Bamboo Tiger Karate

We are now officially at the Ferris Family Karate dojo. Please make sure you register if you haven’t already done so. Again I would like to thank everyone for your support over the last few years.

It’s ironic that my first students were the Argues and the last man standing during the last class was Coleson Argue. Thank you guys for being amazing, for always supporting Bamboo tiger and for following us on our new journey! It’s been bitter sweet but it’s not the end, it’s just the beginning! Thank you Jaycen Argue for the pics, and Joy Berthiaume Argue for the amazing friendship!

Last two classes at Bamboo are Monday and Tuesday!! Thursday class is at Ferris Family Karate! After that we will permanently join the Ferris Family!! It’s been an awesome few years as Bamboo Tigers! I’m proud of each and everyone of you and happy that I had the experience! Thank you to all the families and friends that have supported us throughout the years. This is just the beginning!

Sensei Rhonda will be out of town Thursday, therefore we will be training at Ferris Family Karate at 6:00 pm family and 7:00 adult! Have fun!!

We are putting together a order for uniforms and sparring gear if anyone needs anything let Sensei Brad know

Hey everyone tonight’s classes are at Ferris Family Karate at 6-7 pm and adult class 7-8!
Sensei Brad will see you there!!!!!

A black belt is just a white belt that never gave up.

Hey everyone!! Hope the slow intro to Ferris Family karate is going well for everyone 🙂 keep in mind we are still open until the 26! This week all classes are at Bamboo 🙂

Tomorrow we are at Ferris Family karate at 6:00pm! Adult class at 7:00 pm! Or both if your 14 and up! :))

Dear Friends and Family of Bamboo Tiger Karate,

It has been an amazing journey, and one that I never thought would be possible for many years. Owning a dojo to call home was hard work but also very rewarding and enjoyable! I have made many new friends along the way that will last for years to come. Teaching your children has been an adventure, and to watch them grow into amazing students has been an exciting part of the last three years or more.

Since 1993 I have been a student and a teacher in the martial arts and have studied numerous different styles. There were many reasons I took up the arts and since then I have used and applied karate to my everyday life. I have never had to use my martial arts in a defense situation but it has taught me patience, control, respect, success, humbleness, kindness, and many other attributes. I hope that my students and my fellow martial arts family have all learned something from their time at Bamboo Tiger Karate.

As we merge into a new dojo, some of the students and also parents will be unsure, and adapting will be difficult at times. I assure you that Sensei Andre Leblond is a most highly respected Sensei in North Bay and I have learned along side of this amazing person and will continue to grow through his new dojo, Ferris Family Karate. Sensei Andre is now taking on a new adventure with his own dojo and I am very honoured that he has welcomed our Bamboo Tigers with open arms.

I am proud of all of my students from white belt to black belt! I have seen many earn the position of Sensei and they have all worked hard and earned their titles. I am very thankful for everyone’s support! Parents, thank you for supporting Bamboo Tiger and supporting your children by driving them to their classes and cheering them on at tournaments or during their gradings! Thank you for the years of friendship! Without your continued support we could not have kept the doors open.

There are a few people who I believe need to be mentioned that have played an important part of Bamboo Tiger Karate. Sensei Chris Workman who provided us with the mats and other equipment at the dojo so that we had the necessary tools to improve our skills and keep our bodies safe. He also gave us the Shireken system to be graded under and provided us with his amazing knowledge as well during some of our classes. Sensei Chris always had Bamboo Tiger under his wing and has supported the club from the beginning.

Sensei Bradly Boughner has spent many hours at the dojo teaching and volunteering his time to come in early to warm the dojo up in the winter and assisted with classes. He has spent countless hours cleaning, fixing issues, and doing a lot of things that many of you didn’t see. Sensei Brad has also become a different person because of his martial arts training and I am proud to say that he is my student and will hopefully carry on the knowledge he has learned from all of his teachers.

Sensei Stephanie Van Doleweerd, Bamboo Tiger’s first Black belt! Sensei Steph is a ninja and has taken care of Bamboo Tiger’s web page for the last three years. She may have been plagued with injury but her training and patience helped to put up with me and my lack of progression on my own website.
There are so many people that have helped along the way and I really appreciate everything that all of you have done for our dojo. Although martial arts will always be a part of me, it’s time for me to shut the doors to Bamboo Tiger Karate without any regret but with pride that it was possible.

To my husband Steve (who I met at a dojo) and my family. Thank you for staying home and dog sitting or looking after their younger sisters while I was away. My family has always been a wonderful support and have always encouraged me to keep at it!

