SAULT STE. MARIE -- The Sault Ste. Marie Royal Canadian Legion and its martial arts club are celebrating a long-standing figure in the city's martial arts history.
Grandmaster Rudy Timmerman is celebrating 70 years since he began his martial arts journey.
"It's always a special time when we can get together with our brothers and sisters from all over to mark this event," said Rudy Timmerman.
"Unfortunately, this year we've not been able to invite those from across the border, but we're all very excited nonetheless."
Timmerman began his martial arts career in the Netherlands in 1950, before immigrating to Canada.
He would go on to open his first Sault martial arts studio in 1973 and barring a brief retirement from 2012-2016, has been teaching ever since.
"Getting involved with the legion was something that was very important to me, as it was the Canadians who liberated the Netherlands back in World War II," he said.
"But I really got involved because I saw an opportunity to help out a city that was in desperate need."
Timmerman says after his retirement, he learned of the Sault's battle against opioid and drug addiction.
"I contacted the Legion to put together the Hap Ki Do Club, which we did in 2016," he said.
"I figured, despite retiring, if I could at the least, get one kid off the streets and prevent them from overdosing, that I had really done my job as a teacher."
Timmerman says the funds he raises from the club are used to reinvest in the legion.
As a thank you, the legion hosted a banquet for the club Saturday night.
"We're already looking forward to number 71!"
