Beyond the mat

St. James-Assiniboia

For Patrick Sabourin, judo is more than just a sport. It’s a community, and one he’s determined to help grow.

Last year, Sabourin and partner Bryant Huynh founded Apex Judo Club, intending to grow the sport in west Winnipeg and foster a community built on the principles of inclusivity and accessibility. On Jan. 6, Apex Judo Club officially opened its doors at 81 Quail Ridge Rd. and is now actively enrolling new students of all ages.

“For us, we want to bring something that really reflects what we see as Winnipeg values: hard working, community minded,” Sabourin, a level 2 dojo instructor and yondan, or fourth-degree black belt in the sport. “Judo is all about humility and perseverance over ego. We want to grow the sport and see people learn some skills that they can apply on and off the mats.”

Sabourin got his first taste of judo as a youngster in Quebec. After moving to Ontario as a teenager, he continued to train, eventually competing nationally and training at the national training centre. However, a car accident when he was 19 hit the brakes on his judo career, and he opted to focus on his studies instead.

After moving to Winnipeg with his wife, who is from the city, Sabourin became involved with the local judo scene, first as a competitor and then as a coach.

“I wanted to help young people develop,” he said. “That’s how I started coaching at Inner City (Judo Club).”

At Inner City, Sabourin worked with Huynh, but the two had met previously — on the mat.

“Me and my co-founder, Bryant, we fought each other a few times, in competition,” Sabourin recalled.

Huynh started training at age nine at Inner City Judo Club under Sensei Gary Sova. He later spent six years on the Judo Manitoba provincial team.

“Competing at national and international tournaments shaped my resilience, determination, and teamwork,” Huynh said. “I’ve now been coaching for over 12 years and love sharing the mats with my daughter and son. For me, judo is more than a martial art — it has shaped how I think and live. I aim to pass on those lessons of discipline and cooperation to every student.”

Sabourin and Huynh bonded over their love of the sport and desire to make the sport a greater part of the community they call home.

“Our goal as judokas is ‘How do we grow it?’” said Sabourin, a west Winnipeg resident. “We looked at where most of the judo clubs were, they’re mostly centrally located within Winnipeg. The west end of the city had nothing.”

Apex Judo Club offers classes to three levels: the Sparks group, for ages four to six; Evolution, for seven to 12 year olds; and Ascent, for those over 13.

“For kids, judo really teaches kids how to manage contact safely, build confidence, and respect others,” Sabourin said. “We start them on learning how to fall and get back up, literally and figuratively. It’s OK. You refocus. It’s a powerful life lesson.”

Sparks meet once a week, on Tuesdays, for 45-minute, movement-based classes that focus on co-ordination, confidence, and respect.

“We want to get them excited about judo,” Sabourin said. “They get their uniform, they put the belt on and they’re like, ‘Whoa, this is cool!’”

The Evolution group, which currently has 16 students enrolled, meets twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, for an hour and 15 minutes. Classes in that age group focus on developing skills and technique.

“We work on throws standing up and ground work, and doing some fighting in a controlled environment,” Sabourin explained.

The Ascent group, which can include beginners or advanced students, also meets on Tuesdays and Fridays for an hour and 15 minutes.

“It’s designed for teens and adults seeking personal growth through judo,” Sabourin said. “It can be about personal training or competition. Our goal is for each athlete to challenge themselves, set goals, and continuously improve.”

And while Sabourin said it would be nice for members of Apex to do well in judo competitions, should they choose to pursue that route, ultimately the success of the club will be determined by the quality of the community it helps build.

“For us, success is not about kids getting medals, its about raising good people,” he said. “That’s our win as a club. Medals are optional. We want to build character. Apex Judo aims to be a community hub, not an exclusive club. We’re commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Strong community starts with strong people, and sport can play a role in that.”

Visit apexjudo.ca for more information.