July 11, 2017
Karate Canada Proud To Sanction 2017 Atlantic Open |
|
Karate Canada is thrilled to endorse the first edition of the Atlantic Open Karate Tournament, which will take place on August 5th on the University of New Brunswick campus in Saint John, NB. This one-day tournament is open to all karate styles and skill levels. It is presented by the Atlantic regional Council and has $3000 in cash prizes. Accommodations and a canteen are available on site. |
 |
June 29, 2017
Junior National Team Roster athletes ready to compete in Croatia
The list of athletes competing can be found here.
Be sure to follow the action on our Facebook page!
June 26, 2017
Canadian Junior Team Roster Members in Umag, Croatia for WKF World Youth Cup and Training Camp
Karate Canada is very excited to confirm that 56 Junior National Team Roster athletes are preparing to represent Canada at the WKF World Youth Cup and Training Camp, which will assemble teams from all over the world in Umag, Croatia, from June 27th-July 2nd. Our Canadian athletes are accompanied in Croatia by 6 National Team Coaches. We wish all Team Canada athletes and Coaches the very best of luck in these tournaments, and salute the dedication of our Canadian officials. We also wish the very best of luck to any other Canadian participants in the World Youth Cup. (Results will be updated through next weekend on our Facebook page.)
June 21, 2017
Karate Canada Office Closed for Quebec National Day and Canada Day
Please note that Karate Canada’s office will be closed on Friday June 23rd for Quebec National Day and on Friday June 30th for Canada Day. Thank you.
June 20, 2017
WKF Announces Changes to Karate 1 Premier League Events
The World Karate Federation has recently shared an important update about upcoming changes to Premier League Karate 1 events, as of 2018. You may click here to read this important notice, as the announced changes will likely have a direct impact on participating athlete eligibility and registration.
June 14, 2017
Return on Karate Canada Largest Junior National Training Camp
Karate Canada has proudly concluded on Sunday June 11th the largest edition to date of its annual Junior National Training Camp, assembling no fewer than 125 athletes and 9 National Team Coaches, in both kata and kumite. This number represents a 42% increase from the previous edition! The 3-day Camp was co-led by National Team Head Coaches Katarina Vadovicova (Kata) and Denis Beaudoin (Junior Kumite), with the help of Assistant National Team Coaches Sorin Alexandru, Karen Armour, Hasan Bratic, Pam Ross and David Strohbach, as well as assistance from Apprentice Coach Nicholas Patrick Rivest in Junior Kumite. Heather Fidyk, Para National Coach, was also present and helped out with Junior Kata.
Highlights of the Camp included a physical testing segment for junior and U21 athletes; an inspiring presentation by Christopher De Sousa Costa (Athlete Representative), Sarmen Sinani (Sr Team Captain) and Nicholas Patrick Rivest (Jr & Sr Team Member) of the Senior National Team Charter, as well as an engaging and amusing team building activity and much more. At the end of the Camp, Karate Canada announced the names of all Youth division athletes selected to participate in the 2017 Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 24-26th). The complete team will be announced in July, following the results of the Youth World Cup (in Umag, Croatia).
As usual, Karate Canada salutes the unwavering commitment of all parents who support and accompany their young athletes through their journey to excellence. We also wish to sincerely thank all of the staff members and volunteers who once again made this great event possible. Finally, we wish to congratulate all participating athletes for their hard work and dedication, and we look forward to the remaining Junior National Team Roster events of the season, such as the Youth World Cup (Umag, Croatia June 26th-July 2nd), the Kata National Training Camp (Vancouver, BC, August 10-13th; optional for all invited Youth and Junior athletes), the upcoming Regional Kumite Training Camps to be held in Kingston (August 5 or 6th (TBC), for Ontario and Quebec athletes), Halifax (for Atlantic provinces’athletes, August 18-19) and Surrey (September 23rd, for BC athletes), the aforementioned 2017 Cadet & Junior Pan American Karate Championships as well as the 2017 Cadet & Junior World Championships (Tenerife, Spain, October 26-29th).
June 5, 2017
Junior National Training Camp – Official Schedule
Karate Canada looks forward to welcoming invited participants to the 2017 Junior National Training Camp.
To assist with planning, please refer to the official training camp schedule.
May 29, 2017
Canadian Karate Team Celebrates Seven Medals in Curaçao
Over the weekend, Canadian National Team Roster members were in Willemstad, Curaçao, for the 2017 Senior Pan American Championships held from May 25th-27th. The Canadian delegation included 27 athletes, accompanied by five coaches, a number of sports organization representatives, and a record seventeen officials. With ten top-10 finishes, including Canada’s first gold Pan American medal in individual kumite since 2011 as well as a bronze medal in the same division, two gold and a silver medal in Para-karate kata divisions, one individual bronze medal in kata and another bronze medal in team kumite, the Canadian team placed an impressive fourth in the total medal count.
Karate Canada Executive Director, Mr. Olivier Pineau, notes that “Team Canada has showed a tangible improvement in performance since the last edition of this tournament, in both kata and kumite events, thereby confirming that it is steadily trending towards success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Additionally, our para-karate athletes, who were competing in para-karate divisions for the very first time at Pan American Championships, have once again excelled and inspired athletes, coaches and officials from across the continent. We are very proud of our team’s performances, and look forward to its continued international success through the remainder of the season.” Karate Canada President, Mr. Craig Vokey, adds that “Karate Canada athletes showed true determination in winning several medals including an amazing team kumite bronze against Venezuela, winning 3 matches to 2”. Mr. Vokey was also elected to the Pan American Karate Federation Executive Committee for a four year term.
For a detailed account of Canadian results, please read our press release:
http://sirc.ca/news/canadian-karate-team-celebrates-seven-medals-curacao
Record Number of Canadian Officials at the Senior Pan Ams
Karate Canada wishes to salute the dedication of our Canadian Referees who recently officiated at the 31st Senior Pan American Karate Championships in Willemstad, Curacao. A record number of 16 officials attended the event, 7 of them participated in the referee course to update their license and many were selected to officiate during the final rounds of the competition. Our sincere congratulations to:
• Djibril Ba, completed Kumite Judge C
• Aristhène Clairmeus
• Thomas De Freyman, completed Kumite Referee B
• Yoshie Furumoto, completed Kumite Referee B
• Jean-Pierre Gendron
• Andreas Kuntze, completed Kumite Referee B
• Don Mazerolle
• Yogen Mungroosing, completed Kumite Referee B
• Rosella Ng, completed Kumite Judge B & Kata Judge B
• François Persico
• André Pronovost
• Derek J. Ryan
• Jean-Marc Somma
• Yaro Tarana
• Michael Wai-Song
• Valentyna Zolotarova, completed Kumite Referee A
Karate Canada President Craig Vokey Elected To The PKF Executive Committee
During the Pan American Karate Federation (PKF)'s Congress held May 24th, Karate Canada's President Mr. Craig Vokey was elected by acclamation to the position of Assistant Treasurer, thereby becoming a member of the Executive Committee of the PKF for a 4-year term. This represents a significant honour, and it is the first time in many years that a Canadian representative has held such a position and been entrusted with such an important role within the PKF's Board of Directors and Executive Committee. We sincerely congratulate Mr. Vokey for this achievement!
