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Taekwon-Do has lost a great instructor. On May 02, 2001 Master Blake passed away from a heart attack in Montréal (Québec, Canada). Master André Blake was born on February 26, 1944 in Montréal. It is in 1959, at the age of 15 that young Blake was introduced to his first fighting art, boxing. During the ten years that followed, André Blake practised wrestling and several martial arts such as Judo, Karate and Ju-jitsu. Through these disciplines he acquired a great knowledge of self-defence. It was in Ju-jitsu that he obtained his higher mention by Master Kuniba: 2nd degree. However, it is in the early 60s that Mr. Blake collaborated for the first time with the Korean people. Mr. Chong Soo Lee was his first Korean instructor. In 1967, André Blake was put in charge of the Karate section at the Immaculée-Conception Center in Montréal. It was in 1972, with the arrival of Master Kim Jong Chang, under the ITF banner, that Mr. Blake would seriously get involved in the Korean martial art. His action and his faithfulness towards his master have driven him among the great Korean instructors of Canada. That year, the Karate section of the Immaculée-Conception Center became and, it remains to even today, the Taekwon-Do section. In 1976 he received from his instructor's hand, Master Kim, his black belt certificate, 4th degree, and the title of international instructor. On February 23, 1978, Mr. Blake founded the Academie Quebécoise de Taekwon-Do. In April 1984, he brought his students on the international scene during the 4th ITF Taekwon-Do World Championship in Glasgow, Scotland, where they performed extremely well, winning several medals. It
is on March 22, 1991 that Mr. Blake entered the circle of Master
instructors by receiving his 7th degree black belt certificate from
General Choi Hong Hi. He became the first Canadian-born Instructor In September 1992, Master Blake was part of the Canadian Delegation who went to Pyong Hyang in North Korea, for the 8th Taekwon-Do World Championship. Master Blake received the mention of referee of the Championship. In the same championship, his student Mr Dumaine won both the gold medal in pattern 4th Degree and the best competitor trophy. In June 1993, Master Blake became president of the Canadian Taekwon-Do Federation International in Hamilton (Canada). In May 1999, Master Blake organized the ITF Canadian Taekwon-Do Championship at the Pierre-Charbonneau Center in Montreal where more than 1,200 athletes from all over Canada participated. In September of the same year, Master Blake was granted 8th degree from General Choi Hong Hi. We were all aware that our Instructor was sick, he was postponing the surgery which he should have been going to. He has been waiting a little bit too much. Master Blake was not this kind of man following advices, he has always been doing what he thought must be done. We can remember his voice saying:"When He will call me back I won't have a choice ..." For those of you who did not have a chance to meet him, Master Blake was a visionary instructor. We could describe his teaching by: Technic Discipline and Loyalty. He often pointed out the differences between sport and Martial Art. He was obviously mastering the Art of Teaching, we can remember his eyes when looking at the progress of a young child he said" Look how Taekwon-Do helped him!" It was his conviction that Taekwon-Do was for a whole life. Master Blake has dedicated his life to Taekwon-Do. Further, he was among the first to oversee the development of Taekwon-Do in Canada. With his convictions and his Korean martial art visions, Master Blake became one of the pioneers who has contributed to promote Taekwon-Do in Canada. Text
written by: In
the name of all Master Blake's Students: Click on the links to view the English Version or French Version from the CTFI. |
