Mr. Tim Posynick, Founder of the North Valley Martial Arts Academy. 23 years of Martial Arts Experience

"The true measure of my success is not my largest trophy, it is the light of knowledge in the eyes of my students."

  I began my training in the Martial arts at the age of 16, in Vernon, BC under the tutelage of Sensei Herb Milton, of the Kyokushin-Kai Karate school. In 1983 I met a Philippine gentleman by the name of Marc Ederis, a proponent of a system called Pekeolan Silat, or “Peacock” Kung Fu. I studied with that school and achieved what he called a senior student status.  During my latter training with Mr. Ederis,  I met a gentleman by the name of Mr. Constantine, a Sifu (instructor) of Chuan Fa and Tai Chi. The system or style was called Chien Lung, or seven dragon style. During this training I came across an ad for a Tae Kwon Do tournament and demonstration to be held in Kelowna, BC at a local high school put on by Master JJ Lee and Mr. Keith Black. I proceeded to attend the demonstration with a high school buddy of mine. After witnessing the demonstration my friend and I decided to take up Tae Kwon Do. We came across an ad in the local paper for a “WTF” style Tae Kwon Do school opening at the local gym called the Body Shop. Without hesitation we signed up with Mr. Barry Shannon, a 3^rd Dan in World Tae Kwon Do Federation style as well as a black belt in Shotokan Karate. I trained with Mr. Shannon for approximately three years. At the same time I was still continuing with the Kata or patterns and technique that I had learned in my Karate training. I found out through two friends involved in Shotokan karate, that the Kata from Kyokushin Karate were similar patterns practiced by the Shotokan karate system. So I proceeded to learn more about the Shotokan, and learned more of the patterns from that system.

  In 1986 I moved to Kitchener, Ontario. Upon my arrival I immediately began investigating the local martial arts schools. I found several that were very interesting to watch and had a tough time deciding on one to train at. So I decided to train at three instead. The first was Master Chung Oh Tae Kwon Do, a WTF school. The next was Master Ron Days Family Academy of Martial Arts. This school actually was four schools in one. They had instructors from Shotokan karate, Chuan Fa Kung Fu, Kenpo-Jiu-Jitsu, and Kickboxing. So as a student there you were introduced to a new style every week. One week Karate, the next Kung Fu, the next Kenpo, etc. At the time I had an interest in another school at the other end of town called the Golden Tiger Kung Fu School, Hung Gar Kung Fu. So I did some drop-in training at both schools, training one week at one school then switching the next. I did this drop in cross-training for the next 3 years.

In 1989 I decided to move to Kelowna, BC. Upon my arrival in Kelowna I signed up at the local Karate School, Sensei Tom Mah school of Chito-Ryu Karate. Sensei Mah recognized my Brown belt and let me wear it. During my training with Sensei Mah I refined my Shotokan patterns and went to a seminar at the local recreation center, held by Master Sensei Mas Tsuroka. At this seminar Master Tsuroka recognized my Shotokan patterns and level to be equal that of a 2^nd dan. Shortly there after I moved back to Vernon. My high school buddy and I decided to go workout for old times sake at the Body Shop fitness place where we used to train in WTF Tae Kwon Do, the school of which no longer existed.

In the workout area I met a gentleman by the name of Harry Bryant, a 3rd dan at that time in “ITF” or Chang Han style Tae Kwon Do. After watching Mr. Bryant do an amazing demonstration of flexibility, I asked if he had any classes available. Mr. Bryant mentioned that he was in the process of setting up a school in the very same workout room which I had studied WTF prior. I joined immediately. Mr. Bryant recognized my WTF blue belt so I continued from that point, receiving my Black Stripe in October of 1991. 

In January 1992 my wife and I decided to move to Red Deer Alberta for work. Mr. Bryant talked to me on the phone and asked if I had plans to open a school. I said no as I was only a black stripe, Mr. Bryant promptly told me to put on a black belt and start teaching, with his recommendation. So I did and the Red Deer Tae Kwon Do Academy was born.  I taught in Red Deer for the next 3 years. Then in 1995 my wife and I decided to move home to Vernon to have our first child. In July of 1995 I finally took my official test for 1^st dan Black Belt in Chang Han Tae Kwon Do with Master Bryant, after four years of being a black stripe. In September of that year we moved to Enderby, BC and I opened my present school, the North Valley Martial Arts Academy.

Why Teach ? 

     From the age of 10 I knew that I wanted to be a martial artist. I had idolized my heroes from the movies such as Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, and wanted to someday be like them.  Upon my introduction into the martial arts at age 16, I immediately concluded that I would have my own school one day and be teaching my own students to get their Black Belt. I have trained in several styles and schools and met some very charismatic and unique individuals along the way. I did a short stint on the tournament scene and was moderately successful. I've had several triumphs and several bumps and bruises and more than several downfalls, and kept going. When I was 13 I was diagnosed with asthma and several lung related allergies which kept me out of school sports. I found Karate and haven't had an asthma attack since. I have the martial arts to thank for this. I have wanted to quit and have re-started more than a few times.  Through all of this one thing has never changed, my desire to teach what I've learned. I've always been a reclusive and solitary individual. I grew up in a single parent family with no siblings. So I kept to myself almost always. My Mother was very pleasantly surprised to see Karate bring me out of my personality shell towards interacting with others and developing relationships.  The martial arts have helped me grow as a person and as a man. One thing still remains the same, I wanted to teach. But why teach? This is the real question. For me it is an ever-evolving answer, a quest if you will to not only realize why, but to develop the "what for". When I step back and think of my personal history, what I went through to get where I am, people that influenced my teaching habits that I have now. I realize that all those years of training were not entirely about me. In fact they were training me to develop others to realize the same personal potential that I have found within myself. This realization has told me that yes I am a teacher, a coach, and a mentor. I am here because initially I found a skill that I could finally call my own, and inevitably I found that for it to truly be apart of me, I need to share it with others. This, I feel, is the measure of a true teacher.

“The main goal of being a teacher, is not to be a former this or that champion, but to be respected for what you have passed on to your students. To see with pride, the personal and Martial growth that comes from training in the Self-defense Arts. To see your students not only do well in class, and at the occasional tournament, but also to see them surpass you both in level and in knowledge, thus giving the satisfaction that your students never stop being students and keep learning.”  

 With this outlook Mr. Posynick commits himself to teaching to the best of his abilities in order that his students reach over and above their personal potential.  From cross training in three systems, as well as having exposure to several other forms of Martial Arts training, Mr. Posynick has formatted a school routine which is not only logical in its approach, but also practical in application. Mr. Posynick is very focused on the growth of his students both on a Martial Art level and a personal level. The main objective of training with this school is to develop personal character traits, which are a positive reflection on your personality both in the Dojang, and in everyday life. " Our goal is to develop not only skilled Black Belts, but positive community minded people, I look forward to traveling this rewarding journey with you and sharing the joy and excitement that I have experienced from training in the Martial Arts. Welcome to our family! "

NVMA Registered Black Belts 

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