(Photo: Mr. Craig Vokey in the company of PKF President Mr. Josè Garcia Maañòn.)
May 24, 2017
New 2018-2019 Carding (AAP) Criteria
Karate Canada is pleased to release its Carding Criteria for the 2018-2019 Carding cycle (starting May 1st 2018). You may click here to read this full document, which continues to ensure optimal alignment between Karate Canada’s Senior National Team Selection Criteria and Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program.
May 15, 2017
Announcing the National Team for the 2017 Senior Pan American Championships
Karate Canada is thrilled to announce its official lineup for the 2017 Senior Pan American Karate Championships. You may click here to view the full list of National Team members who have been selected for this event, in accordance with our published Senior National Team Criteria. In total, 27 athletes will be competing in Curacao (Dutch Caribbean) on May 25-27. This year for the first time, the Sr Pan Ams will include Para-karate divisions and Canada will be well represented with 3 athletes.
For this event, the athletes will be supported by six National Team Coaches: Mrs. Katarina Vadovicova (Kata Head Coach), Mrs. Nassim Varasteh (Sr Kumite Head Coach), Mr. Kraig Devlin (Sr Kumite), Mr. Roman Saltikov (Sr Kumite), Mrs. Heather Fidyk (Para Head Coach) and Mrs. Pam Ross (Para). The team will also be accompanied by Karate Canada’s Medical Committee Chair and certified Athletic Therapist Mr. Gus Kandilas. Karate Canada’s Executive Director, Mr. Olivier Pineau, will make the trip as well and act as Team Leader. Mr. Craig Vokey, Karate Canada’s President, will also accompany the team in Curacao. Finally, an impressive 17 international officials from Canada will also be part of the delegation, including Mr. Yaro Tarana, KC Officials Committee Chair. We sincerely congratulate our athletes for their selection, and wish our entire delegation the very best of luck in Curacao!
May 8, 2017
New host hotel added to 2017 JNTC
Please note that the updated bulletin features revised information regarding host hotels. If you are a JNTC participant, please be sure to book your room before the May 19th deadline.
May 5, 2017
2017 Karate Canada National Championships Survey
It’s not too late to have your say on the 2017 Karate Canada National Championships. Simply complete this survey and your feedback could help shape future editions of the Nationals! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X7V5PM5
Additional Hotel Added for Participants of the 2017 JNTC
Due to popular demand, Karate Canada welcomes the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport as our secondary host hotel during the Junior National Training Camp. Conveniently located a quick 6-minute walk from the training space at the Sheraton Toronto Airport, the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport is offering accommodations at a rate of $124, plus applicable taxes (13%).
Reservations can be made by telephone at 416-675-1234 (Carlette) or online: https://aws.passkey.com/gt/213265951?gtid=bbf76aa322f0994762e072804acc0538
For non-traveling parents needing to arrange for a Credit Card Authorization Form, please call 1-416-6751234 or email sales@cptayyz.com
PLEASE NOTE: KARATE CANADA’S JUNIOR NATIONAL TRAINING CAMP IS A CLOSED EVENT AND IS OFFERED TO INVITED ATHLETES ONLY.
May 3, 2017
2017 Junior National Training Camp Information Bulletin Now Available
The 2017 Junior National Training Camp (Toronto, June 9-11) is quickly approaching. Athletes who have received a formal invitation to attend from Karate Canada are strongly encouraged to register online before the deadline of May 18th. You may click here to view a short program / Information Bulletin containing information about this event (detailed schedule to come). (Reminder: participation in this invitational 3-day training camp is mandatory in order for invited Junior National Roster athletes - and Youth division medalists from the 2017 National Championships - to remain eligible for possible selection onto the 2017 Cadet & Junior Pan American Karate Championships Team and / or onto the 2017 Cadet & Junior World Championships Team.) Don’t miss your opportunity to receive targeted high performance training from Karate Canada's National Team Head Coaches Katarina Vadovicova (Kata) and Denis Beaudoin (Kumite), as well as from several Assistant National Team Coaches!
April 14, 2017
Karate Canada Proud to Sanction 1st Canada Open Karate Championships |
|
Karate Canada is proud to endorse the very first edition of the new Canada Open Karate Championships, which will take place on June 3-4, 2017 at the Richmond Olympic Oval, in British Columbia. This annual tournament, hosted by Karate BC, will offer a wide range of recreational divisions (including novice divisions for youngsters) and Elite divisions, as well as Para-Karate divisions (for athletes with disabilities), and will feature such exciting events as Kobudo (weapons), Team Kata, divisions and a Flying Side Kick Contest”! Online registration is now open. Don’t miss this great event, and the chance to be the first Canada Open Champion! |
 |
Karate Canada is Thrilled to Sanction the Upcoming 2017 Montreal International Open Karate Championships |
|
Karate Canada is proud to endorse the 2017 edition of the Montreal International Open, which will take place on May 7th at the Vaudreuil-Dorion Multisports Centre. This will be the 14th edition of this event, held by Karate Québec on a yearly basis. Last year’s edition of the Montreal Open welcomed approximately 500 athletes from many Canadian provinces, as well as from the USA and other nations, totalling close to 1,000 registrations. All karateka 8 years old and more with a green belt and above are welcome. A Para-karate division is also offered (for athletes with disabilities). This tournament will offer both recreational (non-Elite) divisions and Elite divisions (with prize money). Seminars led by world-renown experts and World Champions Douglas Brose (kumite, from Brazil) and Antonio Diaz (kata, from Venezuela) will also be held on the days preceding the start of competition, and National Referee Committee Chair Mr. Yaro Tarana will conduct a Regional Officials’ Clinic offered by Karate Quebec and Karate Canada. You may click here for more information. Registration is now open on SportData. |
 |
April 13, 2017
Eight Athletes Nominated for Cards During the 2017-2018 Cycle
Following a recently announced increase in its Card quota by Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) department (from the equivalent of 4 full Cards to the equivalent, now, of 6 full Cards, mainly in light of the inclusion of both kata and kumite disciplines in the program of the 2020 Olympic Games), Karate Canada is pleased to announce that the following 8 Senior National Team Roster athletes have been nominated and approved for Carding (AAP) support in the 2017-2018 cycle (May 1st 2017 to April 30th 2018), in accordance with published Criteria and in light of these athletes’ respective performances:
- Rita Ngo: SR1 Card
- Kenneth Lee: C1 Card
- Daniel Gaysinsky: C1 Card
- Kathryn Campbell: SR Card
- Camélie Boisvenue: SR Card
- Nicolas Bisson: D (Development) Card
- Alexandre Benjamin Rivest: D (Development) Card
- Nicholas Patrick Rivest: D (Development) Card
This is the highest number of athletes to be approved for Carding at any given time in Karate Canada’s history. We wish to sincerely congratulate all 8 newly Carded (or re-Carded) athletes, and wish them the very best of luck in the new competitive season.
