Tournament History
INTERNATIONAL KARATE ORGANIZATION KYOKUSHINKAIKAN CANADA
30th Canadian Kyokushin Karate Championships – Overview
The Canadian Kyokushin Karate Championships were first held in Richmond, BC at Whiteside School on November 26, 1983. The following year no tournament was held due to a decision to change the date of the tournament to avoid conflicts with other IKO events. The traditional date for the event has been the first weekend in May for the past 28 years.
In 1985 the Tournament moved to McRoberts School in Richmond BC and after fours years at that location, it was moved to the largest university, UBC, in the Vancouver area. After thirteen years at UBC, it was moved to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) which has been the home of the Championships for the past 10 years.
The tournament was moved outside the Vancouver area on two occasions, first in 1991 to Vernon, BC and then again in 1994 to Enderby, BC. This move was to accommodate the growing number of dojos and students in the central regions of the province.
The Canadian Kyokushin Karate Championships event is the pinnacle tournament for Canadian Kyokushin Karate members to attend. For 30 years it has offered individuals of all ages and levels a place to challenge themselves, and be a part of Kyokushin Karate in its many facets. It has also acted as the main selection tournament for Canadian members for many IKO Championships and continues to be the main stepping-stone for Canadian competitors wishing to participate at the International level.
Since the inception of this event, we have attracted many North American & International participants. Competitors from all parts of Canada, Japan, United States, Hawaii, Asia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Europe, East Europe have been frequent participants in this event. As well, we have attracted many senior Kyokushin instructors/officials to this event.
Current active IKO members in Japan to compete in this event as a fighter include: Sensei H. Kitamoto, Japanese Branch Chief, and Sensei Joji Hibino, from IKO Honbu. There have been a number of other active Kyokushin practitioners (Japan & International) attend, however they are currently with other splinter Kyokushin groups.
One of the biggest supporters of this tournament was the late Shihan Bobby Lowe. Shihan Lowe attended this event twenty-five times as the Tournament Supreme Judge.
The biggest single highlight of the Canadian Kyokushin Karate Championships came in 1989 when Sosai Mas Oyama attended the 6th Canadian Championships.
Finally, the Canadian Kyokushin Karate Championships has the distinction of being the longest continuously running IKO sanctioned tournament/event in North America, and outside of Japan. The event strives to remain true to, and current with the ideology of the IKO. It also addresses the changing dynamics in the world of Kyokushin with a uniquely Canadian perspective, while supporting the goals and objectives of the IKO.
Don’t miss it.
Sensei Tom Gillam (Newton)
I remember running the Canadians at UBC for a couple of years and all the little problems we encountered, but it was worth all the stress to see members of our Dojo and other clubs step up to the plate and do their very best.
It is rewarding to see how far we have come since having the tournament at McRoberts high school and where we are now. The quality and technical side of the fighters has made them world-class fighters. I think we can go even farther with all the up and coming young fighters with a little help from the Old Guard and their years of training and attending many events and working to make all the tournaments much stronger. I tell all of my students when they enter in a tournament” THAT WINNING IS NOT Everything,” but you went out there and did your best .
That’s all a instructor can ask for .
Sensei Dean Bawtinheimer (Port Coquitlam)
Wow! Its amazing how quickly I became nostalgic when I was asked to write about the Canadian Championships and what it has meant to me during my years as a karate-ka. I’ve trained for 32 years now, so I’ve attended and competed in my share of Canadian tournaments.
Over the years the Canadians has provided my training with purpose and meaning. It’s been the ultimate goal to train for and do well in! It pushed me to train hard and do as much as possible to prepare myself for the challenges on the mat. I knew my fellow competitors were doing the same! Because of our “friendly rivalries” (wink, wink) we had over the years we all grew to become better fighters; and funny enough . . . REALLY good friends!
And although we might not have realized it at the time, we were helping each other prepare for the bigger international events that we all dreamed of attending. Thanks to the Canadians we got there! I’m forever grateful!
Sensei Nathan Howat (Edmonton)
I have been fortunate to be a part of Kyokushin Canada for over 25 years, and it has been a huge part of my life. Many of my favourite memories come from the Canadian Championships
tournament. Coming from the Edmonton dojo, some of my best experiences were the long road trips to the tournament, sometimes in a caravan of several cars.
My first Canadian championship was in 1986, where I was lucky enough to win the 12& under division. Edmonton also won the team award that year, making it a great introduction to me of this prestigious event. Some other highlights include:
1993 winning my first medal in the open division, a bronze.
1994 winning the breaking award. (a more dubious moment was when I shattered my hand in 1995 trying to break boards).
