Shintani Wado Kai Senate The Senate is the governing body for the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation. Prior to the death of Hanshi Shintani, the organization was primarily directed by Hanshi Shintani himself with the assistance of the senate. The senate consists of senior ranking members initially appointed by Hanshi Shintani. The Senate held its inaugural meeting on November 1, 1997 in Toronto. At that time Hanshi Shintani signed the new constitution and named Sensei Denis Labbé his successor. Sensei Denis Labbé now heads the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation assisted by the Senate members. Denis Labbé - Kudan (9th Dan) President "Sensei Shintani's influence, changed my life. His impact on me not only benefitted me physically, it helped develop my confidence and to overcome my shyness as a young student to take on a leadership role. Sensei has taught me honor, humility, loyalty, compassion and commitment. In return I dedicate my life to Sensei Shintani and to his organization." - Sensei Denis Labbé More Neil Prime - Hachidan (8th Dan) Director "Other than my own father, Sensei Shintani has been the most influential man in my life." - Sensei Neil Prime More Shelley McGregor - Shichidan (7th Dan) Director "One of the things I remember most of Sensei Shintani visits was how kind and respectful he was to everyone. He always spoke so highly of Otsuka Sensei with admiration, loyalty, fondness and respect. He expressed that his teachings were that of Otsuka Sensei and it was his legacy he was preserving in his teachings. As SWKKF members we must do the same and maintain Sensei Shintani’s legacy. We can do this by keeping his spirit alive through our teachings and demonstration of good character." - Sensei Shelley McGregor More Bruce Perkins - Kudan (9th Dan) Senate Advisor “Karate becomes who you are and how you live your life – you cannot be a good black belt on the floor and change the minute you leave the dojo. A good black belt stands for so many things that are not related to the dojo” – Sensei Bruce Perkins More Danny McCoy - Kudan (9th Dan) Senate Advisor "Sensei Shintani has given me clear direction and instruction which has given me the ability to reach and continue to develop karate the way Mr. Shintani would like." - Sensei Danny McCoy More Ron Mattie - Kudan (9th Dan) Chief Instructor "When you come to a difficult time in your life and have to decide how to deal with it, put yourself 20 years from now and look back at this moment, then ask yourself "how do I wish I had dealt with it then" " - Sensei Ron Mattie More Michel Gosselin - Shichidan (7th Dan) Director "I am so grateful to have met Sensei Shintani and to be a part of what he has created. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that an organization like the SWKKF existed. All across this country we find passionate people who continue to teach Sensei’s important lessons of kindness, humility and respect, through the practice of karate." - Sensei Michel Gosselin More Brian Julien - Godan (5th Dan) Director “I was lucky enough to train with Sensei Shintani in my early formative karate years. I was always amazed that such a quiet, unassuming gentleman could demonstrate his techniques with such explosive speed and power, only to transform back into his humble self moments after the demonstration. It truly was inspirational.” More Brad Cosby - Kudan (9th Dan) Senate Advisor "Sensei Shintani never looked at karate as a "that's all there is, it's a static art", it was always evolving, changing for the better." Sensei Brad Cosby More Brian Chmay - Hachidan (8th Dan). Senate Advisor "I was very fortunate to train directly under Sensei Shintani. He inspired us not so much by his words but of his presence on the dojo. However, one of his quotes I that I will always remember is "You are not finished when you lose, you are finished when you quit." As a young Shodan, I felt that this statement was very important to help me become a better black belt, to strive harder, give your best effort in everything you do and to persevere. Now I realize it was meant as a guide in how to live your life and become the best person you could be. This is a philosophy I like to instill into all of my students." - Sensei Brian Chmay More Jim Atkinson - Hachidan (8th Dan) Vice President & Secretary "Mr. Shintani touched my life the moment I met him with his kindness & gentleness. When I seen him perform I was amazed and will be forever grateful to have his influence in my life." - Sensei Jim Atkinson More Darren Humphries - Shichidan (7th Dan) Director "Sensei Shintani and his senior students have influenced my life since I started Shintani Wado Kai. I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from Sensei Shintani during his spring and fall visits to the prairies. His