April 10, 2017
Karate Canada Office Closed for Easter Holiday
Please note that Karate Canada’s office will be closed on Friday April 14th.
Thank you.
April 7, 2017
Karate Canada Proudly Launches Team 2020 Program
Karate Canada is proud to kickstart its new “Team 2020” program, an initiative aimed at providing enhanced individual support to a small group of targeted athletes who are demonstrating medal potential towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The enhanced support which will be allocated to targeted athletes via this program will be in addition to the support that continues to be provided and offered through Karate Canada’s ongoing National Team programs. (Please note that this program does not constitute a selection criterion for the karate athletes who may represent Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; such selection criteria will be published in due time, and only after the World Karate Federation and the International Olympic Committee will have released the official Qualification Criteria and Process for the 2020 Olympic Games.) You may click here in order to read a general outline and description of this new program. A first group of targeted athletes has been identified and selected in accordance with the Team 2020 program description, and Karate Canada wishes to sincerely congratulate the following three athletes for their selection:
- Mr. Kenneth Lee (Senior kata)
- Mrs. Kathryn Campbell (Senior kumite)
- Mr. Daniel Gaysinsky (Senior kumite)
Additional athletes may also be selected for enhanced Team 2020 support through the course of the 2017-2018 competitive season.
April 3, 2017
Return on Karate Canada Senior National Training Camp-1 and Team Announcement
Karate Canada has proudly concluded on Sunday March 26th the 2017 edition of its annual Senior National Training Camp-1 held at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel, assembling no fewer than 45 athletes and 7 National Team Coaches, in kata and kumite and, for the first time, Para-karate. This 3-day Camp ended on a high note, as Karate Canada announced the selection of its National Team Roster for the season as well as the National Team selection for participation in the 2017 Senior Pan American Championships (to be held in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, in May – the full list will be posted shortly). The Camp was co-led by National Team Head Coaches Katarina Vadovicova (Kata), Nassim Varasteh (Kumite) and Heather Fidyk (Para-karate), with the help of Assistant National Team Coaches Sorin Alexandru, Kraig Devlin, Roman Saltikov (kumite) and Pam Ross (kata), with assistance from Apprentice Coach Christopher De Sousa Costa.
Highlights of the Camp included a physical testing segment for athletes; an educational presentation on mental preparation by sport psychologist Dr. Robert Schinke; another presentation by Thomas Hall, Interim Executive Director for Athletes CAN, as well an info and discussion session led by Christopher De Sousa Costa, Karate Canada’s Athlete Representative, and much more.
As usual, Karate Canada wishes to sincerely thank all of the staff members and volunteers who once again made this great event possible. Finally, we wish to congratulate all participating athletes for their hard work and dedication, and we look forward to other Senior National Team Roster events of the season, such as the upcoming Regional Kumite Training Camps, the Kata National Training Camp, the Training Camp at the annual Karate Canada Summit, the aforementioned 2017 Senior Pan American Karate Championships, and several other Open Championships.
Karate Canada would like to officially announce the athletes selected onto the Senior National Team Roster for the 2017-2018 season. Congratulations!
- 2017-2018 Senior National Kata Team (PDF)
- 2017-2018 Senior National Kumite Team (PDF)
- 2017-2018 Senior National Para Team (PDF)
March 21, 2017
Updated Junior Athlete Rankings and Status
Karate Canada is pleased to release the current Junior athlete rankings and status lists for both kata and kumite athletes, as updated after the 2017 National Championships:
- Junior National Team Rankings - Kata (March 20, 2017) : (pdf)
- Junior National Team Rankings - Kumite (March 20, 2017) : (pdf)
March 20, 2017
Updated Senior Athlete Rankings and Status
Karate Canada is pleased to release the current Senior athlete rankings and status lists for both kata and kumite athletes, as updated after the recent Karate-1 Dutch Open in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Please note that these status and ranking point listings will be used to select our National Team for participation in the upcoming 2017 Senior Pan American Championships, in accordance with current and published Senior National team Criteria:
- Senior National Team Rankings - Kata (March 2, 2017) : (Excel)
- Senior National Team Rankings - Kumite (March 20, 2017) : (Excel)
Two Silver Medals in Rotterdam for Canadian Karateka
Over the weekend, a number of Canadian National Team Roster members were in Rotterdam, Netherlands, for the Dutch Open Karate-1 Championships, which were held from March 17th-19th. Although no official delegation was sent by Karate Canada, the athletes were accompanied by Senior National Team Head Kumite Coach Nassim Varasteh.
In women’s kumite, Haya Jumaa, of Ontario, took the silver medal, defeated in the final by Xiaoyan Yin of China, currently ranked 7th in the World Karate Federation. In the -55kg category, Valentyna Zolotarova, of British Columbia, placed 9th in repechage.
Daniel Gaysinsky, of Ontario, dominated his first four matches in the +84kg division, before losing in the final match to Jonathan Horne of Germany, currently ranked 4th in the World Karate Federation. Daniel led the match 4-1, but was unfortunately disqualified in the last minute of the match, finishing with a silver medal. Sarmen Sinani won his first match in the -84kg division, losing his second to Anes Congo of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
In women’s kata, Rita Ngo, of British Columbia, won her first two matches before losing to Gema Morales of Spain. In men’s kata, Toshihide Uchiage, also of British Columbia, won his first two matches, losing to eventual silver medalist Damian Quintero of Spain (who was a silver medalist at the latest WKF World Championships); he placed 11th in repechage.
