Sylla Wins 2005 Canada Karate Championship
…..Ponders Retiring End of The Year By staff reporter

RENOWNED African Canadian Karate champion, Gabriel Sylla had decided to retire at the end of the year after winning his third Canadian championship this year. Sylla 40, is Canada Karate champion for 1997, 1998 and 2005. Popularly known by the nickname of Black Dragon and in the sporting circle, Sylla has been in the profession for 15, although he began the sport at the age of nine in his home country Senegal.

He also holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Montreal. Asked why he chose to go into professional Karate as opposed to pursuing a profession in business, Sylla said, “ I was introduced to karate by my parents at the age of nine as a way to help me boost my confidence. I was very skinny and shy when I was growing up and kids my age used to make fun of me and pick on me so my parents sent me to karate school to boost my confidence at first for defensive purposes. And it did help because since then I have been very secure of myself. Although I had acquired this defensive skill I did not go around kicking people around because one of the most important attributes that go with the sport is discipline. You cannot use the skill anyhow, unless as a last resort. I loved and enjoyed it so much that it became part of me and that is how I later decided to do it professionally at the age of 26, after finishing my degree in business administration.26 years is when people retire from Karate, but that’s the time I decided to begin and I am retiring at the age of 40 which is kind of late. But I am still as energetic”.

In 1991, Sylla was diagnosed with ambliopia in his right eye, a disease which causes decreased vision in one or two eyes without detectable anatomic damage in the eye or visual pathways (usually uncorrectable by eye glasses or contact lenses). His doctor advised him to give up karate as it was too dangerous for him. However, because of his passion for the sport, Sylla continued steadfastly, developing his own technique to protect his eye.

“I continued because karate is a passion for me. I precevered and devolopped, my own technic to protect my eye and this handicap didn't keep me from being a champion in my sport. So i want to use this as an exemple of peceverence for black youth, and all youngsters from all communities in Montreal”.

His handicap did not stop him from achieving the championship title three times in Canada and 10 times in Quebec province. He has also qualified to a third degree black belt after qualifying and passing through the initial white belt and then went on to acquire the Yellow, Orange, green, 1st and 2nd blue belts and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd brown belts.

Sylla’s commitment to the sport last year saw him get the appointment as assistant Coach of the Quebec Karate Team by the Coaching Committee of Quebec. “I was really happy that the committee made an exception for me because of my experience and appointed me to a position that takes people a long time to get to long after they have even retired,” he said.

He observed that April , 2005 had so far been a good year for him saying after wining the championship on April 8, he later on April 28 married his lovely wife Emily Desmond. After all his achievements, Sylla says he is retiring a happy man-at a time when he also still had his championship in order to concentrate on his coaching job.
“I am also happy to represent the African community positively, both in Canada and at home. For that reason my aim is also to get fully involved in the black community in Canada as a mentor and educator on issues that affect youths,”” he said.
Sylla who teaches karate as an after school programme in several schools around Montreal also takes advantage of the opportunity to teach young people on issues concerning drug abuse, alcohol, smoking and other vices that they face everyday. “ I am proud to say that I am a good example and role model because I don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs and I am not involved in any vices. I am disciplined and that’s what every youth needs to be”. His message to black youths, “always remember that we are a minority in this society and so we cannot afford to send out any negative actions. This is because in this society, for every individual’s fault or negativity reflects on the entire community even if an individual’s achievement is attributed to only that particular individual and not to the community. So let us always make sure that we represent our community well as a way of giving back to those that worked hard for our community before us,” he said.
Check out his website at: www.gabrielsylla.com