In the world of karate, has earned more black belts than most others who are alive and kicking.

The Surrey resident, a master of the martial art, has practised karate for more than five decades, and still teaches at a dojo in Langley.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been at it since 1965, so we香蕉视频直播檙e looking at around 54 years now,香蕉视频直播� Owens recalled.

As a rare ninth-degree black belt, or , with and others, he香蕉视频直播檚 still at the top of his game.

香蕉视频直播淚n this organization, the JKA,香蕉视频直播� he said, 香蕉视频直播渢he highest at one time was a ninth-degree black belt, because you can香蕉视频直播檛 get your 10th until you die, so I don香蕉视频直播檛 want the 10th,香蕉视频直播� he explained with a laugh.

香蕉视频直播淪ome of the rules have changed a bit, but ninth, to me, is the highest while you香蕉视频直播檙e still alive.香蕉视频直播�

During his 71 spins around the sun, Owens has also earned a significant number of certificates, awards and accolades from several karate associations around the globe, and has learned from some masters of the martial art.

Twice a week, as chief instructor, Owens brings those Shotokan karate skills and knowledge to a dojo in Langley operated by , in the .

It香蕉视频直播檚 a long way from East Vancouver, where Owens was raised, grew to love karate and also worked as a police officer, starting in 1981 and ending with a 28-year career with the VPD.

香蕉视频直播淚 was about 33 when I joined the police force,香蕉视频直播� he explained, 香蕉视频直播渟o when I got out of the academy, I started the police dojo a year later, around 1982.

香蕉视频直播淚 just wanted to get the police (officers) involved, and a number of them joined and worked their way through, right up to black belt,香蕉视频直播� Owens added, proudly.

In those days, he worked in Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside, among other beats, and grew familiar with the gangs and thugs who frequented the area.

Earlier, on the mean streets of the mid-香蕉视频直播�60s, learning karate was a no-brainer for Owens.

香蕉视频直播淲ell, I grew up in East Van 香蕉视频直播� that says it all right there,香蕉视频直播� he said with a laugh. 香蕉视频直播淲e got into lots of scraps and so forth, so I started off looking for a better way. I was always successful but you know, you always get hurt somehow when you香蕉视频直播檙e fighting people, but I was looking for something where maybe I didn香蕉视频直播檛 get hurt so much, you know. I looked at everything 香蕉视频直播� kung fu, different karate styles, but they didn香蕉视频直播檛 really suit my personality, but then I found my instructor now, Hiroo Yamashiro, and that was it.

香蕉视频直播淭he interesting part is,香蕉视频直播� he added, 香蕉视频直播淚 was fortunate to train with some of the great masters that started the JKA, like (Jun) Sugano and , the head of it, and with , their technical director. Most people may not know these names but, you know, anybody in the karate world sure does.香蕉视频直播�

Today, Owens is vice-president of World Japan Karate Association, and takes seriously his role of teaching others.

香蕉视频直播淵ears ago an instructor said to me, you have to understand that you香蕉视频直播檙e getting older and you have to pass it on and take that responsibility,香蕉视频直播� Owens explained. 香蕉视频直播淎nd really now I understand that relationship, as a senior person you need the credentials to be able to grade people and have them respect it. I started to accept that over time.香蕉视频直播�

At age 71, Owens remains active in the dojo but, like anyone, he香蕉视频直播檚 not as young as he used to be.

香蕉视频直播淚 thought I was 21 the other day so I香蕉视频直播檓 limping a little bit today,香蕉视频直播� he said recently.

香蕉视频直播淚 still have a group of students,香蕉视频直播� Owens continued, 香蕉视频直播渁nd one thing I always tell them is, it香蕉视频直播檚 great to have all the accolades and certificates and be accepted by your peers 香蕉视频直播� wonderful, actually 香蕉视频直播� but karate is the practice, and so I still practice every single day. I have a small dojo upstairs in my house, and so I香蕉视频直播檓 there a lot.

香蕉视频直播淎s for teaching, the rule is, for every hour you teach you should put two hours of practice in, going over it, and you have to do that. I still put in an hour every day, but sometimes I end up doing two hours or more, just because you get into it, and I love it. You have to learn, because you can get sloppy. I have a group of friends and we still get together and practice, and every week one person has the job to criticize everybody else, and we all have input. The problem is, once you get to my rank, nobody wants to criticize you. That香蕉视频直播檚 just the culture of karate.香蕉视频直播�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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