VALLEY KMAC

Korean Martial Arts Center

Leadership

Good instructors are paramount to the success of any martial arts program, Valley KMAC is home to some of the best Korean Martial Artists in Northern Ontario. Many started training in other martial arts and decided upon KMAC as the most comprehensive choice for their continued training.

Master Chris Fortin and Chief Master Gerry Fortin

Chief Master Gerry Fortin

8th Degree Black Belt

Chief Master Gerry Fortin opened a martial arts school 40 years ago in the Dowling area and has since taught thousands of students. Today approximately 500 students of all ages take classes at the Korean Martial Arts Centre (KMAC), which has expanded to three other locations: Sudbury, Valley East and Coniston.

Chief Master Gerry Fortin pioneered the Hapkido style in Sudbury and continues to shape the future of Korean Martial Arts in Northern Ontario.


Master Chris Fortin and In Sun Suh in Korea.

Master Chris Fortin

7th Degree Black Belt

At the age of 10, Master Chris started his martial arts training at his father’s school, and has been assisting and teaching classes ever since. At the age of 15, he earned his 1st degree black belt, and after high school spent a year living in Grand Master Lee’s school training and managing the school.

In 2006, he received his 5th degree black belt in Kuk Sool-Hapkido, and took over the operation of the Sudbury KMAC.

In 2013, Master Chris was one of the recipients of Sudbury’s 40 under 40 awards, and in 2014 won the Sudbury Civic Award for volunteerism and the GenNext Volunteer Award for Active Living.

In 2014, Master Chris was promoted to 6th Degree Black Belt and was made an executive of the KMAC schools.

In 2023, Master Chris was promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt and appointed to Regional Director for the World Kido Federation for the Ontario, Canada region.

Outside of KMAC, Master Chris is a fulltime millwright professor at College Boreal, and loves spending time with his wife Nicki, daughter Emilie and son Eric.

Masters Gerry and Chris support the operations of Valley KMAC.



Head instructor Alex St-Amant.

Alex St-Amant, Head Instructor

4th Degree Black Belt

Head Instructor Alex has been training in martial arts for over 20 years. He began his martial arts journey under Normand Larocque and has spent the past 10 years training under the guidance of Chief Master Gerry Fortin.

He currently holds a 4th degree black belt in Kuk Sool Hapkido. As Head Instructor, he brings extensive knowledge in self-defense techniques, open-hand forms, striking, and traditional Korean weapons such as the sword, fan, and more. He has earned top-three placements in provincial, national, and international tournaments.

In recent years, he has supported the competitive martial arts community in Northern Ontario as the Tournament Director for the Northern Ontario Martial Arts Circuit.

Outside of martial arts, Instructor Alex works in the technology sector at NOSM University.



Marty St-Amant Jung Sa Nim

4th Degree Black Belt

Sebastien Maillet Bu Sa Nim

3rd Degree Black Belt

Megan Richardson Kyo Sa Nim

2nd Degree Black Belt

Braden Makela Kyo Sa Nim

2nd Degree Black Belt

Martin Courchesne Kyo Sa Nim

2nd Degree Black Belt

Samuel Caron Kyo Sa Nim

2nd Degree Black Belt

Ethan Matte Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Roxanne Stankiewicz Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Phil Barry Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Chris Pagnutti Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Nick Barry Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Hope Cecchetto Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Joel Fournel Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Gavin Pelland Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt

Jacob Gillingham Jo Kyo Nim

1st Degree Black Belt