Turning the other cheek

By Thomas Jolicoeur

joli0035@algonquincollege.com

The mat room above the gym at may not be very glamorous to most people, but to the students at Warriors of God Martial Arts, it is heaven.

It is there that the Warriors of God, a Christian-based mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu studio, the same style of fighting used in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, meet.

While many people might question the connection between mixed martial arts and Christianity, a brutal sport and a religion whose mantra is “turn the other cheek”, it is there, insists Sensei Mike Carrier, the founder of Warriors of God.

Carrier teaches his students, young and old, about respect for others and for themselves, which he believes are the core values of Christianity.  If he can teach his students that concept, he believes the rest will take care of itself.

The Christian philosophy he teaches shows just how far has the 3rd degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt come in his own life.

 Growing up in Vanier and living a life of crime Carrier walked a fine line between the streets and jail, his vision blurred by drugs and alcohol.  His story was like that of so many other young men growing up in rough neighbourhoods, with no positive male role models to show them the way.

When Carrier was 17 his girlfriend became pregnant, and that is where the story goes so dramatically off course. 

Instead of abandoning her and ending up in jail, Carrier took it as an opportunity to wake up and see the light. 

He cleaned up his life before his son was born and found help and solace in God.  It is this unique past that he brings to his classes and to his students, many of whom are from similar backgrounds.

“There is absolutely no fighting outside the club,” said Carrier, but also added “we’re human” and self preservation is a necessary skill.  However, he said that anyone instigating violence with the skills they learned with the Warriors of God would not be welcomed back.

That very day he was beaming with pride because his 15-year-old son, Mikey, a second degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, had backed away from a fight at school, a fight he would easily have won.  In the recent Sport MMA Championships at Lansdowne Park, where Mike’s nine students took home 13 medals, Mikey defeated his opponent in 18 seconds, winning gold.

“It took a little longer than we wanted” Mike said with a smile, as his son looked on, equally pleased.

The success of the small studio -they have about 30 members, mostly under 12 years old- is also demonstrated at the national and international level.

They currently boast one professional fighter, Nick Portieous, and another, Steve Alexopoulos, is about to make his professional debut.

“I love it.  Mike’s a great coach who trains us hard,” said Alexopoulos when talking about the preparation for his upcoming fight.

 While Carrier insisted he is not a father figure to his younger students, he does acknowledge that he is a positive male role model to them, something lacking from his own childhood.

It was by embracing his dark past that Carrier can help to provide a bright future for those “stray sheep left out to the wolves.”