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Karate. For most people, the word
conjures up images of hand-to-hand combat
pertormed by masters of the art who exhibit
excepuonal physical strength, speed,
tlexibility and dextentty.

When he pertorms karate exercises, BC
Transit Police constable, Brock Graham,
exhibits all of these talents. But when he talks
about karate, he stresses that the physical
Aspects of karate are just a srnall part of the art.

For Brock, a third-degree black belt, karate
is a way of life, not just an exercise. ‘I don’t like
to stress the sport aspect of karate,” he savvs,
“because it’s just a small part of the whole. It’s a
supplement to training, not a reason for
training. Whereas sport can only be a small part
of your life and you can’t do it when you age,
personal development can carry on forever —
and that’s what karate is about.

“Karate never teaches attack, It is totally
self-defense onented. It doesn’t train
tighters. It works to make people better
people. [t makes a person who can get along
with evervone., It’s a lifestyle that includes
spiritual, mental and physical training.
Without heart, the physical part of karate Is
no more than calisthenics,

“To be physically strong is not the only
intent, nor is to overcome the assailant, but
to do so tor the sake of justice is the ultimate
voal. We try to develop a spirit of humility
but to cultivate a ferocious fighting spirit at
the same time.”

Brock practices and teaches Shotokan
karate, one of five major styles in Japan. He
prefers Shotokan to other styles because of
its emphasis on total development over
sport, though he has practiced other styles
and has attained black belt in one other.

What is the ultimate goal in training?

“Perfection of character,” says Brock. “In
karate, we constantly strive for perfection. By
hard physical training, we recognize our
weaknesses and impertections of technique,
Karate is never ending 1n that our technique
is never perfect, so karate becomes a way of
life — a lifetirne endeavor. Just as you set
goals in karate, you set goals in your personal
life. You idenufy your weaknesses and work
to correct them. It helps in police work, too,

it Police's Ghoppi

BC Transit Police constable, Brock Graham.

because it gives you the ability to remain
calm and keep an open mind, To operate
efficiently in a crisis, it’s essential to have the
ability to overcome and control the incident.
“When I teach kids karate, they have to
bring me their report cards, and part of the
teaching is to teach them the morals of Dojo,
which are standardized from Japan. They are:

seek perfection of character; be faithful;
endeavor to excel; respect others; refrain
from violent behavior.”

Watching Brock perform is testimony to the
thousands of hours he has spent achieving his
current level of mastery in the’

PA

Story continued on page 42