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Karate
You may ask yourself "why karate?" Karate has many benefits. It's more than just a sport - it is a way of life, combining the mind, body, and spirit in its training.'Karate,' translated from Japanese, means 'Empty hand'. The body itself becomes a weapon. However, our style of karate, which is known as 'Wado Ryu', means 'Way of Peace and Harmony'. Karate is not just about fighting. True karate training includes building self-confidence, character, and consideration for others.
Karate takes time, commitment and dedication. To attain, you must train. There is no 'easy way', no 'get fit quick' method.
Our club is open to both males and females, training on an equal basis. Indeed, karate is a great 'equalizer', since it does not rely on brute strength for defense.
Wado Ryu
Wado Ryu, a style member of the Saskatchewan Karate Association, was the first registered style of Japan and remains one of the world's five major traditional styles. One influence of its origins was JuJitsu, long the exclusive property of Japanese nobility. It required extensive knowledge of human anatomy. Knowledge of Kendo (stick defence) and knife defence are extensions of the learning plane. Wado Ryu challenges us to use the natural flow of the body to maximize power.The amalgamation of the yielding principles of JuJitsu, the non-opposition to brute strength, with the traditional Okinawan Karate techniques, gives a softness to the style that makes it unique. Karate should not be considered as strictly a physical endeavour but should combine mind, body and spirit in its training.
Instruction
The Shaunavon Karate Klub is extremely fortunate to have very high calibre instruction. Such instruction is generally available only in major cities around the world.Guthrie Sensei
5th Dan Black BeltOur chief instructor is Graham Guthrie, who immigrated from England to Canada in 1975. He started his karate training in 1968 under the instruction of Walter Seaton. Graham founded the Swift Current Karate Club in 1977 and was one of the founding members of the Saskatchewan Karate Association.
Graham Guthrie is a 5th Dan Black Belt in the Wado Ryu style of karate. He is the highest level instructor of Wado Ryu karate in Saskatchewan and one of the most highly regarded karate instructors, provincially and nationally.
Graham is an active member of the Saskatchewan Karate Association.
Because of Graham's high ranking, his time is often spent in refereeing and judging at provincial, national and
international events.
Shiomitsu Sensei
8th Dan Black BeltMasafumi Shiomitsu is one of the leading instructors of Wado Ryu karate in the world, being an 8th Dan black belt and founder and chief instructor of the Wado Ryu Karate-Do Academy of England. He is one of the most sought-after instructors in the world and spends much of his time in international travel, bringing the art, and the love of this art, to students of martial arts. It is a great honour to train under him.
Shiomitsu Sensei is a very accomplished individual. He has a degree in economics, is multilingual and is the published author of Dynamic Kicking, an acclaimed book in the karate world. He is thought to have one of the most devastating kicks in the world.
Our club has been honoured to be included in several of Shiomitsu Sensei's world tours. We last trained with him in February, 2001, and are eagerly anticipating his next visit.
Ohtsuka Sensei
2nd Grand Master 10th Dan Black BeltHironori Ohtsuka II is the son of the founder of Wado Ryu karate and became Grand Master upon his father's death in 1982. A large allotment of his time is consumed in traveling throughout the world, promoting, teaching and explaining the original Wado Ryu techniques and philosophy to his students.
Master Ohtsuka seldom visits Canada, needing a highly qualified interpreter, and to have him include our club
in his agenda is a great honour. His last visit was in 1994 and we are hoping we are fortunate enough
to benefit from his instruction again in the future.
Hironori Ohtsuka
Founder of Wado-Ryu karate1892 - 1982
Ohtsuka Sensei developed the fundamentals which are today practiced throughout the world. Wado Ryu translates into "Way of Peace and Harmony," which gives insight of what Horonori Ohtsuka was creating from the very beginning.
He spent a number of years practicing and perfecting the art of Shinto-Yoshin-Ryu JuJitsu, where he attained the position of the fourth Grand Master. His knowledge of Shinto-Yoshin-Ryu JuJitsu combined with his karate is the basis of what we now see as Wado Ryu. When Grand Master passed away in 1982, his position was passed down to his son, who today is carrying on the true tradition of Wado Ryu.
Dojo
Our dojo, or place of training, is the Shaunavon Public School gym. We train on Thursday evenings, with the Junior class running from 7:15 to 8:30 PM and the Adult class from 8:15 to 10:30 PM. The dojo is a place of respect; for the area itself, the sensei, and each other. To reinforce this point, members bow each and every time they enter and leave the dojo. Bowing also indicates respect for your opponent during training and competitions.The Shaunavon Karate Klub is a member of the Saskatchewan Karate Association, and, as such, we are eligible to take part in the various tournaments, courses and seminars that take place in the province.