She discovered karate at the age of 87

Photo Carl Vaillancourt
Hélène Chénier is the oldest rookie registered in the Group Sport of Karate. She is sitting next to his instructor Jade Gingras.

Carl Vaillancourt

Tuesday, 27-feb-2018 01:00

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Tuesday, 27-feb-2018 01:00

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A Laval resident 87-year-old started karate a few months ago, after winning a contest at the supermarket in her neighborhood.

Hélène Chénier has never had the intention to enroll in a sports activity such as karate. However, the resident of the Green island, in Laval, has won a contest at his grocery store, Subway, Sainte-Dorothée, in September.

“I said to myself that I do win, probably not. Mr. Cantin called me to say that I made eight weeks free in his karate school in Sainte-Dorothée. I went there and I really got the bug, ” explained Hélène Chénier at its weekly practice.

Marcellin Cantin, president of the banner Group Sport Karate, which account for nearly 40 training centres in Quebec, has decided to extend the contest by giving him a free subscription for life.

“Ms. Chénier was so much fun to come on Monday. She laughs all the time, it is pleasant to see a person find his or her account with us, ” said the one who founded the Group 25 years ago.

If the lady is not fighting, she tries the more possible to do the same movements as the other while remaining seated on a chair.

The importance of staying young

Hélène Chénier, admits that the karate has done wonders on his physical health.

“I have degenerative arthritis, it is difficult for me to move, but I love it. It is cracking everywhere. I feel courbaturée the next day, but I feel better, ” says the one who made the movements of the martial in his chair with the help of his instructor Jade Gingras.

In addition to the benefits to his physical health, it allows him to have a change of ideas, while her partner suffers from Parkinson’s disease. The latter resides in a CHSLD in Laval, where his wife visits him every day to give him his dinner.

“She spends hours every day with her spouse. Karate makes him so good psychologically. Everyone loves her more ” she said her coach Marcellin Cantin.

Popular among seniors

In addition to the new recruit, the training centre of the sport of karate, in Sainte-Dorothée, taking a group of fifteen people aged over 55 years. An initiative that has developed gradually since a few years.

“We call it the “movement-martial”. This allows them to work the flexibility of the muscles and the meditation. We note a growth in the popularity of this group in our gym, ” explained the owner of the centre, Marcellin Cantin.

First job at age 57

Age has never been a brake in the life of Hélène Chénier. After you have learned to swim at age 50, she made her entrance on the labour market at the age of 57 years as a real estate agent before her retirement at age 80.

After having known her husband 65 years ago, Hélène Chénier has spent most of his life as a woman in the home, like many women of her generation.

During the thirty years where she has remained in her home while her spouse worked, it has developed its qualities in different art forms, like painting and sewing.

However, this was not enough for her. It is this which has led, in the 80’s, to learn to swim.

“My husband used to work for Bell. He had to go outside often. I’ve decided to take swimming lessons with children, question to learn. There is no age to know how to swim “, she says with a chuckle.

A return to school

At the age of 54 years, Hélène Chénier has also decided to return to school to obtain her high school diploma, she had never finished in the teens. Subsequently, she decided to follow her training to become a real estate agent.

About two years after the start of her course, she passed successfully the final examination. She got her permit a real estate agent in 1987, at the age of 57 years.

“It was something that I had always wanted to do. For me, there are no words to describe the feeling I experienced that day. It was really special, ” says the one who has always worked in the sector of Laval.

She retired at age 80 after a career of 23 years as a real estate agent.

“I am certain that I would have been able to continue. I give advice to people on occasion. I am passionate about, I believe “, she says laughing.