Jo Kyo Nim Helen Bagnall
E Dan(2nd level)    Dan Bon #40585
Assistant Instructor

Ms. Helen Bagnall grew up on a farm in Manitoba Canada.  She went to the Los Angeles area to go to college in the mid-70s and graduated from college with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies.  After college, she moved with her husband and two children to Montana, New Hampshire, and eventually settled happily in Camas, Washington.

Helen was a daycare provider for 8 years while her children were growing up. She now works for Underwriters Laboratories as a “Go To” answering co-workers questions, inspecting, and auditing work for ULs North American Regional Transaction Center.

With her kids growing up and getting ready to leave home, she decided it was time to try something new.  Karate seemed intriguing.  Never having been in sports or very athletic as a youth, it was out of her comfort zone, especially at 45 years old, but she decided to give it a try.  She started attending Camas Karate in 1998.  She became a Cho Dan in 2002, E Dan in 2005, and Jo Kyo (junior instructor) in 2006.  She is currently the director of Camas Karate's "Yong Gi" class - specializing in Soo Bahk Do training for 3 to 6 year old members.

According to Jo Kyo Nim Bagnall, "Because Soo Bahk Do is not a sport, but emphasizes development of character, your biggest opponent is yourself.  Repetition and time on the mat helps to push past the inertia, and the various mental and physical challenges that arise over the years.  Soo Bahk Do has proven to be a good way to stay in shape and maintain flexibility, both mentally and physically for this aging baby boomer."

Helen also likes to go for walks, practice yoga with videos, baby-sit her two grandchildren, garden, redecorate her old house, read, and would quilt if there was more time.

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