(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

(479) 531-7280 < Back NWA Wado Kai Karate Club Sensei Joanne Johnson (479) 531-7280 nwawadokai@gmail.com Address 4911 West Pleasant Grove Road, Rogers, AR, USA Rogers, AR, USA 72758 Practice Times Thursday all students - 6-8 pm (Central Daylight Time) Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map 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

Brief History of Karate Some of the earliest origins of karate have been traced to the island of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Island chain. It is thought that a native style of self-defense developed here called te, or hand in English. Okinawa is within close distance to the coasts of Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. Thus there has been extensive influence from a number of Asian cultures in the subsequent history of this island. Karate as it has developed is thought to be an amalgamation of te with some prominent Chinese martial arts, such as Shaolin Temple Monk fist boxing. In early years, karate was translated as "Chinese hand". (kara = China / Chinese and te = hand) An early event germane to the development of karate, occurred in 1477 during the beginning of the newly formed Sho Dynasty (Reid & Croucher, 1983 ). In order to manage unruly warlords, the king proclaimed a ban on the carrying of swords, and had all weapons, and the warlords themselves, brought to court, where they could be monitored. In 1609 when the Japanese annexed Okinawa, they maintained the ban on the carrying of weapons. However, Japanese samurai were exempt from this edict. It is suggested that during this time both the art of the hand, as well as weapon arts, or kobudo, were developing. The nobility were studying mostly te, and the peasant classes developing weapons systems based upon the use of familiar, and available tools, such as rice flails (nunchaku), mill grindstone handles (tonfa), sickles (kama), and other implements. On Okinawa, te began to develop into three similar, but distinct systems. They were tied to the major geographical regions of Shuri, Tomari, and Naha. Reid & Croucher (1983) state that these differences may have emerged through the divergent influences coming into each region. Shuri-te evolved more from the influence of the harder Shaolin Temple style under the likes of Sokon Matsumura, and Naha-te, these being more closely related to the "inner" Chinese styles. They emphasized the cultivation of ki (a.k.a. chi), or life energy and was fostered by Kanryo Higaonna. In the early 1920's, an Okinawan school teacher under the tutelage of Anko Itosu, named Gichin Funakoshi, was observed by the Japanese Emperor's son performing a display of Shuri-te karate. Funakoshi was subsequently invited to Japan to demonstrate karate for the nation, and later went on to be charged with incorporating it into the regular Japanese school curriculum. Funakoshi's adaptations to shorin-style karate later became known as shotokan, a name adapted from his own authored pen name. In 1935, a multi-style coalition of karate masters met to decide on a common name for their teachings, and "karate" was decided upon, with a slight change in the meaning to "empty hand", a decision which reflects the independent political stance at the time. Tomari-te appears to adopt aspects of both the hard and soft of Shuri-te and Naha-te, and has been associated with Kosanku Matsumora. Towards the late 1800's, the Shuri and Tomari styles merged into what was called shorin-ryu (the small forest school). Shorin is the Okinawan pronunciation of "Shaolin" in Mandarin-Chinese. The shorin-based styles tend to be light and high in stance. Many styles have emerged from this line, including kobayashi-ryu under Chosin Chibana, matsubayashi-ryu under Shosin Nagamine, and the shorin-ryu of Yasutsune ("Anko") Itosu. Naha-te emerged as goju-ryu (hard and soft school) under the development of Chojun Miyagi, with the goju style placing emphasis on breathing and tension. Another school, shito-ryu is a combination of both goju and shorin styles, while uechi-ryu is very similar to goju.

(403) 700-3166 < Back Three Elements Karate Club Sensei Kevin Bowes (403) 700-3166 info@threeelementskarate.com Address 3602 8 St SW, Calgary, AB, Canada Calgary, AB, Canada Practice Times Monday - Family Class Intermediate - 6:30-7:30 pm (Mountain Daylight) Monday/Thursday - Family Class Beginner - 6:30-7:30 pm Monday/Thursday - Adult Class - 7:30-9:30 pm Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

Representatives British Columbia Alberta NWT Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario REPRESENTATIVES The following is the hierarchy within the SWKKF organization. Senate (click here) Provincial Representative Highlighted in brown Alberta British Columbia Manitoba Northwest Territories Ontario Saskatchewan Regional Representative Highlighted in green Club Representative Listed in each category

(250) 603-9148 < Back Elk Valley Wado-Kai Sensei Rick Leveille / Sensei Eric Logodi (250) 603-9148 eriklogodi@gmail.com Address Elkford, British Columbia, Canada Elkford, BC, Canada Practice Times 8 yrs old - Adult - 6-7:30 pm (Pacific Daylight Time). Days are on shift Schedule - Contact Eric Logodi Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

