Canadian Sport Martial Arts Academy: Ben Stewart

Ben Stewart started in the martial arts at the age of 8 taking Jiu-Jitsu. At age 17 Ben switched over to Karate when long time martial arts icon and legend Steve Anderson came to Ottawa. Ben was soon promoted to black belt under the guidance of Mr. Anderson and since that time has shot up the world rankings in the super heavyweight division .

In 2001 at the age of 22 Ben Stewart won his first world title in Vienna, Austria in the semi-contact point fighting division. Since that time he has gone undefeated on European soil racking up 7 more world titles in the process. 2005 was Ben’s best year in competition so far, starting in February at the Compete Nationals in Los Angeles where he won the grand championships of the West Coast Fighting Divison. He followed up this big win with a semi-final finish at the Irish Open in Dublin, Ireland where he sustained a devastating groin tear that separated his kicking muscle from the pelvic bone. After 3 months of rehabilitation Ben came back to the fighting scene winning the Canadian championships in kickboxing and finishing second in point fighting. As a warm-up to the defense of his two world titles Ben traveled to Minnesota in October to compete in the most competitive American tournament, the Diamond Nationals. After 10 fights there and a second place finish, Ben was ready to take on the world at both the W.K.A. (World Kickboxing Association) and the W.A.K.O. (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) world championships which were held just two weeks apart in November.

At the W.K.A. event, which was held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Ben successfully defended his kickboxing world title which he won two years earlier in Ireland. Ben fought through a number of challenging opponents (including a 7 foot tall Slovakian fighter!) and finally won a split decision against an up and coming Ukrainian to take the gold medal. Ben’s karate students were just as successful. He brought 15 fighters from his Ottawa school who managed to combine for 15 individual and team gold medals as well as 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. A tremendous medal haul for a major international tournament that brought together 1200 competitors from 34 nations.

Two weeks later Ben was off to Szveged, Hungary to fight in the world’s most prestigious professional karate and kickboxing event – the WAKO World Championships. Ben took gold 2 years earlier (2003) at this bi-annual event in the semi-contact point fighting division – the only Canadian to win WAKO gold since Peter Gilpen in 1987. Now he was back to defend his world title in point fighting but also to do the unthinkable: to take double golds by also vying for the kickboxing title. No North American competitor had won gold in both sports since U.S. fighter Troy Dorsey accomplished the amazing feat in 1983. The first event was kickboxing. After 22 rounds against professional kickboxers from Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Slovenia and Russia, Ben rose to the podium to claim the WAKO gold in kickboxing – a first for a Canadian. The next day was semi-contact point fighting where, with very little rest, Ben defeated his German opponent by a 10-point spread in the finals to capture his 3rd WAKO world title…and accomplish his competitive goals for the year.

Between 2005 and 2007, Mr. Stewart was plagued by multiple injuries but is now mounting a return to competition. In the intervening years while he recuperated, Mr. Stewart spent his time refining his skills and knowledge at various internationally-renowned facilities such as the Athletes’ Performance Center in Arizona. His knowledge of elite sport-specific training methods will not only benefit his own competitive career but also those who train with him in the Academy.

Mr. Stewart is also a motivational speaker for college and university groups and is the self-published author of Millionaire in 90 Days - Working Out At the Gym. The book can be ordered on his personal website: www.ben-stewart.com.

Mr. Stewart looks forward to working with each and everyone of you interested in bettering yourself through Martial Arts Training.