Denise Cullen shares a strong connection with her daughter and grandchildren – on the karate mat.
Cullen, her daughter Jennifer Anderson and granddaughters Camille and Heidi Boileau are all Provincial Martial Art black belts and train with Salmon Arm’s Provincial Martial Association Arts.
Read more: Shuswap Total Fitness hosts S.A.F.E Society fundraiser
Read more: Salmon Arm senior wins bronze at Las Vegas karate tournament
“I’ve been in martial arts for 25 years and that’s so rare for a family to have three generations,” said PMA karate instructor Holly Raczynski.
For Cullen, the path into the karate world started when a sensei invited her to join her daughters class. When her daughter went to university, Cullen stayed with the sport.
“I felt that karate gave you something. The outcome was that I knew how to defend myself, I was physically fitter – it takes a lot of brainwork as well as athleticism,” said Cullen.
Read more: Karate life changing for Shuswap family
Read more: Shuswap karate instructor named international coach of the year
After deeming herself not busy enough, Cullen also started dancing and found the two activities influenced each other.
“With dancing it’s about movement, especially when you’re dancing in a class where you have to follow an instructor. It gives you rhythm and timing that helps with sparring in karate,” Cullen said.
Like Cullen, the biggest driver for her daughter and grandchildren learning karate was the self defence aspect. In 2018, Cullen competed in Las Vegas in the Ozawa Cup and placed third in forms. Her family has mainly competed in tournaments around Salmon Arm.
When Cullen isn’t in karate classes herself, she volunteers to teach classes when Raczynski is away. Cullen is also an instructor at Shuswap Total Fitness as well as the Shuswap Dance Centre.
Read more: Joy of dance brought instructor to Summerland
Read more: Indigenous dancers from the Okanagan to bring their moves to Toronto
The busy lifestyle Cullen leads is a result of her attitude to working within the community.
“It never hurts to try – all you can do is give it your best effort, especially in volunteering,” said Cullen. “The expectation isn’t perfection, it’s just somebody to help get things done.”
@CameronJHT
Cameron.thomson@saobserver.net
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.