The 2017 Dutch Open is an important preparation event on the road to the next summer Olympic Games, taking place in Tokyo 2020. Karate Canada President Craig Vokey stated that “Karate Canada is focused on bringing athletes to Tokyo in 2020. This is the second K1 event this season where Athletes representing Canada earned podium finishes. With the increased level of world competition, this bodes well for the future.”
March 9, 2017
Important announcement about the 2017 WKF Karate-1 Youth World Cup
This is an important announcement for all athletes and members of the Junior National Team Roster interested in attending either the 2017 WKF Karate-1 Youth World Cup, the associated training camp, or both, taking place in Umag, Croatia, from June 26th-July 2nd.
Karate Canada will be providing coaching support as well as registration services to members of the Junior National Team Roster; however, given that it is an open event, it is up to the athletes and their families to arrange travel and accommodations. We have been notified that accommodations, in particular the apartment-style hotels, are filling up quite rapidly.
Information regarding the official hotels and airport transfer shuttles can be found in the event bulletin, located at the following link:
http://www.wkf.net/imagenes/campeonatos/-boletin-wkf-karate-1-youth-camp-cup-003.pdf
An email from Karate Canada to the members of the Junior National Team Roster, containing more detailed information about registration for the event and coaching support, will be sent out next week. If you have any concerns in the meantime, please contact Gillian Benson at gillian.benson@karatecanada.org.
March 4, 2017
Successful Conclusion of Largest National Karate Championships To Date
Hundreds of athletes and dozens of coaches, referees, delegates and volunteers were assembled in Quebec City (Quebec), last week, for the 3-day long 2017 Karate Canada National Championships. This constituted the largest edition of this event in its 42 year history, assembling no less than 441 athletes, 60 coaches and 65 officials. All participants were greeted to warm welcoming speeches, during opening ceremonies, by Karate Canada’s President Mr. Craig Vokey and Karate Quebec’s President Mr. Stéphane Rivest, as well as to a kata demonstration performed by Team Canada member and 2016 Senior World Para Karate Champion Ms. Patricia Wright, before the rest of the action got underway. Co-host Karaté Québec has been a vital partner in ensuring the tremendous success of this event, by recruiting numerous volunteers, and by providing generous assistance and equipment.
For the 3rd consecutive year, the National Championships featured and showcased competitors in Para Karate divisions, who once again inspired the entire Canadian karate community with their display of determination, courage and perseverance; this included an Autistic Kata demonstration division. Another popular item was the continued inclusion of the “Youth” divisions, featuring 12-13 year old athletes.
For the 4th consecutive year, all matches from this event were webcast live across the nation, via SportsCanada.TV (you may click here to view all archived matches). Please visit Karate Canada’s Facebook and Twitter pages for more details and numerous pictures. The 2017 National Championships were preceded by no less than 3 distinct National Coaching Certification Courses, Dan examinations and various other meetings and activities. Karate Canada also held its traditional annual Banquet shortly after the conclusion of the tournament. Various prestigious awards were presented to members of the Canadian karate community at this banquet, which was graciously hosted by our long-time MC, Mr. Charles Fink. You may click here to view the entire list of award recipients. You may also click here to view an exciting “Year in Review” video presented during the Banquet.
Karate Canada wishes to sincerely thank Karaté Québec, the event’s Tournament Director Mr. Kurt Nordli, its Head Official Mr. Yaro Tarana, its staff at the event (including Karate Canada’s Events Manager Mrs. Cheryl Tataryn), all participating Committee members and volunteers, various members of the Board of Directors, our numerous and dedicated National and International Officials, as well as our various partners and sponsors for this event, including Sport Canada / Heritage Canada (the Canadian government), the Ministère de l’éducation et de l’enseignement supérieur du Québec, the Delta Québec and Hilton Québec Hotels, Jukado Inc Martial Arts Equipment, Arawaza Equipment, Anthony Bhagwandin Sports Services Inc, Express JW, Special T Group Events, the Centre des Congrès de Québec, and many others. Finally, we wish to thank and congratulate all Provincial Teams and participants for their remarkable performances. We wish all of you a great 2017-18 competitive season, and look forward to greeting you in Halifax (Nova Scotia) on March 9-11, 2018, for our next edition of these Championships!
You may click here to view the full results of this tournament, which was the main entry point for members of our Junior and Senior National Teams. Given the high calibre of performances seen at these National Championships, the future looks bright, and Canada has very strong hopes leading up to the upcoming Senior Pan American Championships, Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships, Junior World Championships and numerous other international events of the season.
February 22, 2017
Youth Selection Criteria for 2017 Junior Pan American Championships
Karate Canada conducted a “Pilot Project” in 2016 to select a team of 12/13 year olds to compete in the 2016 Junior Pan American Championships. It was decided to collect data at the conclusion of the event to determine whether to continue or discontinue the initiative.
At this time, and in light of the upcoming Karate Canada National Championships the High Performance Committee and the Board of Directors agreed to extend the Pilot Project for 1 more year (for the 2017 Pan American Championships). As such, the following criteria have been established for the 12/13 year old age group for the 2017 Junior Pan American Championships.
Information on Youth Selection for 2017 Junior Pan American Championships (PDF)
2017-2018 Para National Team Criteria
Karate Canada is pleased to release its Para National Team Criteria for the 2017-2018 season.
You may click on the following link to view the document:
2017-2018 Para National Team Criteria (PDF)
Karate Canada Newsletter : Edition No.2 is Now Available!
Karate Canada is thrilled to release the 2nd issue of its online Newsletter. This second issue contains a word from our President Mr. Craig Vokey, as well as an individual athlete profile / interview highlighting 2016 Gold medal winner Mme Patricia Wright. |
 |
 |
You can also access it by scanning this QR-Code with your mobile device. |
 |
You prefer reading the Newsletter as a PDF? This Edition will soon be available in PDF : NEWSLETTER No. 2 in PDF >>> |
Note : |
February 17, 2017
Version 6 of the 2017 National Championships Information Bulletin Now Available
An updated version of the event’s Information Bulletin is now available, containing new information about the Weigh-in Protocol and Awards Banquet. You may click here to view this latest version.
February 11, 2017
Version 5 of the 2017 National Championships Information Bulletin Now Available
An updated version of the event’s Information Bulletin is now available, containing new information about live streaming, mandatory kumite equipment, updated WKF competition rules, as well as waiver and medical forms. You may click here to view this latest version. A tentative version of the schedule of competition should be available shortly via SportData. Stay tuned for more updates….
We look forward to seeing you in Quebec City soon!
January 30, 2017
Two Bronze Medals in Paris for Canadian Karateka
Over the weekend, Canadian National Team Roster members were in Paris, France, for the Paris Open K-1 Championships, which were held from January 27th-29th. The Canadian delegation included 15 athletes, accompanied by three coaches and eight officials. A total of 1247 athletes from 79 countries around the world competed in this event. This weekend event saw a number of spirited performances on the part of Canadian athletes, with three top-10 finishes, including two bronze medals.
In women’s kumite, Kathryn Campbell, of New Brunswick, earned a bronze medal during repechage, winning against Reka Molnar of Hungary in the -55kg division. In the -61kg division, Haya Jumaa won three matches in repechage, defeating Xiaoyan Yin of China (2015 Asian champion in -55kg kumite) to take the bronze medal. Also in the -61kg category, Kamille Desjardins, of Quebec, won two matches in repechage for a 9th-place finish.
Karate Canada’s President, Mr. Craig Vokey, commented that the Paris Open saw a “fantastic performance from Canadian athletes at the first Karate One event of 2017. With two podium and a top 10 finish and recent top 10 placings at the recent World Championships, Canadian athletes are setting their sights on Tokyo 2020. Of note several Canadian officials also were kept busy during the event which had almost 1300 competitors". Executive Director Olivier Pineau added that “recent analysis of results at major international events, as part of our preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, has shown a very strong correlation between results at top European Karate-1 events and results at Senior World Championships, which are thus far the strongest karate events in the world. Our growing and continued success at these K-1 events is therefore very tangible and encouraging evidence of our athletes’ potential to reach the podium in Tokyo, 3 years from now.”
January 27, 2017
2017-2018 National Team Criteria
Karate Canada is pleased to release its National Team Criteria for the 2017-2018 season.
You may click on the following links to view these documents:
- 2017-2018 Junior National Team Criteria
- 2017-2018 Senior National Team Criteria for Kata Athletes
- 2017-2018 Senior National Team Criteria for Kumite Athletes
January 20, 2017
Senior National Team Members Headed to France
Senior National Team roster members are preparing to travel to Paris, France, in order to take part in the 2017 Paris Open K-1 tournament, which will be held January 27th-29th. This event constitutes a great development opportunity for all athletes. Nassim Varasteh, Senior National Team Kumite Head Coach, and Katarina Vadovicova, National Team Kata Head Coach, will accompany the athletes in Paris, along with Assistant Kumite Coach Kraig Devlin. Coach Nassim will also be attending a training camp with a few kumite athletes in Arles in the lead-up to the tournament. Karate Canada sincerely wishes all participants the very best of luck in this event! (Stay tuned for results and consult our Facebook page regularly for updates.)
January 17, 2017
Karate Canada Seeks Additional Assistant National Team Coaches
Karate Canada is currently seeking several additional Junior & Senior National Team Assistant Coaches, in Kata and in Kumite, who are to support the Head Coaches and National Team athletes at key events of the upcoming competitive season. Please click here in order to read the job description and posting for the National Team Assistant Kumite Coaches, or here to read the job description and posting for the National Team Assistant Kata Coaches. Please note that all interested candidates must apply no later than January 31st, 2017. Thank you.
January 13, 2017
Fun Addition to Version 4 of the 2017 National Championships Bulletin
Karate Canada and its host partner Karate Quebec invite you to make the most of your tournament experience.
We understand that families often travel together to the National Championships, and we wanted to help you plan activities that will create added memories of your time in Quebec City.
So we’ve complied some of the best of what Quebec City has to offer. Embrace its rich history, culture, cuisine and winter activities. The following are just some activities you and your family can partake in during your stay.
Check them out in Appendix 7 of the Information Bulletin.
OR
| View it online right here>>> |
 |
| (Note: a PDF stand alone version will also be made available to you on the online version) | |
January 11, 2017
A Message from the Ontario Karate Federation
and the Karate Association of Ontario
The Ontario Karate Federation and the Karate Association of Ontario have recently released a short joint video and an important message, which you can view by clicking here.
January 6, 2017
Ontario Karate Federation website
accepting online registrations!
As of January 1st 2017, the official sport governing body for karate in Ontario is the Ontario Karate Federation.
Membership registration has opened at the following link; we strongly encourage clubs and dojos to register as soon as possible, so that individual members can follow suit.
http://onkarate.ca/index.php/membership-area/club-membership
December 23, 2016
Version 4 of the 2017 National Championships Bulletin Now Available
Karate Canada is pleased to release a 4th version of its 2017 Championships Information Bulletin, containing important updates and additional information for all Provincial / Territorial Associations and participants. Some of the key changes and additions include information about :
• Religious head coverings
• Updated Para Divisions and registration
• Addition of a new hotel
• NCCP training
• Dan testing
• Tickets for the Championships
• Banquet tickets
• Updated times for Officials and Coaches meetings
You may click here in order to read this new version of the Bulletin.
December 19, 2016
Karate Included in the Program of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games
The worldwide karate community is rejoicing after the recent news that the sport of karate will be featured in the program of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (scheduled to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2018). You may click here in order to read a recent news communiqué from the International Olympic Committee pertaining to this topic. It appears that the event will feature Junior (16-17 year old) kumite divisions only. Karate Canada will gladly share more information regarding this exciting event as soon as it becomes available.
Amended 2017-2018 Carding Criteria - Kata Athletes Now Eligible for Nomination
Please note that in light of the announcement that individual kata competition will be included in the program of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program department has recently confirmed that athletes will now be eligible for nomination towards AAP (Carding) support on the basis of their performances in individual kata divisions, as of the next Carding cycle (2017-2018). Karate Canada is therefore pleased to release an updated version of the 2017-2018 Carding Criteria which reflects this important change, and allows for equitable selection of kata and kumite athletes for Carding nominations as of 2017. You may click here in order to read the Amended Criteria.
