Perry William Kelly, a Métis Nation of Ontario
citizen from Ottawa, won silver during a recent
karate tournament in Atlanta, Ga. Click here to
view a larger version of this image.
Submitted by MNO Honourary Senator Reta Gordon
Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)citizen Perry William Kelly has done it again.
At the 50th edition of the Battle of Atlanta karate tournament, held June 14 to 16, Kelly won silver medal and picked up a Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Award.
Kelly came within two points of winning gold in the over 60 years old/under 190 pound division. In the dying seconds of the fight, he landed a kick only seen by one of the judges. “Like I tell all my students – you either win or you learn,” said Kelly, an instructor in five martial arts. “Next time, I’ll make sure to throw that kick from a position where all the judges can see it.”
After the fight, the tournament founder, Grand Master Joe Corley, presented Kelly with the Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Award. It recognizes his achievements as a combat athlete and his 30-year career as a martial arts writer and as an innovator in law enforcement officer safety for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Correctional Service of Canada.
In the last three years, Kelly put together a string of gold medal performances in national and international tournaments culminating in his over 50 World Championship win at the 2017 World Police and Fire Fighter Games. His training features weekly sparring sessions with members of both the Canadian Karate and Muay Thai teams, and pro Mixed Martial Arts fighters, often a third of his age.
The nephew of MNO Honourary Senator Reta Gordon, Kelly comes from a family of warriors. His great-uncles fought in the Second World War. His uncles, MNO Veterans’ Council Senator George Kelly, John Kelly and Robert Kelly, all served in the Canadian Forces. His father MNO Senator Donald P. Kelly, who introduced him to martial arts, was one of the first karate students in Ottawa.
Kelly retired after a multi-commendation career at the Department of Public Safety. A personal highlight was once being invited to smoke a ceremonial pipe with the Deputy Solicitor General of Canada, the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Vice-Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
The author of recent articles in Black Belt and MA Success magazines isn’t content to remain behind his keyboard just yet. Now that he has his first over 60 tournament under his belt, Kelly (whose fight moniker is The Punisher) is gearing up to win a second World Championship at the 2019 International Sport Karate Association World Championship in Orlando, Fla.
Posted: Sept. 18, 2018