Hi folks.
My name is Richard Laveille but my friends call me Rick.
I am 43 years old and have just recently been awarded the Rokudan by my Sensei; Shihan Sensei Shintani.
Along with this, I am honoured to accept Sensei’s request, to sit as a member of the newly formed Senate.
I was born and raised in Northern Ontario, in the town of Wawa, on the north shore of Lake Superior. I’ve been married to my Laurie for 24 years, and together we’ve raised three beautiful girls. Actually they are women now, time sure flies. I love the outdoors, and spend much of my free time fishing, hunting and camping. Laurie and I brought up our girls the same way, spending most of our summers at the lake.
Thanks to Sensei Danny McCoy, and Sensei Bruce Perkins, I’ve rediscover another old passion of mine, skiing. I had such a good time out in Edmonton last year, I can’t wait to go back. The people out there are great, and the karate is awesome! Karate remains my biggest passion, and I consider myself fortunate to have met Sensei Shintani. I believe he is one of the greatest Senseis of the world today and a perfect example of a true Karate man. Sensei Danny McCoy and I earned our Black Belts together, and together, built the club in Wawa. Sensei Bruce Perkins, a life long friend of mine, was a student of ours, and one that we are very proud of.
I was asked for my views on the direction of Shintani Karate Federation. It’s been said that in order to see the future, you have to know the past. When I started karate, we had to travel hundred of miles to get instruction. Now, the Shintani Federation has dojos all across the country. Now, we travel to visit and share our experience. In the early 70’s, karate clubs were isolated and far and technique varied from club to club. Thanks to Sensei Shintani, a karateka can travel anywhere in the country and practice the same karate were taught at home. In those early years, we could look forward to competing in one or two tournaments a year. With the growth that has taken place in our Federation, a student can compete monthly if they have the resources to travel.
The formation of the Shintani Competition Team has created the opportunity for our members to compete nationally, and internationally. I look at this as a group of ambassadors who will bring us closer together and generate the goodwill, and competitive spirit we need to show the worked. We have already begun the process of expanding internationally. This team represents the next step in the process. With the advent of international recognition comes endless possibilities, as vast as your imagination.
Sensei Shintani has devoted his life to the teaching of Ohtsuka Shihan’s Way. He has given this heritage to all of us through his teaching and by example. The essence of Sensei Shintani’s teaching is one of spiritual development. Honesty, loyalty, respect, and mutual cooperation are the basis of true strength. Make these virtues a part of your life and we as an organization will be able to anything we set our minds to.
In my mind, our main direction should be to focus on all the good things we see in our organization, and as a group, find ways to share these with the rest of the world. With the current changes to the structure of our organization that Sensei has set in motion, every member will have the opportunity to help with the improvement of the Shintani Karate Federation. I look forward to your input. Our future looks very bright.
Winter 1997/1998
Volume 2 - Issue 1
