Tobidh

Ron Day

Ron Day (February 20, 1954 - September 8, 2008) was a Canadian martial arts Master in Kitchener, Ontario.

Early life

Ronald James Ryman Day grew up in London, Ontario. His father was a police officer and his mother a homemaker. He had one older sister and three younger sisters.

He started studying Karate and Kung Fu in London, Ontario at the age of 10 after being bullied at school. His father enrolled him at a Judo club that also taught karate through the Canadian Karate/Kung Fu Association. The school was a subsidiary of a school run by Tony and David Chong of Toronto. Ron would travel to Toronto to train once a month. Ron quickly succeeded through the ranks and achieved his black belt at the age of 16.

In addition to training with the Chong brothers, Ron also trained at the Yip Brothers Kung Fu Academy in London and with Canadian Fire Dragons, headed by Grand Master Daniel Pai from the United States.

Ron's family moved to Exeter, Ontario where his father became chief of police. At the age of 16, Ron opened his first martial arts club in Exeter and soon had locations in Centralia, Listowel and Kincardine. Ron continued to travel to London to train on a regular basis.

In 1973, Ron married Margaret (Peggy) Wallace and adopted her daughter, Tobi. In 1975, they had a son, Zack and in 1976, a daughter, Heather.

Soon after, Ron decided to move to a larger city with more opportunities. After investigating many options, he chose to relocate to Kitchener, Ontario. He opened the Scarlet Dragon Society of Martial Arts in downtown Kitchener in 1975.

Martial Arts and Kickboxing

The Scarlet Dragon Society was Ron's first foray into running a full time martial arts school. At the time, there were few other martial arts schools open in the Kitchener area. Scarlet Dragon quickly grew to become the largest martial arts school in the region with over 400 students. Ron also taught martial arts as part of the Waterloo Region School Board's physical education curriculum for over 18 years.

In 1977, Ron held the first Karate/Kung Fu Maynia open martial arts competition. This event has been held annually since then and has attracted competitors from Canada and the United States.

Ron also hosted numerous martial arts seminars over the years with karate and kung fu specialists such as Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Jeff Smith, Joe Lewis, Jean Yves Thériault, Kerry Roop, George Sylvan, John Therein, Leo Loucks, Wally Jay, Grand Master Pan, Pat McCarthy, Ken Tallack, Wally Slocki, Jim Fields, Murray Sutherland, Scott Hogarth, Don Warner, Jean Fernette, Don James, Robin Young, Nick Grecian, Brian Lentz, Ron Beer, Bob Wilcox, Paul Biafore, Jake Klaus, Shawn Tompkins.

Ron was also a pioneer in the sport of kickboxing in Canada. He trained such fighters as Leo Loucks, Martin Friolet, the Corvelle brothers and many others. Over a 10-year period, Ron promoted 20 kickboxing events at the professional, pro/am, Can/Am and amateur levels. His fighters and events were featured on Wide World of Sports, ESPN and TSN. He was a member of the Professional Karate Association (PKA), the Canadian Chinese Kou Shu Federation and a member of the Professional Karate Commission (PKC). He was ranked at the top kickboxing judge by the Ontario Athletic Commission.

·Proudly boasts a club with 24 Black Belt/Sash instructors who volunteer their time and talent to others wanting to learn their chosen art

·Currently our club teaches Shaolin Kung Fu, Shotokan Karate, North American Kickboxing and Aikido/Self Defence

·Branch, satellite or affiliated schools at present include: Waterloo Kun Fu Academy, Sifu Bob Schneider, Waterloo; Blue Crane Martial Arts, Sifu Bob Robins, Owen Sound; Scarlet Dragon Society, Sifu Marlene Mallett, St Johns, Newfoundland; Tompkins Karate Kickboxing Academy, Sensei Shawn Tompkins, Tillsonburg

Accomplishments

1968 - Received the rank of Black Belt in Karate/Kung Fu
1991 - Acknowledged by Martial Arts peers as a Master of Kung Fu
1983 - Set Canadian breaking record, which was a full page feature in the Kitchener Waterloo Record
1993 - Inducted in the ‘Black Belt Hall of Fame’ for his dedication and promotion of the Martial Arts in Ontario
1998 - Inducted into World Head of Family Sokeship Council International Black Belt Hall of Fame, in Orlando Florida
1999 - PKC Award for Tournament of the Year - Karate/Kung Fu Maynia 23
1999 - Inducted into the North American Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Toronto
2000/2001/2002 - Board member of PMA (Professional Martial Arts Alliance)
2001 - Head of the Kung Fu Division of Team Canada at the Good Will Martial Arts Games in Cancun, Mexico. Medals won by Kitchener Kicks students include: 13 gold, nine silver and three bronze plus two MVP awards
2002 - Lead Team Canada at the World Congress of Martial Arts Americas Cup in Venezuala. The K/W division brought home 14 gold, four silver, five bronze plus four special MVP awards
2002 - Nominated Grand Master of the Year (Chinese Martial Arts Division) by the World Karate Union Hall of Fame
2003 - International Director for the World Congress of Martial Arts Goodwill Sports Festival held in Mexico

External links

Kitchener Kicks Martial Arts Academy - Founder