Winning another bronze in 2005 and 2008
Winning the men’s’ open division in 2006
Winning Silver in 2011. Despite losing in the final, I was very proud this day not only to win a medal almost 20 years after my first open division medal, but also to have my own kids participate in the tournament and win medals as well.
This event has now involved a second generation in my family, and I remember my Grandmother (who passed away this year) coming to watch me compete.
I have had the honour of competing against some of Canada’s greatest fighters from different generations, including Sensei Tats Nakamura, Sensei Dean Bawtenheimer, Sempai Jason Shattenkirk, Sempai Michi Nagase, and Pasha Mykhaylov. This year’s tournament is a great celebration of past, present and future, and I hope all our young members will continue to attend and support this great event and make their own memories. OSU!
Sensei Jeremy Russell (North Richmond)
The first time I competed in the Canadian Championships was 1985, in the gymnasium at McRoberts School in Richmond. I lost my first match, badly. Since then I have participated almost every year, either as a competitor, coach, or official, and have seen the evolution of the tournament from high school gym, to UBC, and finally to it’s current location, BCIT. It’s difficult to imagine now, but the fighting wasn’t done on mats, just the gym floor. There was minimal protective equipment, mouth guards were the only mandatory equipment required at the time. All the divisions were contact, and we had few, if any, weight categories in the divisions.
My goal, as a competitor, was always to train hard throughout the year to get ready to compete at the Canadians in May. Now, as an instructor, I have tried to pass that on to my students. For the past 28 years that I have trained, the Canadian Championships has been the highlight of the training year, and my hope is that it continues to be, for all students, far into the future.
Anthony Evangelista (Vancouver)
30 years and running strong! OSU!
The Canadian Championships is a must for all Kyokushin students to attend. Over the years, I have been involved in the Canadians as a competitor, official and coach. My first Canadians was in 1985 when I was ten. It was a smaller tournament back then but I remember the spirit at the event was huge.
Another memory of the Canadians I have happened in 1996 when the Championships were held at the University of BC in the War Memorial Gym. That year I made it to the semi-finals in the knockdown division and had to do tameshiwari (board breaking) for the first time in a tournament. Sensei Tats Nakamura, my teacher and coach, instructed me to break six boards with my elbow. I had never broken that many boards at one time before so I was surprised when Sensei Tats told me to attempt six. I thought, “Okay, Sensei knows…OSU!” So Ichi, Ni, San and with a loud KIAI I delivered my elbow strike and smashed through the boards. I was almost in disbelief that I had just broken six boards but I remember feeling very grateful that my Sensei believed in me.
A very special memory of the Canadians is the 25th Championships in 2008 when Shihan Bobby Lowe attended. That tournament weekend, some of us had the unforgettable opportunity to train with him during his visit, which ended up being his last visit to Canada. OSU!
Now as an instructor, many of my memories are being made because of my own students participating in the tournament. Helping them prepare and train, and then coaching them at the tournament, I am able to see my students experience the ups and downs of the competition.
Finally, the relationships and friendships I have made over the years in Kyokushin is tied and reinforced though the Canadian Championships. Many of us are not able to see each other often, but the Canadian Championships is an event which we all can come together and live and breath the spirit of OSU! I firmly believe all Kyokushin students should attend the Canadian Championships to experience the spirit and energy, foster relationships new and old by meeting other members from around the Organization, and to support our organization which supports each of us so much in our Kyokushin journey.
This tournament has been running for 30 years because of the commitment and dedication of our members past and present, and this tournament will continue to move forward for many more consecutive years because of that same commitment and dedication through our current and new membership. Congratulations to 30 years! OSU!
Sensei Leo van den Boogaard (Langley)
I have had the opportunity to participate in the first Canadian Championship…and have the auspicious honor of being the first official knock out in the history of this event! Shihan Les Banas…Sempai at the time…we were all Sempais ….with limited tournament experience, but overflowing enthusiasm caught me with a beautiful mawashi geri….I’ve kept my hands up ever since!!….
I redeemed myself by winning the following tournament, and then winning it again in 1987.
Why do we fight/spar in Karate?
The true essence of Kyokushin Karate sparring/fighting is to face your own personal fear….fear of what?….fear of the unknown.
Why tournament fight?
The open division in Kyokushin Karate is the paramount event…with no equal in any Martial Art style.
All other divisions in a Kyokushin Karate tournament are building blocks for the karate student to eventually participate in the Open Division…the ultimate challenge.
Our world class officiating and development rule structure allow all students to participate safely.
