Gentle Karate Champion

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To tell you the truth, NICO’s daughter was born in Senegal, Africa. I feel gratitude and fondness toward the land and people of Senegal, to such an extent that I would like to give birth in Senegal again if I get another chance to have a child.

The spirit of hospitality is common among Senegalese and it is called “teranga” in their native language. Actually I met this “teranga” again in this Montreal!

This month’s nice guy in Montreal is Mr. Gabriel SYLLA, a former Karate Champion from Senegal. Because he has won 5 times in the Canadian Championships, I had been imagining him as a tough guy before meeting him. However, the person that appeared in front of me was a polite and quiet-mannered gentleman with gentle smile. He was perfect to be called “Mr. Teranga.”

Gabriel-san started Karate at the age of 9. He was born in Morocco, moved to Ethiopia and again to Senegal, where he started to practice Karate in Dakar. It didn’t take so long before he could feel opponents’ movements slow and anticipate his next movement easily. His talent is real.

Incidentally, his brother was a Judo Champion in Africa. Both brothers together walked the path of Japanese Martial Arts. He came to Montreal to study at university, and 25 years had passed before he was aware. Currently, he coaches the Quebec team, who are developing their real ability rapidly.

He also used to teach Karate to children for 10 years. With children, he taught them how to concentrate and how to use their body rather than the techniques of Karate. It seems like
Gabriel-san’s Karate education is endlessly wide and deep.

As such his educational attitude is truly seen in his sports training. The students Gabriel-san teaches are various – some are wishing to loose weight, others want to be a fire fighter, to be a professional Canoe athlete, to be a Karateka, and so on. Firstly, Gabriel-san observes the spirit of a student and then gives appropriate instructions to each individual.

Gabriel-san’s multi talent is not limited to martial arts. He is also a professional base guitar player. In Martial Arts and Arts, he has common elements – breathing method and passion. On the other side of his gentle smile, he has burning passion, which seems to flow from abdominal breathing, to all his heart and mind and strength.

Gabriel-san’s dream is to open a multipurpose institution, where a wide variety of arts – martial arts, fitness, massage, get-togethers, shares and positive influence can be found under one roof. His wife, a professional masseuse, and his new born baby daughter are supporting his dream come true. And NICO knows that his multipurpose institution will be a gathering place of “teranga.”

Gentle and serious. Through his smile, Gabriel-sensei teaches both sides of a coin – gentle and strong, and soft and hard.