presence in the dojo was unbelievable. When you watched him demonstrate techniques, his power and explosiveness was incredible. In the evenings he captivated everyone by telling stories about his life. Sensei built an amazing organization and I so proud and humbled to be part of it." - Sensei Darren Humphries More Kris Reynolds - Shichidan (7th Dan) Director “I remember as a teenager when Hanshi Shintani would attend tournaments, you could feel the whole room change when he walked in. He commanded such an enormous presence while at the same time a total kind and quiet demeanor. Even at my young age, it was easy to recognize that he had a true confidence derived from competence without ego, a precious and rare quality. We are so lucky that quality is prominent in so many of his direct students in the SWKKF.” More Rick Leveille - Kudan (9th Dan) Senate Advisor "The honesty and integrity Sensei Shintani taught me is the true strength of Wado Karate and are virtues that I live by everyday". Sensei Rick Leveille More Heather Fidyk - Shichidan (7th Dan) Former Senate Member "Sensei Shintani was an incredible inspiration to me and so many others. He served to ever increase his knowledge of Karate but most of all to share his gift of Karate with those who aspired to have it. Sensei Shintani holds a special place in my dedication to the Shintani Karate Federation and the continued development of the amazing organization he created." - Sensei Heather Fidyk More

Shintani News List Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation Senate is pleased to announce the 6th Dan ranking advancement for Senseis Reynolds, Hynes and Fast. Jul 25, 2025 Continue Reading With great pride, the SWKKF Senate and membership would like to congratulate Sensei Ron Mattie, for being inducted into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame. Nov 2, 2024 Continue Reading Shindo Photos from National Memorial Tournament held on May 25, 2025. May 25, 2025 Continue Reading How every purchase you make from Hatashita can help fund the Shintani Wado-Kai Karate Federation. Jun 1, 2025 Continue Reading It is with sincere sadness we announce the passing of Sensei Jeff Gervin on March 10, 2025. He held the rank of 7th Dan and was a long time dedicated member of the SWKKF. Mar 10, 2025 Continue Reading We would like to thank all that have generously donated to this year's Logger Family Memorial Fund. This is an amazing tribute to Chris, Wendy & Brittany. Jun 2, 2025 Continue Reading SWKKF 2025 Scholarship Awards Announced Jul 25, 2025 Continue Reading Congratulations to Sensei Neil Prime for being inducted into the Cleveland Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Apr 5, 2025 Continue Reading The SWKKF Senate announce the Dan ranking advancement of Sensei McGregor and Sensei Freeman to Shichidan (7th Dan). Jan 20, 2025 Continue Reading 2025 Reach Award recipients announced at Shintani Annual Memorial Tournament on 24 May 2025 May 24, 2024 Continue Reading The Sensei Jeff Gervin Memorial Fund offers grants of up to $200.00 to support SWKKF students seeking to deepen their martial arts training. Mar 10, 2025 Continue Reading

From the Beginning (our past) This section is dedicated to the memories of past members of the SWKKF that helped form the organization into what it is today. Although they are no longer with us physically, their contributions live on and their spirit is part of the fabric that forms the SWKKF as it is today. In order to be eligible for this section, the member must have been registered and a member in good standing at the time of their passing. coming soon Comments Masaru Shintani Feb 3, 1928 May 7, 2000 Comments Peter Ciolfi Feb 3, 1950 Mar 20, 1997 Comments Chris Logger Dec 21, 1952 Dec 22, 2022 Comments Peter Ruch Jul 13, 2022 Comments Dominic Morabito Comments Roland Day Comments Robert Trahan Comments Dan Bracconier Sep 6, 1956 Sep 3, 2013 Comments June Lebrun Jun 4, 1950 Mar 16, 2013 Comments Gord Vermette Oct 27, 2009 Comments Eve Hobbs Comments Roy Jaworski Comments Ed Poulin Aug 3, 1951 Jul 5, 2024 Comments Jeff Gervin Sep 21, 1968 Mar 10, 2025 Comments Stan Martin Jan 2, 1950 Jun 2, 2026

