How one karate instructor develops international champions through guidance and mentoring

In this ZoneTalk episode, Bob sits down with Sensei Heather Fidyk, a 7th-degree black belt in Wado Kai Karate and an experienced international competitor, who has been coaching in karate for more than 25 years. She is the co-founder and head instructor of the South Calgary Wado Kai Karate Club in Calgary, Alberta, a non-profit organization that is committed to the improvement of the health, fitness and martial arts understanding for all students.

Sensei Heather is always learning new technical and tactical approaches to teaching, coaching and mentoring her athletes and dedicated black belt instructors. She shares her thoughts on the mentoring process as well as peer-to-peer mentoring. She also works with para-athletes and finds the mentoring process both rewarding and exciting, especially when she sees her athletes come out of their shells and win as absolute performers in competition.

Sensei Heather also addresses the lessons that can be learned from losing and the process of making sport a fun and lifelong endeavor.