When you challenge yourself to sign up…you are making the first step in your commitment to truly understanding Kyokushin Karate.
You are given a platform to ‘test’ yourself, your karate technique and to ultimately ‘test’ your true Kyokushin Karate spirit.
As a long retired competitor, I look back to my past experiences as important developmental obstacles in my study of Kyokushin Karate…that I hurled, by having the courage and commitment to just signing up for the event.
As an instructor, I see tournament participation in the same way. Participation is a very important developmental stage for the karate student to truly experience Kyokushin Karate as taught by our founder Mas. Oyama.
I encourage all students to sign up, to challenge themselves and experience true Kyokushin Karate.
OSU
Sensei Terry Price (Richmond)
The first Canadian Championship for me was in 1986 when I entered in the 19 and over colored belt division. I was living in the Okanagan at the time and not what you would call an athlete, so making the decision to travel to Vancouver to compete was a leap right out of my comfort zone. And so, with this original challenge began a long history of challenges, of triumphs and, yes, tragedy of a sort. (see the pictorial results of my bout with Ryu Matsuyama on Facebook! Ouch!)
After the fighting came to an end the officiating became an interest. There are many rules and regulations to memorize but the true lesson is on self control and absolute confidence in ones abilities. And the payback includes sitting in one of the best seats in the house!
I look back over the years and remember the teams my club would send down to the Canadian Championships. All the training for kumite and kata make for great memories and their success was my success as a teacher.
I always feel happy when a student enters competition for the first time because I know what lies ahead for them.
The lessons learned about karate are many, the lessons on life and human nature even more so.
By stepping up to the plate that day I joined an elite group, Kyokushin Fighters, where respect and friendship are the rule of the day. This has led to a lifelong commitment to our organization and a connection with people all over the world who have had a tremendous effect on making me the person I am today.
The Canadians have been ground zero over the years for so many great stories. Of course I am unable relate them here because what happens at the Canadians always stays at the Canadians, so you’re going to have to come and make your own stories! Face your own dragons. Be all you can be.
Osu
Sensei Tatsuji Nakamura (Vancouver)
I had the privilege to participate in the Canadian Championships four times and had great opportunities to fight top fighters from all over the world.
In 1992, it was my first tournament in Canada after moving from Japan. I vividly remember the tough match I had in the finals, which lasted two extensions.
In 1993, I fought Walter Shnaubelt from Papua New Guinea in the finals. I was knocked out by his, Jodan Hiza Geri, in the extension. The match turned out to be the only knock-out loss I experienced in my fighting career, and gave me a tremendous lesson for the following tournaments that I entered.
In 1994, I fought Jason Shattenkirk, a good friend of mine, in the finals. We had a great match together and strengthened our friendship. Who could have imagined that we would to lose him in car accident only two years later. Anyone who has ever fought Jason either at a tournament or a dojo, will never forget his love of Kyokushin.
In 1998, my last Canadian’s saw the European Champion face me in the finals. I had two extensions with him and managed to win the tough battle.
It has been twenty years since my days of the Canadian Championships, but I still clearly remember the matches and opponents like it was yesterday. When you are determined to do something significant, you need courage to follow it through. When everything is said and done, the memory will last forever and become your own intangible treasure. The event is there at your fingertips. Do not find an excuse to not participate instead look for all the reasons to participate.
Sensei Brad Gillespie (Calgary)
The Canadian Championships are synonymous with Kyokushin Karate itself in Canada. I remember my first championships at McRoberts Gym in Richmond BC as though it was yesterday. The energy of the day was indescribable and I knew one day that if I continued with Kyokushin I could eventually be like all the black belt competitors out on the floor! More so, it will opened a door of opportunity that I never thought imaginable. Since that day I have been fortunate enough to attend this distinguished event for 26 years in a row, first as a competitor, then as a coach, an official, and now proudly as an organizer.
Thinking back, it has been the compilation of the hundreds of memories I have with this tournament that makes it so special – too many to describe: attending the special Sunday 3 hour training sessions in Vernon with Sensei Herb; the jokes from Sensei Larry on the long bus rides to Vancouver; shaking Sosai Mas Oyamas hand; the Canadians with Shihan Lowe; the matches in the Open Divisions against many of my best Kyokushin friends; and now, seeing my own children and students compete. It has been an extraordinary history and an integral part of my Kyokushin career.
I encourage you all to attend this year’s championships. It truly will celebrate the PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE. The opportunity to be able to help organize the Championships is a true honor. It offers me the opportunity to give back to others in the hope that it will provide to them what it has provided me: many fond memories that I will deeply cherish for the rest of my life. See you there!
OSU!