Ferris Family Karate will be our new home as of the End of March and I hope that everyone will continue to train and to grow and to become better people and martial artists. Things will be different but I have given each of the students more than enough to begin their new journey.

Sensei Bradly and I will be there as much as possible to ensure that everyone is comfortable and that each student begins to feel at home while they meet other students and instructors.
Once again thank you to all who have supported us over the years and I know we will all be in touch and will continue our life long friendships. The end is just the beginning!

Renshi Rhonda Gillard

Tomorrow is Family Day!!! No karate 🥋 classes!!

I would like to put something out here on this group.
When we invite a special guest to our dojo, we often take pictures to commemorate that particular coach or Sensei. This signifies the knowledge that we learnt and hopefully carry on that wisdom to everyone else. I still have all my pictures and I’m proud of those who are in them with me.
I have been a student for many years under many great instructors my first being Twin Dragons kickboxing for two years, Marceau’s Martial Arts for ten years, Fusion Martial Arts for five years, 3 Fires for 2 years, Northern Tsunami Jiu Jitsu for a year, Phoenix Shaolin Wushu for two years, and hours of seminars from great instructors all over Canada! Now I’m a Sensei at my own Bamboo Tiger Karate.

Without all of these dojos I have learned in, how could I possibly be where I am today???? It’s sad to think that any of my teachers could possibly think that I don’t appreciate my teachings because I certainly do and I should be an MMA fighter by now with all that knowledge !!! I’m too old of course. I can run my dojo with a smorgasbord of information to my small family of students and they are able to take that and learn from it.
I’m not ashamed to say I trained with any of my teachers regardless of the current or past relationships. I have no problem saying I received my Black Belt at Marceau’s because it’s truth, and I put in many years there. I learned some solid lessons while training there . I also learned some solid lessons from 3 Fires and NTJJ. Whether it’s a 1 hour seminar or 10 years of training in one place it’s all very important to a martial artist. It’s time put in to better yourself and that’s important. When the student become the teacher then all of the teachers have done their jobs but the learning never ends! I’m not a perfect Sensei...but I am a humble one. My memory fails me now and I often have to reference the book or videos to help remember parts of a form and my body has failed me, therefore my kicks are no longer as strong. The reward in all of this is knowing that I had all those teachers to guide me a long the way and I can share that with my own students.
So thank you to all of you who took the time to bring me to where I am today.
Often times, we as Sensei’s; don’t get that appreciation and I want all of you to know that I do appreciate and I am grateful for your time.
Sensei Rhonda Gillard
Bamboo Tiger Karate.

Don’t forget tonight we are at Ferris Family Karate at 6:00 pm!!!

Thursday’s class will be at Ferris Family karate at 6:00 pm!!!

Tomorrow’s class will be at the Bamboo Tiger location same times as usual unless the weather is unfavourable! Freezing rain is in the forecast so be careful driving parents!

Classes are at the dojo tonight!!! Our regular place! 5-5:30 kickers and 5:30-7 youth n adults :)))

I hope everyone had fun on Thursday!! Sensei Andre was very impressed with everyone! You guys are amazing students!

Remember everyone!!! We are at Ferris Family Karate tonight on Lakeshore Drive!!! 6:00 Pm!! Make sure you have your belt and your full uniform with you!!!

Classes will be cancelled tonight!!! Due to the nature of of dojo the place will not be warm enough for our feet’s!!

Congratulations to Michaela Stitt on her green/blue belt and also to the Pascoe Parents, Mandie and Chris on their green belts!! Great job guys! Very well deserved!

Next Thursday January 24th all classes will be attending Ferris Family Karate at 6:00pm-7:00pm!! Please make sure you are there!! It’s time to introduce ourselves!

Tonight’s classes will be cancelled due to the impending storm we are about to have. Most of us drive from the outskirts of town so we will keep safe tonight!

Hope everyone had a great holiday! Back to regular classes next week!!! See you guys there!

Merry Christmas from Sensei Rhonda and Sensei Brad! Be safe Be happy and see you Thursday!

Holiday Schedule
Dec 24 Closed
Dec 25 Closed
Dec 27 5:00-7:00
Dec 31 Closed
January 1 Closed
January 3 5:00-7:00

Please note: As of December Monday classes will now switch to Tuesday’s!!! Little Kickers will be 5-5:30
Youth/Adult 5:30-7:30
There will be no more Monday classes unless you would like private lessons!

Sensei Bradly Boughner is doing well!! Bronze in continuous fighting!!

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Our own Sensei Bradly Boughner is here somewhere !!! Go Team Canada 🇨🇦!!