The art of Shindo was developed by Hanshi Masaru Shintani, 10th Dan, in the early 1970s. Hanshi Shintani had made the Shindo methods and principles known to Master Otsuka who gave it his full endorsement. How to Incorporate Shindo into Your Karate by Sensei Marco Reyes In the Harmonizer newsletters you are going to see more information on Shindo from various Shindo practitioners. These are people who have taken Sensei Shintani’s legacy and continued with it. I know it is a tough venture, but the rewards are worth it. The first step is to just pick up the Shindo and start. Here are some of my personal thoughts on Shindo. There are three basic roadblocks for not working Shindo that I have found. Each of these can be overcome. Roadblock One There is just not enough time to work Shindo AND Karate. Answer It does not have to be this way. They are one and the same. In our class we dedicate the first 30 minutes (of a two hour class) to the work on Shindo. We have actually found that our karate has improved from this model. Shindo as we call it is a lie detector. If the Shindo technique does not work for some reason we go back to the basic karate for answers and from experience this works. Let’s take a basic Shindo strike. If you look at the basic movement of a punch and a strike with the Shindo you will see that they are almost identical. Many times there is a common theme or topic for a workout and various techniques are used to work towards this goal. For example: Hip action – a basic punch uses this with hip rotation. A basic Shindo strike uses this as well with hip rotation. If you were working hip action with your students this could be accomplished with both karate and Shindo. Roadblock Two Nobody in my dojo knows any Shindo. Answer You know karate – that is a good place to start. I would challenge anyone to pick up a Shindo and start. Once you pick up a few techniques you will start to feel how similar it is to basic karate. Let’s begin with the illustration above. The body position, stance, posture are all similar to basic karate. The right hand is in the ready position, left hand is out with the strike. When moving with the Shindo remember these basic principles: Hold the Shindo in three equal parts. The fulcrum is in the center – every movement you do the fulcrum must be maintained. Remem-ber this when you move the Shindo. Concentrate your strike on the ends of the Shindo. Lines of Force : This is where you would hold the Shindo for the most leverage. An easy test is to put your Shindo against something solid and push (hard). If you can hold it without any uncomfortable pressure, or it does not slip out of your hand you have good support. Roadblock Three Shindo is not karate. It is something completely separate. Answer: False. Shindo had its origins in karate. Check "History & Development" under Shindo on the Main Menu. Click here. "The art of Shindo was devised by Sensei Masaru Shintani, 9th Dan in the early 1970's. Sensei had made the Shindo methods and principles known to Otsuka Sensei who gave it his full endorsement. Sensei began teaching Shindo in the early 1980's. The roots of these basics and other techniques taught by Sensei can be traced directly back to his extensive Wado Kai training under Otsuka Sensei. Sensei Shintani used the sabaki motion and explosiveness that he was renowned for to develop the same effects with the Shindo. Sensei Shintani once held the Shindo up in front of a class at a black belt workout and said "This is my life" . I can remember going to black belt workouts and working basic karate techniques and then working with Shindo afterwards. There was no break in the instruction. The movement from karate to Shindo was seamless. The Shindo was just an extension of what I already knew. At that time it was also very exciting since this was something completely new. I felt like a white belt all over again trying to make sense of this new tool in my hands. But after a short while the Shindo began to feel comfortable. One tip – if the technique with the Shindo does not feel comfortable put it down. Try the technique as a karate move – look at the movement, the technique, all the basic principles that make it whole. Then pick up the Shindo and apply this analysis and see what you come up with. Shindo was important to Sensei Shintani. In each of our own ways we continue with this legacy through karate. But we must not minimize the importance that he placed on Shindo. And always remember you can contact the Shindo Committee for assistance. They will give you the tools that will make your Shindo work accessible from clinic, DVD material, etc. They are always there to help.

(519) 420-0594 < Back Simcoe South Wado Kai Sensei Bruce Perkins (519) 420-0594 t-foster@flarenet.com Address 128 Evergreen Hill Road, Simcoe, ON, Canada Simcoe, ON, Canada N3Y 4N5 Practice Times Tueday/Thrusday - Juniors - 7-8 pm / Adults Mix Class - 7-9 pm Club Website or Social Media Notes Previous Map Next

SWKKF Club Startup Initiative Thinking of starting a karate dojo? That may be a tough initiative. But the venture is worth it. It could be one of the most rewarding experiences of your karate life. Check with the SWKKF how it can help you and what assistance it offers. Download the form and application to get started. The SWKKF offers a one‐time initiative startup for those who require financial assistance. The following is the eligibility criteria for the program: Must be of the rank of Shodan or up, or under the direction of a Dan ranking sponsor. Must be registered within the SWKKF for a minimum of 3 consecutive years. Must have the recommendation of their Sensei. Must be a new dojo (not an existing dojo or a dojo rename or move). Limited to a one lifetime subscription. Limited to a maximum of $1000.

(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

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