< Back Denis Labbé - Kudan (9th Dan) President Sensei Denis began his karate career in 1972 in Welland, Ontario. He attended a demonstration by Hanshi Masaru Shintani and was immediately impressed with his skill and presence. He has been training in Wado Kai ever since. Sensei Denis trained with Hanshi Shintani and also with Sensei Peter Ciolfi, one of Hanshi Shintani's black belts. As a kyu belt Sensei Denis trained with Sensei Ron Mattie who had started karate in 1973. In March of 1975 Sensei Denis received his Shodan rank. As a black belt Sensei Denis trained with Sensei Ron, Sensei Peter Ciolfi, Sensei Dominic Morabito and Sensei Ray Poulin. In June of 1997 Hanshi Shintani formed the SWKKF Senate. Sensei Denis held the position of Secretary-General for 10 years. In May of 2000 Hanshi Shintani passed away and Sensei Denis became the successor as President of the SWKKF. Sensei Denis continues to train, teach seminars, and attend tournaments and black belt gradings across Canada. He oversees the SWKKF and continues to fuel the organization in the direction Sensei Shintani guided him. Sensei Denis currently resides in St. Catharines, Ontario. Sensei Denis has two children (Aaron and Kelsey). On May 26, 2018 the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation Senate (after a long overdue decision) that Sensei Denis Labbé was awarded the rank of Kudan (9th Dan). For a more detailed biography of Sensei Denis Labbé, as well as some personal stories of his training with Hanshi Shintani please read the article in the October 2006 Harmonizer. From Hanshi Shintani - " Wado, way to harmony and peace. The finest quality of human race. A total goal to peace on earth. We the Wado students of karate must be the leaders of unity and happiness through the universe and guide our students to a alternate human alliance with understanding." dlabbe@shintani.ca +1 (905) 788-7999

(306) 921-3915 < Back Melfort Wado Kai Karate Sensei Jonathan Scott (306) 921-3915 melforkarateclub@gmail.com Address 550 Hutcheson Street, Melfort, SK, Canada Melfort, SK, Canada Practice Times Tuesday - Junior Class - 6:00-7:00 pm (Central Standard Time) Adult/Advance - 7:00-8:30 pm Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(306) 861-3214 < Back Weyburn Wado Kai Karate Sensei Owen Day (306) 861-3214 senseiowen@outlook.com Address 317 3rd Street South, Weyburn, SK, Canada Weyburn, SK, Canada Practice Times Wednesday - Youth - 5:30-6:30 pm / Advance Youth/Adult - 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesday - Blue & Up - 8:30-9:00 pm (Central Standard Time) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(519) 718-8665 < Back Port Dover Wado Kai Sensei Tim McCullough (519) 718-8665 mccdover@gmail.com Address Port Dover, ON, Canada Port Dover, ON, Canada N0A 1N0 Practice Times Tuesday/Thursday - 7-8 pm (Juniors) & 8-10 pm (Advanced) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

< Back Peter Ruch Jul 13, 2022 comments debug Comments (11) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest ylebel Admin Jun 15 Rick Leveille It was sad news to hear of Sensei Peter Ruch’s passing away. I have many good memories of Sensei Peter. He had a calming way with people he associated with and I always appreciated his advice and leadership. He also had a playful side which I will always remember. I was at an Karate banquet where Sensei Peter led the folks there in a dance ( La Macarena) . It was great fun and his playfulness was contagious. Sensei Peter was a great Karate Man and he will be missed by all that knew him. Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Michel Gosselin Sensei Peter was a great friend and dedicated member of the SWKKF. I have fond memories of him as the manager of the Shintani Team and I am honoured to have gotten to know him. He was a kind, loving and funny person. I remember being in a store with him, before a tournament, and he was purchasing little things. I do not remember exactly what it was, but he looked at me and said “The kids are going to love it”. He was preparing something special for the kids!! Spreading joy and happiness was his main focus. Rest in peace Sensei Peter, we will miss you. Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Ron Mattie My relationship with Peter Ruch: The last time I saw Sensei Peter Ruch was at Tim Horton in Port Colborne this past spring. We had a chance to reminisce about the pass, National Team, Roland Day, karate, family, Sensei Shintani and life in general. I’ve had the pleasure of working with sensei Ruch on the National team when he was the manager and I was the coach. We travelled across the country and had many great laughs. I also had the pleasure of sitting on the Senate with him. Also had some great visits with his wife Darlene and his daughter Cory. As for his son Steven, I only knew him briefly in his early karate career. Sensei Ruch and I competed against each other many times and I remembered the time he broke his big toe throwing me a kick and hitting my elbow. Another time I threw him a roundhouse kick and hit him scare in the chest. It made a really loud noise and everyone looked at us. He brushed it off and said, “boy the mosquitoes are bad in here”. LOL Throughout the years, Sensei Ruch has always been a gentleman and carried himself with the most respect. He has left a positive legacy and represented his family well. He will be missed greatly as an adviser and a friend. In peace by way of harmony; Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Brad