Ron Mattie - Kudan (9th Dan)

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: