Getting Tuff & Toned in Sharbot Lake

Kelli McRobert | Apr 06, 2022

This week my Frontenac follies took me north to Sharbot Lake Karate to try out the Tuff and Tone classes.

I had a front row seat as students were lined up in their crisp white Gi’s proudly displaying their many coloured belts. The Sensei was leading the group through a range of skills that were deliberate, focused, and precise. I could hear the uniforms swish as they moved in unison around the gym. The cushioned floor offering a squeak now and again as they sensed the relationship between feet and floor, and exhaled with determination, emphasizing a move and stance.

I watched in the darkness as they moved with a communal rhythm that was graceful and strong. I enjoyed the questions the students asked as it filled in a few more pieces of the puzzle as to what they were doing and why each movement built upon the next. Kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) were foreign to me, but I admit, I enjoyed learning about the discipline of the sport and the power that comes from within as you gain respect for the masters that can take upwards of 29 years of continuous training to achieve the higher levels of dan.

Once the karate class was over, the parking lot came to life as students departed and the next group arrived. This group were there to tackle the Tuff and Tone session where you blend a mix of kick boxing and aerobic training. I wandered into the humble entrance of a large building and was instantly welcomed by the owner Nicole Greenstreet (Niki), who holds the title of Renshi. With over 37 years of training, her pleasant smile and warm eyes are deceptive, as she could snap me in two in an instant. Her journey began when she was 6 years old, and she became passionate about the training after seeing a demonstration at her school. After achieving her black belt in 1990, at the age of 12, she then climbed the ranks to Renshi title (polished teacher -5th dan) in 2016. Her style of karate is Shotokan, and the focus is on discipline and self-control which she promotes at her ‘dojo’ with various levels and ages of students.

Once inside, we gathered in the main gym, the music started, and we began limbering up as Lynette led us through exercises that got our blood pumping and our energy levels boosted. We then moved into a circuit type training where we rotated around in sequence and each station was an activity that was timed until you proceeded to the next. Groaning, laughter, and complaints, filled the room with a pleasant banter as we all suffered together, welcoming the companionship after being in lockdown for so many months. A kinship was forming, as you circled to the next station and punched out your frustrations with an upper cut or a jab.

It was enjoyable to see the mother and son team as they punched and kicked, with loving taunts from his mom as she told him to hit harder, while the ‘old’ ladies worked the room and showed the younger generation that age is but a number!

As the evening continued, we worked up a sweat, and the supportive chants did help as we punched through the remaining sets of 30 seconds each. Pushing our bodies just a little bit more and seeing how long we could last throughout the 9 circuit stations and 4 boxing challenges. Soaked from head to toe, we finished off the hour with some pleasant conversation and then a great group photo to commemorate the evening of getting ‘Tuff, while Toning’!

Thanks to the ladies Niki G, Lynette W, Angie S, Leslie M, Sarah P, Candy C, Taylor M, and young lad Riley M, who made me feel welcome and kept me motivated as I looked at them with fear, when they told me to punch, kick and jab….it was great fun and I look forward to coming back again, soon!

For those interested in finding out more about Karate you can check out www.sharbotlakekarate.ca or find them on Facebook. The Tuff and Tone sessions will be held Mondays and Thursdays at 8 PM at their location of 1013 Clement Road, Sharbot Lake.