Interviews Archive

Ask the Senseis: What was Your First Meeting with Sensei Shintani like? #SWKKF

Written by James Ryan

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Ask the Senseis: What was Your First Meeting with Sensei Shintani like? By: Sensei James Ryan St. Catharines Wado Kai Karate Sensei Neil Prime (St. Catharines, Ontario): “The first time I ever saw Sensei Shintani was when myself, and three of my friends, all went to watch a class prior to joining. I remember...

Interview with 222 Minutes (@222Minutes) #ParodyCabinet

Written by James Ryan

Different social media platforms serve for a variety of reasons, but in my opinion, Twitter has become an absolute information warzone over these past few years. Currently, Twitter is the only social media platform where people from all over the world can reach out and connect with just about anyone else, including: Celebrities, top...

Ask the Senseis: What should New Students look for when choosing an Instructor? #SWKKF

Written by James Ryan

Ask the Senseis: What should New Students look for when choosing an Instructor? By: Sensei James Ryan St. Catharines Wado Kai Karate Sensei Neil Prime (St. Catharines): “The best way to find a good instructor is by a recommendation through a friend who’s already in a martial arts club. Barring that opportunity, you should...

Ask the Senseis: What’s a Common Mistake that most Karateka make when just starting out? #SWKKF

Written by James Ryan

Ask the Senseis: What’s a Common Mistake that most Karateka make when just starting out? By: Sensei James Ryan St. Catharines Wado Kai Karate Sensei Darren Marshall (Toronto): “Relying on pre-conceived information. For example: ‘Bruce Lee did it this way!’ Or trying to learn too much, too fast. ‘Ok, so I did 12 front...

Interview with #SWKKF Senate Member Sensei Brad Cosby

Written by James Ryan

Interview with SWKKF Senate Member Sensei Brad Cosby By: Sensei James Ryan St. Catharines Wado Kai Karate “Sensei Shintani never looked at karate as ‘that’s all there is, it’s a static art.’ It was always evolving, changing for the better.” – Sensei Brad Cosby (Hachidan) Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with...

Profile Interview: Kettlebell Training with Sensei Brodie Hicks #SWKKF

Written by James Ryan

Profile Interview: Kettlebell Training with Sensei Brodie Hicks By: Sensei James Ryan St. Catharines Wado Kai Karate “Kettlebell practice is a way of life. And when there’s a way, there is a certain code to follow. Kettlebell.kode [Instagram account] is my new passion, derived by a certain flow state that I achieve when training....

Interview with Sensei Neil Prime (via The Sportstender) #SWKKF

Written by James Ryan

The following interview dates back all the way to November 9, 2011. Initially, this interview was part of a brand new sports-variety talk-show called The Sportstender (hosted by myself), but not long afterwards, was permanently removed off of YouTube, and the show later became an Internet-only, play-on-demand podcast (also currently inactive). Shortly after the...

VIDEO – Jonathan’s Hike To Defeat Depression (featuring James Ryan)

Written by James Ryan

Jonathan’s Hike to Defeat Depression – Take Four!

Written by James Ryan

Greetings everyone! As many of you probably know by now, Jonathan Toews (pronounced toes not taves) has been hiking along the Bruce Trail in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada as part of a national campaign called Defeat Depression. It’s pretty amazing actually. At first, I...

Jonathan’s Hike to Defeat Depression: Week One Update

Written by James Ryan

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As many of you may already know (or not), I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jonathan Toews, a local athlete who plans to hike along the Bruce Trail in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada as part of a national campaign called Defeat...

Interview with Jonathan Toews: Hiking to Defeat Depression

Written by James Ryan

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Niagara hiking enthusiast Jonathan Toews to discuss his upcoming plans to hike along the Bruce Trail in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, which he plans to accomplish on weekends by hiking 24 consecutive hours on five...

Canadian Bowl 2013 Blog: Day 1 in Regina

Written by James Ryan

Well, it’s certainly been an event filled day here in Regina, and just to let you know…this is a blog post at about 5:00 a.m. (yes, I need to wake up in three hours for a full days worth of meetings), which means that I get to speak in my own voice without being...

OFC President hopes to bring a National Championship back to Ontario

Written by James Ryan

. . . . One of the things that has impressed me the most about the Ontario Football Conference since I’ve joined the Executive as the OFC Media Coordinator, is the surprising level of cooperation and camaraderie that seems to exist between each of the eight teams. At least, it seems that way from...

Aaron Brooks: 10-Year Old Guinness World Record Holder Training for MMA

Written by James Ryan

Some of you may remember a young wrestler by the name of Aaron Brooks who currently lives in Hagerstown, Maryland, from an interview that I did a few months back. . What’s that?! You’re not sure? Well then, you had better pay very close attention because the entire world of MMA is about to...

Will Ribeiro Cries For Help, Black House Turns Back on Injured Fighter

Written by James Ryan

Update: November 23, 2010 . After speaking directly with Ed Soares from Black House MMA, I am now able to better understand the complicated situation that currently exists between Will Ribeiro and his former management team…sort of. In hindsight, I do apologize to Black House for not attempting to speak with them sooner, although...

Dr. John Williams: 70-Year-Old MMA Fighter Setting Guinness World Records

Written by James Ryan

IMPORTANT UPDATE (March 24, 2015): John Williams has been diagnosed with Differentiated Sarcoma Cancer. He had been suffering from growths on his Chest and arms. The Cancer has spread to his spine and lungs. He is bed ridden in a Hospital in the Philippines. He can not speak or move. As you can imagine this has...

World Record Countdown: Nine-Year-Old Aaron Brooks Ready to Make History

Written by James Ryan

Aaron Brooks of Hagerstown, Maryland, is a seven-time national champion wrestler who has more than 345 amateur wins to his name (and counting) and will compete to break the world record in the bench press for his age and weight on June 12 in New Jersey. The current bench press record for eight and...

National Wrestling Champion Aaron Brooks is Determined to be the Best

Written by James Ryan

“Current research indicates that resistance training can be a safe, effective and worthwhile activity for children and adolescents provided that qualified professionals supervise all training sessions and provide age-appropriate instruction on proper lifting procedures and safe training guidelines. “Regular participation in a multifaceted resistance training program that begins during the preseason and includes instruction...