Brayden Caron has built upon a high achievement level in the martial art of karate to gain success in other areas of sport, academics and community activity.

The 15-year-old Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation member holds a second-degree black belt in karate achieved after a decade of hard work and training.

He is also SRC president at St. Louis Community School and a member of the Student Voice Club for the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division.

In terms of sports, Caron is member of his school volleyball, badminton, basketball, track and softball teams.

He also participates in hockey and curling.

Caron has placed both first and third in school public speaking contests and has been nominated for Prince Albert’s “Badge of Respect and Peace Award” three times for work done on behalf of the Prince Albert and Area Community Against Family Violence.

And he has done all this will earning top marks at school and holding down a part time job.

The Grade 10 student says for him karate is much more than a sport.

“Karate teaches discipline and it gives you a lot of confidence in yourself,” he says.

At the same time, Caron says although pursuing karate to the level he has does gives him a high level of expertise in the martial art, these skills must be used responsibly.

“The dojo kun is seek perfection in character, be faithful and ever respect others and refrain from violent behaviour. So, it’s like a guideline to how to present your karate or yourself outside the dojo.”

This means the martial art can only be used in self-defence.

He adds that he thinks a lot of younger people start with karate but don’t stick with it because of the increased contact in sparring that comes with pursuing higher belts.

As a result of his high level of training, Caron is a member of both the ISKF Canadian National Karate Club and IKD Shotokan Karate Club.

He has participated in a number of provincial and national tournaments and received various medals for his efforts.

This summer, Caron will compete at his second world tournament.

Preparing for this tournament requires him to train twice a week at the St. Louis Dojo Club as well as practicing at home.

Caron’s mother Gloria Merasty says she is happy to see her son participate in a variety of activities as long as he keeps on top of his schoolwork.

She says she does worry from time to time about him getting hurt in tournament competition but there is not much she can do in terms of holding the teen back.

Contact is supposed to be limited in sparring but not all competitors always display complete control.

Also, because of limited numbers of competitors his age at the provincial level, it is not uncommon for Caron to have to spar against men at tournaments.

“At the tournaments I really don’t like watching him in the kumite – the sparring part,” Merasty says. “He has been competing in the men’s category during the provincial tournaments because there’s not many boys his age – maybe one or two – to compete with in the provincials so they just put them with the men and the men are big guys.”

At the same time, she says she is very impressed with the discipline and confidence karate has given her son to be successful in other activities.

In July, Brayden Caron will travel to Toronto to compete in the IKD World CAMP/CUP. 

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