Amended 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria
Please note that Karate Canada has adopted a slightly amended version of the 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria, for both kata and kumite athletes. The only change pertains to the inclusion of the 2017 Dutch Open Karate-1 Championships (March 2017) to the list of ranking point-earning events (in Section II, Tables 3 & 4), as this tournament will occur prior to the 2017 SNTC-1 (First Senior National Training Camp), which marks the start of the 2017-2018 season, and as the 2017 Dutch Open Karate-1 Championships are therefore to be considered as part of the 2016-2017 competitive season. You may click on the links below in order to view the amended versions of both Criteria:
- Amended 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria for Kata Athletes
- Amended 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria for Kumite Athletes
Mr. Don Mazerolle Joins the Officials Committee
Karate Canada is pleased to announce the addition of Mr. Donald Mazerolle to the composition of the national Officials’ Committee, where he will be joining existing members Jaroslav Tarana (Chair), Babak Sotoudeh and Andreas Kuntze. A long-time judge and referee himself, Don will bring additional experience and expertise to this Committee. Karate Canada warmly welcomes Mr. Mazerolle to this new role.
Mr. Derek J. Ryan Joins the High Performance Committee
Karate Canada is pleased to announce the addition of Mr. Derek J. Ryan to the High Performance Committee, where he will be replacing Mr. Hasan Bratic, whose term on the Committee has come to completion. Mr. Ryan brings to the team a wealth of knowledge as an active international judge and referee, as well as relevant experience as the successful provincial team and club coach of several upcoming elite athletes. Karate Canada welcomes Derek to this new role, and wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Bratic for his valued expertise and for his generous contribution to the work of this Committee over the last 3 years.
December 18, 2016
 |
New Member Provincial Association in Ontario as of January 1st, 2017
|
Karate Canada is pleased to announce that as of January 1st, 2017, the representative association for Karate Canada in Ontario will be the Ontario Karate Federation. Please refer to the OKF website for information on registration for 2017.
We wish to sincerely welcome the Ontario Karate Federation into the Karate Canada family and we are very excited as to the future of Karate in Ontario. For questions pertaining to attendees (athletes, officials and coaches) at the 2017 Karate Canada National Championships in Quebec City, please contact the Ontario Karate Federation directly.
Please note that the Karate Association of Ontario will cease to be a recognized member on December 31, 2016.
November 25, 2016
Updated Version of the 2017 National Championships Bulletin Now Available
Karate Canada is pleased to release a 3rd version of its 2017 Championships Information Bulletin, containing important updates and additional information for all Provincial / Territorial Associations and participants. Some of the key changes and additions include: corrections to the Age Eligibility Matrix; updates on Para Divisions and registration; information on seeding of draws, elimination formulas, weigh-ins and Youth division kata competition rules, etc
You may click here in order to read this new version of the Bulletin.
A complete (and tentative, as of November 25th) list of automatically invited athletes is also available for download (see different tabs) by clicking here.
Registration for the 2017 Nationals Now Open!
Karate Canada is pleased to announce that online pre-registration (mandatory) is now open on Sportdata for most divisions of the 2017 National Championships (Quebec QC, Feb 24-26, 2017). Online pre-registration for para-karate divisions will also open shortly, and should become available by mid-December; we thank everyone for their patience. All participants must register through their member Provincial / Territorial Association.
November 1, 2016
Para-Karate Athletes Take Gold and Silver at Senior World Championships
The 2016 Senior World Championships were held from October 25th-30th in Linz, Austria. Over a thousand athletes from 118 nations came prepared to fight and compete against the best in the world. The Canadian delegation included 18 athletes, accompanied by five coaches, one medical support staff, five officials and our President, Mr. Craig Vokey. Canada ends this event with one gold, one silver and two top-10 finishes. For full results, click here. For full para results click here.
For the second time, Karate Canada sent para-athletes to the World Championships. In 2014, Natalie Olson of Alberta was our sole representative and placed fifth. This time, Karate Canada sent three athletes and they made history. Olson took home silver, as her teammate Patricia Wright of Ontario became Canada’s first World Champion by winning gold in the Intellectually Impaired division. It was Wright’s first appearance at Worlds, at 40 years old.
In women’s kata, Rita Ngo, of British Columbia, won her first two matches before losing to Egyptian opponent Sarah Sayed, who eventually claimed the silver medal. Ngo then won one of her two repechage matches to ultimately place 7th in the division. In men’s kata, Kenneth Lee also from British Columbia finished 9th in his division. Lee won his first match and then lost against silver medallist Damian Quintero from Spain before going into repechage.
In men’s kumite, Daniel Gaysinsky, of Ontario, won his first two matches in the +84kg category before losing 0-1 to Andrei Grinevich from Belarus; Daniel also dominantly won a match for Canada in men’s Team Kumite division. This was only Gaysinsky’s second international competition in the +84kg, as he had previously fought in a lighter weight division. Sarmen Sinani of Ontario (men’s -84 kg) also performed rather well in this tournament, winning his first two matches 2-0 and 1-0 before losing 2-5 to the 2014 World Champion Gogita Arkania (from Georgia).
“This was a great milestone for Karate Canada, with amazing performances from our Para and Kata program athletes. We are very proud, and look confidently to the future" declared Karate Canada President, Mr. Craig Vokey. “As the world prepares for Tokyo 2020, the stakes are getting higher and the challenge is becoming greater. Besides achieving a remarkable and historic result in a Para-karate division at this event, Karate Canada has shown that its National Team programs are bearing fruit, with our best performance in years in both women’s and men’s individual kata, and a few athletes also showing tremendous promise and progress in kumite divisions. The future looks bright, and Karate Canada will continue its committed efforts towards ensuring readiness and podium contention for the Tokyo Olympic Games“ mentioned Olivier Pineau, Karate Canada’s Executive Director.
October 17, 2016
Senior National Team Athletes Ready for 2016 Senior World Championships
Next week, members of the Canadian Senior National Team Roster members selected to compete in the 2016 WKF Senior World Championships will arrive in Linz, Austria for this prestigious event. The competition will take place from September 26th-30th, bringing together 1238 athletes from 118 different countries. Karate Canada will be represented by a total of 18 athletes, including 3 Para-Karate competitors. (To view the entire team roster, click here.) The team will be supported by Senior National Kumite Head Coach Ms. Nassim Varasteh, Senior National Kumite Assistant Coach Mr. Roman Saltikov, National Kata Coach Katarina Vadovicova, National Para-Karate Head Coach Ms. Heather Fidyk (who will be assisted by Junior National Kumite Head Coach Mr. Denis Beaudoin), as well as medical support staff member Ms. Kyra Lindsay-Ng, and Karate Canada President Mr. Craig Vokey. The Canadian delegation will also include eight officials. This event, the largest WKF world championships ever to date, constitutes a very important step for our karateka on the road to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Good luck to all of our competitors and coaches! Updates and results will be posted on our Facebook page.
