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EW IN OTHER NEWS 98 January 2017 fit," she said. "Mentally, I enjoy it because it makes you do repetitive movements. You have to stay alert, and it's very fulfilling." In addition to her training, Dr. Braga-Mele wrote an essay about her experience before obtaining her black belt. After being at the top of her career as an ophthalmologist, she found it humbling to start at the bottom as a white belt and learn everything new as a student rather than a teacher. "It also taught me patience and compassion, and it taught me to be a better teacher," she said. "Many things I've learned in the dojo I take to the OR with me when I'm teaching my residents." Every day in karate is a new learning experience, Dr. Braga-Mele said. "Karate allows you to challenge yourself to your personal best, both mentally and physically, without the need to compare to others," she said, adding that she thinks it has made her both a better learner and a better teacher. "The biggest thing I think karate has done for me is to give me anoth- er sense of community," Dr. Braga- Mele said. "You definitely develop a bond with people you're hitting things with and training hard with." While practicing ophthalmol- ogy, Dr. Braga-Mele still finds time to practice karate 3 to 6 hours a week. The dojo has many different schedules, and this includes the op- portunity to practice as a family. Dr. Braga-Mele often practices with her youngest son. "It allows us to spend family time together but still train," she said, adding that it's a mental health break for her and helps her to focus better when she's at work. "I can accomplish more in a shorter period of time at work when I do these things," she said. "I think everyone should have something outside of their job that they love to do and they're passionate about." EW Contact information Braga-Mele: rbragamele@rogers.com Dr. Braga-Mele has been practicing martial arts for a number of years F or Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, professor of ophthalmology, Toronto, Canada, her hobby of practicing martial arts is not only a great way to spend time with her family and stay fit, it's also a break from practicing ophthalmology that helps her to be more focused at work. Dr. Braga- Mele practices karate, specifically Shotokan karate at Northern Karate Schools, and just last month she got her black belt. She started practicing karate a number of years ago during her ophthalmology residency, but then took a break from it. About 4 years ago, she picked it up again at a new karate school, or dojo. Restarting karate coincided with her three sons beginning to practice as well. "In karate, you go through an extensive training to learn the differ- ent moves and fighting etiquette," she said. "You have to learn katas, which are a series of movements that mimic a fighting situation." In order for a person to earn a black belt, he or she needs to know 10 open-hand katas without weapons and three weapon katas. The three weapon katas involve using a bo staff; tonfas, which are fighting sticks; and sais, which are sword-like weapons. In addition to the katas, Dr. Braga-Mele had to learn a series of kicks, including front kicks, side kicks, roundhouse kicks, hook kicks, and spinning kicks. Learning how to punch and then combining all of these moves to be able to spar, or fight others with respect, is also a part of the training. The training can be very phys- ically demanding, she said, so a person has to be physically fit. Dr. Braga-Mele also does weight training and bodybuilding in order to be in shape for karate. "I enjoy it because it helped me become physically by Ellen Stodola EyeWorld Senior Staff Writer Ophthalmologist earns black belt after taking up karate again Dr. Braga-Mele with gi and black belt in fighting stance Training and performing in a competition Source: Rosa Braga-Mele, MD

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