Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (June 27/05) - To understand how much the martial arts mean to Martin Garreau, all you have to do is see his wedding pictures.

Martin Garreau offers instruction in Tae Kwon Do at his Martial Arts Academy in Hay River.

The Hay River man was married in a Tae Kwon Do uniform.

Garreau, who has a second-degree black belt, says Tae Kwon Do gives him a lot of satisfaction.

He is passing on his love of the sport as owner and lead instructor of Martial Arts Academy, which he started in Hay River in 1995. That was a year after he arrived in town, where he works full-time for Territorial Beverages.

"I enjoy teaching it," he says, noting he particularly likes seeing shy children gain confidence through the training.

Hundreds of students have gone through the school.

Garreau, 35, says he got into Tae Kwon Do at 16 while attending school in Ontario, and earned his black belt when he was 19.

"I did it because I got bullied," he says. "I was a kid that got picked on."

The bullying was mostly verbal intimidation, not physical.

Tae Kwon Do helped cut down the amount of bullying, even though Garreau says he never actually used the skills on his tormenters.

"They just backed off," he says, explaining the martial arts gave him more confidence. "I just think it was more chin up."

Part-time instructor

Garreau says he would love to teach Tae Kwon Do full-time, but for now it is just his part-time hobby.

Other people might play hockey or softball in their off hours, he says. "I teach Tae Kwon Do."

Asked why he continues on with the martial art, Garreau replies, "A black belt is not the end; a black belt is the beginning."

A black belt is not like school, where you graduate and forget much of what you learn, he adds. "You put it into practice."

In late May, Garreau also began offering personal protection training based on a program developed in the U.S.

The course, called Training for Life, falls under a broader category of compliance directional takedown. Garreau describes it as an empowerment course for every-day people.

Minimum force

The course teaches techniques using a minimum of force to quickly escape from an assailant, he explains. "You're just going to break free and get out of there."

The techniques do not involve punching or striking, he notes. "It's taking nerve centres and shutting them down, or causing great pain."

In one move, he applies pressure to nerves behind the ears of a make-believe attacker, virtually immobilizing the man.

Martial arts also offer self-defence, but they take years to learn, Garreau says.

"Not everyone has the time or the desire to become a black belt, but they still need personal protection training."