Contact Us Where to Find Us SWKKF headquarters proudly calls Welland, Ontario home - a vibrant city nestled in the heart of the Niagara Region, just a short drive from world-famous Niagara Falls. Known historically as the meeting point of rails and waterways, Welland is where tradition and motion flow together - thanks to the Welland Canal and the River that bears its name. Who We Are With over 1,900 passionate students and more than 60 active clubs across Canada, the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation stands tall as one of North America’s leading martial arts organizations focused on a single style. We're backed by a remarkable community of 400+ black belts - dedicated, skilled, and highly ranked instructors committed to preserving and sharing the spirit of Shintani Wado Kai karate. Get in Touch Got questions about our style? Thinking of joining a club? Just curious? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to contact us directly or reach out to your nearest club. CLICK HERE to find the nearest Club to you. We’re here to listen, help, and guide you - whether you're a beginner, seasoned martial artist, or simply interested in learning more about what makes SWKKF so special. Head Quarters Address: Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) 515-375 Scott Street St. Catharines, Ontario Canada L2M 3W3 Contact: Denis Labbé - Kudan (9th Dan) President, SWKKF email: dlabbe@shintani.ca

(705) 262-0264 < Back POP Wado Kai Karate Club Sensei Melanie Camirand (705) 262-0264 mcamirand4@gmail.com Address 560 Dieppe Street, Timmins, ON, Canada Timmins, ON, Canada Practice Times Monday/Wednesday - 6-8 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

< Back Ron Mattie - Kudan (9th Dan) Chief Instructor Sensei Mattie started Wado-Kai Karate in the yearly 1970’s at the Welland Wado-Kai Karate Club. He was influenced to join by Sensei Denis Labbé. Sensei Labbé and Sensei Mattie along with the late Sensei Peter Ciolfi were among three of the top competitors through out the 70‘s and 80’s. Sensei Mattie taught many of Hanshi Shintani’s monthly black belt classes at the Japanese Culture center in Hamilton as well as traveling across Canada conducting karate workshops. After Hanshi Shintani’s passing in 2000, Sensei Mattie was appointed Chief instructor of the Shintani Wado-Kai Karate Federation. He still travels across Canada as well as other countries holding clinics for vary martial art groups. Sensei Mattie is also the SWKKF National Team coach. With the help of many instructors in the organization, the team excelled internationally and is reaching the goals that were set by Hanshi Shintani. Ron’s two children are also both in martial arts. His daughter Ronnie-Kay, a firefighter for the Niagara Falls Fire Department, is a black belt belt in Kickboxing and an orange belt in Jujitsu. His son Chad is a black belt in both kickboxing and Jujitsu. Sensei Mattie along with Sensei Labbé, has also been involved in Schutzhund training. This is a type of sport protection dog training. They both competed in the late 70’s and early 80’s across Canada and won many championships with their German Shepherd dogs. Recently, Sensei Mattie received his 8th dan and was appointed vice president and chief technical director for Wado in Canada under the World Traditional Karate Association (WTKA) for Canada. Sensei Ron received the rank of Hachidan from Otsuka Sensei Sr. of the All Japan Karate-do Federation, prior to his death, at the request of Hanshi Sensei coming into effect September 05, 2009 and subsequently awarded Kudan (9th Dan ) rank from the World Traditional Karate Association in November 2020 and Kudan (9th Dan) from the SWKKF Senate in December 2020. Sensei Ron Mattie is married and still resides in Welland Ontario. From Sensei Ron - A lesson in karate I remember Sensei Shintani saying: “The 1st technical thing you learn in karate is how to make a proper fist. Years later, the student wants to learn more katas and other kumite drills, and yet they still haven’t learnt the simplest lesson, how to make a proper fist.” For a more detailed biography of Sensei Ron Mattie as well as some personal stories of his training with Sensei Shintani please read the article in the July 2006 Harmonizer. Sensei Ron has produced the "5 Rules of Karate" video series. To view these follow this link: rmattie@shintani.ca +1 (905) 736-0943

KARATE CANADA / WORLD KARATE FEDERATION DAN CERTIFICATE REQUEST The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) is a Karate Canada recognized association. Based on Karate Canada requirements, a Karate Canada Dan Certificate must be received before a World Karate Federation certificate can be requested. The Karate Canada Dan Certificate request process is as follows: Interested members must be a member in good standing with the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation Interested members must be a member in good standing with the Provincial Sport Organization (PSO). The requirements for certificates from 1st Dan to 5th Dan are: 1st Dan – member of the PSO for at least 1 year. 2nd Dan – member of the PSO for at least 1 year. 3rd Dan – member of the PSO for at least 2 years 4th Dan – member of the PSO for at least 3 years 5th Dan – member of the PSO for at least 4 years and have a club registered with 15 students with the PSO Member completes the application form. Forms are available below for download. Member submits the application form along with an eTransfer for the Certificate to Sensei Darren Humphries (dhumphries@shintani.ca ). Karate Canada will mail the certificate in 4 – 6 weeks (for Karate Canada Dan Certificates and 4 – 6 months for a World Karate Federation Certificate. The Karate Canada and World Karate Federation Certificates is another optional avenue for our members to pursue if they choose to. Our current Dan Grading process remains the same. A Karate Canada or World Karate Federation Certificate can be issued without performing another Dan grading. Please e-mail Sensei Darren Humphries should you need further information. e-mail address: Sensei Ron Mattie (rmattie@shintani.ca ) Sensei Darren Humphries (dhumphries@shintani.ca ) Download Applications Forms: Karate Canada World Karate Federation

