Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation Welcome to SWKKF Canada’s Premier Karate Community 1900 members, 400+ black belts, and a legacy of excellence. Why SWKKF? Thinking about starting karate — for yourself or your child? We're here to help you begin that journey with purpose, passion, and support. With over 60 clubs across Canada , world-class instructors, family-friendly programs, safety-conscious, and exciting events all year round, SWKKF is more than just martial arts. It’s a place where individuals grow stronger, build friendships, and become leaders — inside and outside the dojo. Ready to Get Started? Experience the difference SWKKF makes! Your First Class - Click Here Learn - Grow - Excel Join the SWKKF Family Click Here to "Find a Club" Near You See Why Families Across Canada Trust SWKKF! Click to Read Karate Clubs Making the Right Choice Click to View Video "The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation is a non-profit, inclusive organization, modeling Hanshi Shintani's kindness and humility, through the teaching of his traditional karate and Shindo." Confirmation of Sensei Shintani Successor Click to Read News That Pack a Punch MORE INFO UPCOMING EVENTS Find a Club Near You Kids, teens, adults — karate is for everyone! Find a karate class near you and take the first step today! Click the button. Clubs Shintani News Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation Senate is pleased to announce the 6th Dan ranking promotions. Jul 25, 2025 Continue Reading Sensei Neil Prime Inducted into the Cleveland Martial Arts Hall of Fame Apr 5, 2025 Continue Reading SWKKF 2025 Scholarship Awards Announced Jul 25, 2025 Continue Reading Shindo Photos from National Memorial Tournament May 25, 2025 Continue Reading Sensei Ron Mattie inducted into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame Nov 2, 2024 Continue Reading See All News