Cosby I have personally known Sensei Peter Ruch for over 40 years, originally as a fellow tournament competitor. He was a strong, imposing and surprisingly quick opponent. What impressed me the most was that from the time you entered the ring, to the hearing of ‘Hajime’, is that time you establish presence and gain an advantage is always a part of my game and I am not sure if I ever phased him, but I knew he made ME think. After the match, it would always be a smile, a handshake, a hand on the shoulder, and either “Nice Fight”, or a “You know there will be a next time”, depending on the outcome, and myself thinking ‘hopefully not soon’. I was on the original Senate Committee with Peter; us all being handpicked by Hanshi Shintani. The knowledge Peter brought to the table from his personal life experiences laid the foundation for what the SWKKF is today and will carry on into the future. I do believe Peter leaving the Senate wasn’t that he necessarily wanted to, but more of a curiosity to sit back and see where the SWKKF would go. Over the past number of years, I have seen Sensei Peter at numerous SWKKF events as well as worked with him on the Standards and Ethics Committee alongside Sensei Bruce Perkins and myself, and once again I found his knowledge of mediation invaluable to us. The last time I saw Sensei Peter was at a Standards and Ethics Committee meeting at a coffee shop in Cayuga, Ontario. I will sadly miss Sensei Peter for what he gave to the SWKKF and to myself personally. RIP Sensei Peter. Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Jim Atkinson Sensei Peter Ruch was one of the kindest men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. For me there are very few people I met and feel comfortable with immediately. Sensei Peter was one of those people. To describe him in a few words would be “kind, generous, fun, “however when it came to business he was serious and thorough. He had so much respect for Hanshi Shintani and the SWKKF and took great pride in protecting our federation’s future. Sensei Peter was always there for me to offer advice and guidance. When Sensei Peter retired from the Senate where he was General Secretary, I was appointed to the position. He guided me every step of the way in what was to be expected from me. He was a great mentor and friend. As a joke he gave me a book called “How to run a successful meeting in half the time.” This book turned out to be a great asset in how our meetings are run today. I am very fortunate to have had the guidance and friendship from Sensei Peter Ruch and will forever appreciate his influence in my life. RIP my friend. Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Darren Humphries Sensei Peter Ruch was one of the kindest and sincerest people I have ever met. He always had a positive outlook on life, and I rarely saw him without a smile on his face. I will always remember the weekend trip to San Diego when the Shintani organization started the international competition team. The karate was great and the time with Sensei Peter was better. Hearing his stories and his desire to help Hanshi Shintani move the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation forward will never be forgotten. Along with the rest of the original Senate, Sensei Ruch was a key contributor to the organization we have today. Thank You Sensei Ruch. You will be missed. Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Neil Prime Sensei Peter Ruch was a fun-loving, likeable, kind gentleman that had a way about him that immediately put people at ease. Although he was very well known for his carefree spirit and antics, when Sensei Peter was asked a question in regard to a matter of importance, he had a subtle tone in which to convey a message and inform you of the facts or his opinion. You would walk away feeling better and more knowledgeable about the situation. There were a few occasions in which I received guidance from Sensei Peter. One was prior to taking over the management position of the National Team. The other was why I should represent the SWKKF on the Senate when the time came. They were not long discussions, as he was clear and to the point. My wife Lori first met Sensei Peter and Darlene when we stopped in to see him at his house 1 week before his annual tournament in January of 1997. The two of them were an admirable couple. They did not hesitate to invite us in and spent a couple hours entertaining us with stories from soup to nuts. They were such a delightful couple as they bounced their conversation off each other, one not missing a beat in adding to each other’s stories. Sensei Peter will be missed in person, but his memory will last another generation! In memory of a great person, Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Denis Labbe I have so much to