October 12, 2016
QUÉBEC-ONTARIO INTERREGIONAL TRAINING OCTOBER 15TH CANCELLED
In light of the very low number of expected participants (following the receipt of numerous exemption requests, as both Karate Ontario and Karate Quebec will be holding provincial team selection tournaments that same weekend), Karate Canada must unfortunately and exceptionally cancel its plans to hold an Ontario-Quebec Interregional Senior Kumite Training Camp in Kingston (ON), originally scheduled for this Saturday, October 15th.
Please note that Karate Canada may eventually hold an additional Quebec-Ontario Interregional Training in lieu of this one, perhaps later this year and in preparation for the 2017 Paris Open Karate-1 Championships; should this indeed occur, it will of course be announced well in advance of the date of training.
We thank you kindly for your understanding.
October 5, 2016
2016 Summit A Success
Karate Canada is proud to report that attendance at the 2016 edition of its annual Summit surpassed all of the other recent editions, with 110 participants. This event was overall a considerable success, and gave many members (registrants) and for the first time, non-members, of Karate Canada a chance to get together and to take part in various workshops, seminars, meetings, trainings and conferences, benefiting our athletes, coaches, instructors, officials, leaders and administrators. Karate Canada also wishes to thank Karate Ontario, the Coaching Association of Canada and the Investors Group for their assistance and support in hosting this important event, as well as to thank the numerous participants, volunteers and staff involved in making this event such a success. Particularly, Karate Canada wishes to thank our Officials' Committee members Mr. Yaro Tarana (Chair), Mr. Andreas Kuntze and Mr. Babak Sotoudeh (who co-led a 2-day Referee Clinic), our 3 National Team Head Coaches (Mrs. Katarina Vadovicova, Mrs. Nassim Varasteh, and Mr. Denis Beaudoin, who led and / or co-led national kata and kumite trainings), the members of our Technical Advisory Committee (and examiners, who held national Dan testings), our Para-karate Committee Chair and National Para Team Coach Mrs. Heather Fidyk (who led a training and education for para-karate athletes and coaches), our Medical Chair Mr. Gus C. Kandilas (who led a seminar on Concussion Awareness and Management) and all the medical support staff, the members of our NCCP Committee Mr. Gérard Lauzière (Chair) and Mr. Gary Walsh (who co-led a 1-day NCCP Comp Dev karate-specific course), our High Performance Committee Chair Dr. Peter Davis (who offered a conference on Karate Canada’s new High Performance Plan and direction), as well as all participating athletes, referees and coaches and / or instructors. Last but not least, we wish to sincerely thank our two very special Guest Star Instructors, Mr. Davide Benetello (Kumite trainings) and Mr. Akio Tamashiro (Kata trainings), who generously shared their extensive expertise with our athletes and coaches in this rare visit to Canada.
We look forward to greeting all of you again soon in Québec City, QC, for our 2017 National Championships (February 24-26), and hope you will all join us again next year for our 2017 Summit!
Craig Vokey, Derek J. Ryan, Stéphane Rivest & Norma Foster (Re-) Elected onto Karate Canada’s Board of Directors
Karate Canada wishes to sincerely congratulate Mr. Craig Vokey (President), Mr. Derek J. Ryan (Vice-President), Mr. Stéphane Rivest (Treasurer) and Mrs. Norma Foster (Director at Large) for their recent (re-) election onto Karate Canada’s Board of Directors, at the 2016 Annual General Meeting held last Friday, September 30th, in Toronto (ON). We wish them much success in their future (and continued) work with Karate Canada. We further wish to sincerely thank Mr. Paul Oliver (former Director at Large) for his many years of service and dedication as a member of Karate Canada’s Board of Directors.
Finally, we wish to thank all attending members (Provincial / Territorial Association Presidents and Representatives) and registrants for their presence and participation.
September 27, 2016
2016 Summit - UPDATES! (v3)
| UPDATED BULLETIN (v3) (click image below to view) |
UPDATED Solo SCHEDULE (v3) (click image below to view) |
 |
 |
September 26, 2016
Two Top-10 Finishes in Hamburg for Canadian Karateka
Over the weekend, Canadian Senior National Team Roster members were in Hamburg for the German Open K-1 Championships, which were held from September 23rd-25th. The Canadian delegation included 23 athletes, accompanied by three coaches and three officials. A total of 1172 athletes from 273 clubs around the world competed in this event. Two of our athletes earned top 10 finishes in Hamburg: Camélie Boisvenue placed 9th in the women’s kumite +68kg division, while Daniel Gaysinsky placed 7th in the men’s kumite +84kg division. This weekend event saw a number of spirited performances on the part of Canadian athletes; the tournament constitutes an important step in the lead-up to the Senior World Championships, which will occur next month in Linz, Austria. (For full results, click here.)
September 24, 2016
Reports and Documents for 2016 AGM
Karate Canada is pleased to release its various Committee and President’s reports, its 2016 fiscal year-end Audited Financial Statements, and other relevant documents for the upcoming 2016 Annual General Meeting. |
 |
September 22, 2016
2016 Summit – Final Reminder:
Registration Closes on September 25
Karate Canada would like to extend a final reminder that registration for the Summit closes Sunday, September 25th. Don’t miss out on numerous training, education and development opportunities for athletes, instructors and coaches, officials and PTSO leaders alike.
We also wish to remind all current Carded athletes and all current Junior (Kata and Kumite) and Senior National Team Roster (Kumite) athletes residing in Quebec or Ontario that participation in the Summit (kata and kumite) training sessions / seminar is mandatory.
• To register online >>>
• Event Bulletin version 2 (September 19, 2016) >>>
• Latest Schedule (September 15, 2016) >>>
2016 Summit - UPDATES!
| UPDATED BULLETIN (v2) (click image below to view) |
UPDATED Solo SCHEDULE (v2) (click image below to view) |
|
 |
September 21, 2016
Strong Canadian Presence at the German Open K-1 Championships
Karate Canada is very excited to confirm that 23 Senior National Team Roster athletes are preparing to represent Canada at the 2016 German Open Karate-1 Championships, which will assemble teams from all over the world in Hamburg, Germany, on September 23-35. Our Canadian athletes are accompanied in Germany by National Team Coaches Nassim Varasteh, Katarina Vadovicova, and Roman Saltikov. Furthermore, three International Officials from Canada will be attending this event. (Click here to see list of Athletes) We wish all Team Canada athletes and Coaches the very best of luck in this tournament, and salute the usual dedication of our Canadian officials. We also wish the very best of luck to all other Canadian participants in the German Open. (Results will be updated as soon as possible on our Facebook page and website.)