< Back Kris Reynolds - Rokudan (6th Dan) Director Sensei Kris Reynolds started karate in Lindsay, Ontario in 1996 under Sensei Darren Marshall (a student of Hanshi Rick Levielle). He was graded to Shodan in 2001, and received his Rokudan (6th Dan) in 2025. Sensei Reynolds also holds a Rokudan in Shindo, and a Yodan from the World Traditional Karate Association. As a blue belt, he met his wife Sarah, with whom he has raised 2 sons in Lindsay, Ontario (Thomas & Ryker), the eldest of which shares Kris’s interest Karate. Sarah has supported him pursuing his passion for karate for over 25 years. In 2004 Sensei Reynolds competed alongside Sensei Sanford Dewitt at the World Koshiki Championships (a bare knuckle full contact karate competition), which was part of the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal for team Canada in the heavyweight category. From 2006 to 2012 he was the manager, and in 2012 became the Heavyweight fighter for the Shintani National Karate Team. In 2005, Sensei Reynolds took over as chief instructor of the Lindsay Wado Kai dojo where he had started karate 10 years earlier. In 2014, he started Karate Kawartha Lakes, a non-profit association which in 2018 included 6 dojos between the Kawartha's and Ottawa. Kris has assisted on many national committees including as chair of the Bunkai committee and chair of the Shindo committee for the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation. In 2015 Sensei Reynolds created Gensho Shodan no Shindo, a Shindo kata which has been adopted by the S.W.K.K.F. as the official 5th dan Shindo grading kata. Sensei Reynolds is enormously grateful for the significant positive impact that the SWKKF and many of the original senate members had on his life and hopes he can pay that impact forward to the young karate-ka he meets. kreynolds@shintani.ca +1 (705) 928-3400

< Back Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation Senate is pleased to announce the 6th Dan ranking promotions. Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation Senate is pleased to announce the 6th Dan ranking advancement for Senseis Reynolds, Hynes and Fast. https://811184d5-cd1f-4953-859e-95ef22fe2c82.usrfiles.com/ugd/811184_2e3bfb4eeac14ad0947ff0f3daca224a.pdf Previous Continue Reading Next

(306) 530-6905 < Back Regina Shintani Wado Kai Karate Sensei Ryan McDonald (306) 530-6905 ryguy_1@sasktel.net Address 125 Paynter Crescent, Regina, SK, Canada Regina, SK, Canada Practice Times Tuesday - Just for kicks - 6:30-7:00 pm / Regular - 7:00-8:00 pm Advance - 8:00-9:00 pm (Central Standard Time) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

< Back Heather Fidyk - Shichidan (7th Dan) Former Senate Member Sensei Heather began her karate career through the University of Alberta Wado Kai club in 1986 earning her Shodan in 1990. In 2007 she earned the rank of Godan (5th dan) under the tutelage of Sensei Ron Mattie. Subsequently, she earned her rank of Rokudan (6th) rank August 2013, and Shichidan (7th) rank December 2020 from the SWKKF Senate. From 1992 to 1993, Sensei Heather lived and worked in Japan with her husband Sensei Darren Fidyk, Godan, where they trained and competed in Wado Ryu under the instruction of Sensei Endo. They continued their international training as Wado Ryu guests in Brazil in 1998 and in Japan in 2000 accompanied by Sensei Ron Mattie and Sensei Darren Humphries. Sensei Heather was a member of the SWKKF National team from 2002-2006. During this time she competed throughout Canada, in the US and Morocco. She maintains her involvement with the SWKKF National Team taking on the role of assistant coach from 2010 to present and even competed with the National Team in Italy in 2011. Sensei Heather has played a large role in the growth and development of Wado Kai karate in Alberta. She founded the St. Albert Wado Kai club, ran the Edmonton Riverbend Wado Kai club, and in 1994 co-founded the South Calgary Wado Kai Karate club with Sensei Darren Fidyk. Currently she is the head instructor and treasurer of the South Calgary Wado Kai Karate Club. The club is about 150 -200 members and hosts one of the SWKKF’s largest tournaments annually in March. She trained Shindo beginning as a blue belt with Hanshi Shintani and today the club participates in the SWKKF Shindo program with both an adult and youth component. As a new member of the SWKKF senate she brings with her a western perspective, a female view, knowledge of being a board member, running a nonprofit organization, and an international understanding.

(780) 961-3538 < Back Vimy Wado Kai Sensei Ian Shank (780) 961-3538 ilshank@mcsnet.ca Address 5016 50 Street, Sylvan Lake, AB, Canada Vimy, AB, Canada Practice Times Tuesday/Thursday - 7:00-8:00 pm (Mountain Daylight Time) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

< Back 2025 REACH Awards 2025 Reach Award recipients announced at Shintani Annual Memorial Tournament on 24 May 2025 https://811184d5-cd1f-4953-859e-95ef22fe2c82.usrfiles.com/ugd/811184_1a86ba4252a04fb19eb64e6817a16acc.pdf Previous Continue Reading Next

(705) 297-0753 < Back Prince Township Wado Kai Sensei Duane Wenmann (705) 297-0753 wenmannssm@gmail.com Address 3042 Second Line West, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada Sault Ste Marie, ON , Canada P6A 6K4 Practice Times Wednesday - 7:00-9:00 pm (Eastern Daylight) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

(705) 872-1690 < Back Peterborough Karate-do Sensei Brodie Hicks - 4th Dan (705) 872-1690 sensei.wuson@gmail.com Address 270 Braidwood Avenue, Peterborough, ON K9J 1V3, Canada Peterborough, ON K9J 1V3 Practice Times Tuesday/Thursday - Kids - 6:00-7:00 pm EST (Adults welcome to join) Tuesday/Thursday - Adults - 7:00-8:00 pm (Kids with Green Belt and above welcome to join) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next