say about Sensei Peter Ruch. I met Sensei Peter through Sensei Peter Ciolfi and Sensei Roland Day. Sensei Roland was the instructor of the Fort Erie club and when he moved out west, Sensei Peter Ruch took over the club. I worked out at Sensei Peter's club and competed with him in tournaments. Before the Senate was founded in 1997, Sensei Peter and I and a handful of ranking black belts formed an Executive Committee to assist Sensei Shintani with his organization. Sensei Peter played a major role in creating the Constitution and By-Laws for the Senate and when Sensei Shintani passed away, I became the President and Sensei Peter was the Secretary General for the SWKKF. We did many travels together. He had a great sense of humour. I remember one time we had a tournament in Hearst, he bought this huge chocolate bar and knowing that I had a love for chocolate he did a presentation for me at the evening banquet. His advice was always appreciated and very helpful. Even after he retired from the Senate, Sensei Peter was always there for me. Attached are articles, photos and more information about Sensei Peter. You may have some of these already. Within these attachments, you will find many more experiences that I had with Sensei Peter. Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Bruce Perkins There are very few people that I have come across that compare to Sensei Peter. He was a warm loving man with an incredible sense of humour, you never knew what to expect when he decided he was going to have fun. I had the pleasure of serving with him on the Senate for several years, where I soon learned to respect his intelligence as we started to form a constitution for the SWKKF. Without his input, there would be no constitution. I take great pleasure in calling him a friend and always felt better after being in his presence. Thank you Sensei Peter and Rest In Peace my friend. Like Reply ylebel Admin Jun 15 Heather Fidyk Sensei Peter was an incredible person, his larger than life personality paired with his gift of empathy brought out the best in people, and then we add in his karate contributions. Sensei Peter leaves a legacy within the Shintani federation that generations to come will enjoy. Sensei Peter is in my prayers as I remember the incredible time I spent with Sensei Peter, on and off, the floor. Like Reply Show more comments Previous Next

< Back Bruce Perkins - Kudan (9th Dan) Senate Advisor Sensei Bruce began his karate career in Wawa, Ontario in 1974 under the instruction of Sensei Danny McCoy, Sensei Rick Leveille, and Sensei Luigi Troverello. In 1979 Sensei Bruce moved to Southern Ontario where he continued his training under Sensei Shintani. In July 1979 he was graded to Shodan. Sensei Bruce founded the SWKKF Scholarship fund in May of 1990. Sensei Bruce was a member of the original National Team which was picked by Hanshi Shintani in 1996. He has been involved with the Shindo Development Committee and has also participated in the production of the SWKKF Kata and Shindo Instructional videos. Sensei Bruce received the rank of Shichidan, dated September 15th, 2007 and Hachidan, dated in 2014 from Otsuka Sensei Sr. of the All Japan Karate-do Federation, prior of his death, at the request of Hanshi Sensei. Subsequently was awarded Hachidan (8th Dan) in August 2013, and Kudan (9th Dan) in December 2020 from the SWKKF Senate. Sensei Bruce currently resides in Simcoe, Ontario with his wife Irene. His son's Dustin and Derek live in Western Canada. For a more detailed biography of Sensei Bruce Perkins, as well as some personal stories of his training with Hanshi Shintani please read the article in the July 2007 Harmonizer. bperkins@shintani.ca +1 (519) 429-5628

(905) 966-2666 < Back CJCC Wado Kai Karate Sensei Shane Morin (905) 966-2666 shanedmorin@gmail.com Address 45 Hempstead Drive, Hamilton, ON, Canada Hamilton, ON, Canada L8W 2Y6 Practice Times Thursday- Juniors - 6:15-7:45 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Thursday- Adults - 8:00-9:15 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Sunday - Adults - 11:00-12:00 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(705) 927-2309 < Back Lindsay Wado Kai Karate Sensei Craig McCleary (705) 927-2309 lindsaywadokai@gmail.com Address 260 Kent Street West, Lindsay, ON, Canada Lindsay, ON, Canada K9V 2Z5 Practice Times Tuesday - 5-9 yrs - 6:00-6:45 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Tuesday - Youth-Up - 6:45-7:45 pm / Adults - 7:45-8:30 pm Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(705) 884-2222 < Back Dubreuilville Wado-Kai Sensei Clarence Boutin (705) 884-2222 boutin.clarence@gmail.com Address 1596 Avenue du Parc, Dubreuilville, ON, Canada Dubreuilville, ON, Canada Practice Times Wednesday/Sunday - 6:00-8:30 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next