Street in 1985 and ran the business out of that location for 10 years. Then he moved it to Brammer Drive, where he taught for 20 years. He has been at the 1084 Brodie Dr. location, called Severn Karate, for almost 10 years as a one-man operation.
"It's a hard business," he said.
While the industry has moved toward mixed martial arts because of the rising popularity of UFC on television, Campbell is steadfast with a style that is 800 years old, developed by monks on the Okinawan islands off Japan.
"There aren't a lot of people like me left," he said.
However, in recent years, karate students from around the world have been flocking to Okinawa to train with traditional masters. Campbell has trained there on three occasions, each for a two-week period.
“It’s so busy, they’ve built municipal karate dojos to accommodate the massive influx of tourists coming in. Worldwide, karate is huge," said Campbell.
There are multiple differences between sport karate and traditional karate. A big one is that there are no competitions. There are no trophies at Severn Karate, he explains.
"You'd be surprised at how much business I get because of that," Campbell says. Students come to him because they want to train or because they want to avoid the competitive arena.
“There’s a lot of kids out there who have no interest in standing in front of 500 people and doing their thing,” he said.
“It’s more for self development. You are competing with yourself. You are trying to get better. It’s a work ethic and attitude,” Campbell said.
Christopher Carman came to study under Sensei Gerry when he was nine.
“I remember because I was terrified. I really liked being active, but I was shy, so I didn’t like any competition sports,” he said.
"This fit me perfectly because I got to be shy and be active around a peer group. It was really wonderful.”
Because students often work in teams, Carman learned how to communicate with people of all ages.
“It became an environment that shucked away the shyness.”
Carman continued to train and attained his junior black belt at the age of 12 and his senior black belt at 16. He trained until he started post-secondary school and a career as a builder and carpenter.
“I used to have re-occurring dreams that I was back at the dojo,” he said.
Years later, he ran into Campbell after he opened Severn Karate and Carman re-started his training.
“It is so funny because I’ve been back for eight years and the number of people I recognize who I used to train with as a kid and they are in the exact same circumstance as me, they have a job or they moved, and have come back," he said. “Some of them now have kids who have enroled in karate.”
Carman, who is a second-degree black belt, has been to Okinawa twice with Campbell to train with the masters.
"We were really proud of our accomplishments and style. Then we were really humbled by how much better they do it on the island."
Carman continues to train to express his individuality and to toughen up his body. Sometimes, he admits, he is "very tired" when he shows up at the dojo but says Sensei Gerry makes adjustments for his students.
"He's intuitive about what his students need but is still very disciplined. He's a gifted teacher that way," said Carman.
"He gets karate and karate gets him."
Campbell plans to continue teaching karate and running his dojo until his health gives out.
"He's there every single class. I don't think he's missed two classes in the eight years I've been back," said Carman.
For more information about Severn Karate, visit the website at severnkarate.ca or email the dojo at [email protected].