HANSHI MASARU SHINTANI Judan (10th DAN) 1928 - 2000 Hanshi Masaru Shintani, 10th Dan (Jūdan) was the Supreme Instructor of Wado Kai Karate in Canada and founder of the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF). At the time of his death, he was the highest ranking Sensei outside of Japan. A direct student of Master Otsuka , the founder of Wado Kai, Shintani devoted over 50 years to the study of Karate. He also held ranks in Judo (Sandan), Aikido (Shodan), and Kendo (Shodan). Shintani was born on 3 February 1928 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the child of Japanese immigrants. His mother was a member of the Matsumoto clan, a respected samurai clan with a history going back hundreds of years. Like virtually all West Coast Japanese-Canadians during the Second World War, his family was uprooted and moved to the rugged interior of British Columbia for the duration of the war. The Shintani family, mother and six children, was interned in New Denver, an abandoned mining town used to house hundreds of Japanese Canadians. While growing up in the camp, he learned the ways of two cultures. On school mornings he attended Canadian classes in English, history, and mathematics. In the afternoon, he studied the Japanese language and heritage, along with Kendo and Judo, the standard physical education for all Japanese students. One day in 1940 -41, while looking for frozen ponds by the river to play hockey, Shintani and a group of youths came across an older man standing barefoot in the snow, punching a tree and shouting. This was his initial contact with the person who would introduce him to Karate. After several meetings, some of the boys were invited to train with the man, whose name was Kitagawa. He was a practitioner of Shorin-ryu, one of the older Okinawan Karate styles. Sensei Kitagawa referred to his teachings as Kumite (fighting) and soon the eager young men were beating the bark off of trees with punches, blocks and kicks. Shintani recalls training barefoot on the ice rink and sparring bouts. “Every time you got on the floor, it was life or death.” Sensei Kitagawa's methods would be considered rather excessive or 'brutal' by today's standards. Shintani reflected, “I believe it hurt our minds more than it helped our bodies.” Sensei Shintani instructing Sensei Peter Ciolfi After nine years under Sensei Kitagawa's direction, Shintani was graded to 6th Dan when Kitagawa returned to Japan. Shintani also traveled to Japan to train in Karate and visit his mother's family. He met Master Otsuka in 1956 at a Karate seminar. Over the next few years, Shintani competed in large national torunaments, eventually winning the Japan Karate Federation championship. In 1958, Master Otsuka invited Hanshi Shintani to join his Wado Kai organization. Impressed with the character and integrity of Master Otsuka, Hanshi Shintani respectfully accepted the invitation. During this time, Hanshi Shintani's family moved to Beamsville, near Hamilton, Ontario. To support his family, he tended the family farm and greenhouse. He also played semi-pro baseball. Shintani began teaching Karate and Judo locally and at the Japanese Cultural Centre in Hamilton. Sad to say, the Japanese in North America during the post-war period were subject to racism and violence. Shintani credits his survival during this time to his harsh training under Kitagawa and the humility he learned from his mother and Master Otsuka. “I learned a lesson in the war-time camps under Kitagawa Sensei. It protected my life. Under Otsuka Sensei, I preserved it”. In 1979, Master Otsuka graded Hanshi Shintani to Hachidan (8th Dan). At the same time Master Otsuka presented him with a Kudan (9th Dan) certificate. This was to be revealed by Shintani only after a suitable period of time had elasped. He made known his Kudan rank in 1995. Hanshi Shintani traveled to Japan several times to train with Master Otsuka. Master Otsuka honored his Canadian disciple by coming to Ontario occasionally to visit and teach. The last time was in 1980, two years prior to his passing. Sensei Shintani with Master Otsuka During the 1970s, Master Otsuka appointed Shintani the Supreme Instructor of Wado Kai in North America. After the death of Master Otsuka, Shintani visited Okinawa to meet with the old masters who had trained with Master Otsuka. Most of these men had passed on, except for Sensei Yamashita who shared his knowledge and memories with Shintani. Shintani's devotion to and mastery of Karate is remarkable. Stories of his skill and acts of humility greatly impressed those who had not met him. He constantly refined and improved the basic Karate techniques and concepts to advance the Way of Karate. He was determined that the vital and dynamic nature of Karate should not become stagnant or ritualized and be allowed to deteriorate into a stylized dance of impractical techniques, no longer representing a real martial art. He indicated that there are no symbolic moves in kata. Every technique must be performed as if it was ‘real’. In the few years before his death, Shintani spent much of his time developing Karate and Shindo concepts. He traveled across North America and globally to conduct seminars in Wado Kai and Shindo. As the leader of a large North American martial arts organization, he could easily have become a wealthy man. Instead, he lived a life of quiet modesty, continuing to follow his three ideals -- Humility, Integrity and Honour. Those of us in Wado Kai, who had the honor to meet Shintani, recognize what an incredible privilege it was to have trained with him and learned from him how to live the Way of Peace and Harmony. On December 2017, the SWKKF Senate was pleased to announce that its founder, Hanshi Masaru Shintani, had been awarded the highest Karate rank of Jūdan (10th dan) posthumously. Shintani is revered and honoured by his family, friends and students as the Grand Master and founder of the SWKKF.

Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) Welcome to the Heart of Our Organization Want to know what makes the SWKKF tick? You’re in the right place - check below. This is your one-stop guide to who we are, how we train, and what we stand for. Explore our structure, policies, grading manuals, and procedures - all clearly laid out and easy to navigate. The SWKKF has clubs and affiliates across Canada and internationally, and strong relationships with respected global martial arts organizations. Discover our training philosophy, commitment to Safe Karate, and our inclusive spirit - including para-karate classes that ensure everyone has a place on the mats. Follow the clear path to black belt through our structured grading system and see how we maintain the high standards that define our dojos and the SWKKF. Click Any Subject in Blue Below SWKKF Overview Senate Committees Representatives Policies, Procedures & Manuals Training Programs Black Belt Grading Safe Karate Program SWKKF Programs REACH Scholarships SWKKF Affiliations KC/WKF Dan Certificate World Traditional Karate World Kobudo Federation Shintani Affiliate Program

Welcome to the Shintani Karate Store SWKKF Katas - Volume 1 - 4 Volume 1: Power Kata (Chi Kata), Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yodan, Pinan Godan Volume 2: Kushanku, Naihanchin, Chinto, Wanshu Volume 3: Chonan Shodan, Tekki Shodan, Shopai Volume 4: Seisho, Chocodo, Teisho Shindo Volume 1 - 3 Volume 1: Basic Shindo Volume 2: Intermediate Shindo Volume 3: Advanced Shindo Grading Techniques Shindo Katas Chonan No Shindo Kushanku No Shindo Taisei No Shindo ** New Shindo Katas Wanshu No Shindo Gensho Shodan No Shindo Chinto No Shindo Black Belt Grading Techniques of the SWKKF Limited Edition Prints Kihon Kumite Techniques Hanshi Shintani Kihon Kumite Techniques ** Shintani / Otsuka, Hanshi Shintani with Shindo, Hanshi Shintani Gedan Shuto Shintani / Shindo Shirts ** Shintani Wado Kai and Shindo Limited Edition Shirts. Shintani Branded Dojo Apparel Shintani Branded Duffel Bags, Mugs, Shirts, Jackets and more ** To Order - Send email to dlabbe@shintani.ca SWKKF Members Store Equipment: Hand/Foot Pads, Karate Gi's , Belts Duffel Bags, Clothing Hard & Soft Shindo. Make sure to search for Shintani when ordering. SWKKF Instructors Store Store for SWKKF Instructors. Make sure to search for Shintani when ordering. Sport Excel Academy Louis Roentgen Book Order Sensei Lou Roentgen (direct student of Sensei Shintani) book on Karate-Do Special offer for SWKKF Members Member Items Wood carvings

(705) 429-9622 < Back Wasaga Beach Wado Kai Sensei Karen Storing (705) 429-9622 Address Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada Practice Times Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(480) 329-4281 < Back S.E.T. Martial Arts Donald Pugh (480) 329-4281 info@setmartialarts.com Address 13430 North Dysart Road suite 180, Surprise, AZ, USA Surprise, AZ, USA Practice Times Wednesday 5:30, Friday 6:00, Saturday 12:00 Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(519) 428-8406 < Back Delhi Wado-Kai Sensei Jim Atkinson (519) 428-8406 jimatkinsonfarms@gmail.com - Adults / kartinamarques68@outlook.com - Juniors Address 373 Northern Avenue, Delhi, ON, Canada Delhi, ON , Canada N4B 2B9 Practice Times Wednesday - Kids - 6:30-7:30 pm / Adults - 7:30-9:30 pm 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

(519) 909-9438 < Back Simcoe Saturday Kids Sensei Marco Reyes (519) 909-9438 marcoreyes@gmail.com Address 182 South Drive, Simcoe, ON, Canada Simcoe, ON, Canada Practice Times Saturday - Kids - 9:30-11 am / Advance - 11-12:30 pm (Eastern Daylight) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(705) 845-0529 < Back Hanmer Wado Kai Sensei Rick Pilon / Sensei Gilles Dupuis (705) 845-0529 hanmerwadokai@gmail.com Address Hanmer, Greater Sudbury, ON, Canada Hamner, ON, Canada Practice Times Tuesday/Wednesday - Kids - 6:30-7:30 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Tuesday/Wednesday - Adults - 6:30-8:30 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Moving to new location in September 2025 Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(780) 918-7204 < Back Spruce Grove Wado Kai Sensei Mike Bujold (780) 918-7204 mnbujold@gmail.com Address 505 McLeod Ave, Spruce Grove, AB, Canada Spruce Grove, Alberta T7X 2Y5 Practice Times Family Class - Tuesday/Thursday - 6:30-7:30 pm (Mountain Daylight Time) Advance Class - Tuesday/Thursday - 7:30-8:30 pm Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(780) 706-5549 < Back Peace Region Wado Kai Sensei Clinton McCrea (780) 706-5549 clint.gpkarate@gmail.com Address 8930 111 St. #99, Richmond Industrial Park, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada Grande Prairie, AB, Canada Practice Times Tuesday/Thursday - Youth:6:30-7:30 pm / Adult:7:30-9:00 pm (MDT) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next