September 15, 2016
Revised Bulletin for 2017 National Championships
Please note that a revised version of the 2017 National Championships Information Bulletin (version 2) is now available. Please pay attention to a few minor yet important corrections and clarifications pertaining to “automatic invitations” (sections 3 and 4), issued so as to better align with previously approved and published National Team Criteria. You may click here in order to view this updated Bulletin. Thank you.
September 14, 2016
2016 Summit - Reminder: Early Bird Registration Fee Ends on September 16
Karate Canada would like to remind everyone that the Early Bird registration fees for the Summit are only available until this Friday, September 16th inclusively. Don’t miss out on numerous training, education and development opportunities for athletes, instructors and coaches, officials and PTSO leaders alike.
We also wish to remind all current Carded athletes and all current Junior (Kata and Kumite) and Senior National Team Roster (Kumite) athletes residing in Quebec or Ontario that participation in the Summit (kata and kumite) training sessions / seminar is mandatory. You may click here to view the event’s Information Bulletin, here for the event’s schedule, and here to register online. We look forward to seeing you in Toronto very soon for this great event!
2016 Summit - Schedule of Activities Now Available
You may click here for the schedule of all sessions available to participants and to be held at the upcoming 2016 Summit. See you there!
Nominees for the Election of Directors at the 2016 AGM
The following 4 registrants have duly submitted their nomination for the election of Directors at the upcoming Annual General Meeting, for the available positions of President, Vice-President (2-year term), Treasurer and Director:
• Mr. Craig Vokey, President
• Mr. Derek J. Ryan, Vice-President
• Mr. Stéphane Rivest, Treasurer
• Ms. Norma Foster, Director-at-large
You may click here to view each nominee’s profile and electoral platform (in their own words)
September 3, 2016
2016 Summit: Registration Now Open!
All participants in the upcoming 2016 Karate Canada Summit (Toronto, September 30 - October 2) may now pre-register online. You may click here to register, and here to view the event’s Program / Information Bulletin. Please register no later than September 16th in order to take advantage of our Early Bird rates. We look forward to seeing all of you in Toronto soon, for the yearly rendez-vous of Canadian Karateka!
New Promotional Video and Registrant / Benefits Information Page
Karate Canada is pleased to release a new short promotional video showcasing the sport of karate, and including exciting footage from the 2016 National Championships. Furthermore, Karate Canada has created a new webpage containing information about Karate Canada and the numerous benefits of joining a recognized club (duly affiliated with one of our member Provincial / Territorial Associations). You may click here to view this new page, including this new promotional video. All Provincial / Territorial Association administrators and all club / dojo owners and instructors nationwide are encouraged to share the link to this new webpage and video with existing and potential members nationwide.
August 31, 2016
Notice of 2016 Annual General Meeting
Click here to view the formal notice of the 2016 Karate Canada AGM, which will take place at the Toronto Airport Sheraton Hotel and Conference Centre on September 30th, 2016, from 6 to 8PM EST, in the context of Karate Canada’s 2016 Summit. You may also click here to view the Meeting's Agenda.
Additionally, we would like to remind all members that September 9th is the deadline to submit nominations for the elections of Directors / Board officers, which will occur at this AGM. Click here for access to the nomination forms.
August 29, 2016
Best Ever Performance for Karate Canada at Junior Pan Ams
Karate Canada would like to extend its congratulations to the members of the National Team who competed at the 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on August 24th-28th. Our official delegation included 62 athletes, as well as coaches, support staff and officials. We are pleased to report that Canadian athletes achieved their best results ever at this event: 32 top-ten finishes amidst a total of 15 medals.
Three Canadian female kumite athletes earned gold medals in Guayaquil, a first in Karate Canada’s history: Megan Rochette (U14 +45kg) division, Melissa Bratic (Junior +59kg), and Camélie Boisvenue (U21 +68kg). Bronze medal finishes included Melissa Chan (Junior -48 kg), Darbyanh Heenan (Junior -53kg), Laurence Morin and Trysten Deveau (U21 -55kg), and Hana and Lisa Furumoto-Deshaies (U21 -61kg). T. Deveau, H. Furumoto-Deshaies, C. Boisvenue, and Isabel Chan also took the bronze medal in the U21 female team kumite event. In male kumite, Maxym-Oliver Rivest (Junior +76kg) won a silver medal, while bronze medals were earned by Isaiah Ingram (U14 -45kg), Nathaniel Besso (U21 -60kg), and Alexandre-Benjamin Rivest (U21 +84kg). In kata, Amelie Del Rosario received a bronze medal in the U14 Female category. You may click here to have access to full results.
Canada was also well represented by its 13 participating officials, a number of whom also successfully updated their licenses at this event. Both Trevor Walmsley and Jean-Marc Somma have achieved their Kumite Referee A licenses, and Chantal Boileau and Valentyna Zolotarova earned their Kumite Referee B licenses. Andreas Kuntze, Thomas de Freyman, and Yogen Mungroosing received their Kumite and Kata Judge A licenses, while Yoshie Furumoto received her Kumite Judge A license. This tournament concludes the 2016 competitive season for the Junior National Team program, yet many Junior Team Roster athletes are expected to take part in the imminent Summit, so as to help sharpen their skills in anticipation of the coming seasons and events.
“The 2016 Junior Pan American Championships, held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, was a stellar success for the entire delegation.” says Karate Canada’s President Mr. Craig Vokey. "It was a pleasure to see many athletes on the podium and many more in the top 8. Hats off to the Canadian Coaches and Officials for their dedication and success at the event and many thanks to the parents for thier support. The 2017 Junior Championships are in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Call for Nominations - Election of Directors at the 2016 Annual General Meeting
Please note that the following 4 positions on Karate Canada's Board of Directors will be in election at the 2016 Annual General Meeting, which will be held in Toronto on the evening of Friday, September 30th (formal Notice of this meeting will be published soon):
- President (currently held by Mr. Craig Vokey)
- Vice President (for a 2-year term; currently being held by Mr. Derek J. Ryan, on an interim basis)
- Treasurer (currently held by Mr. Stéphane Rivest)
- One (1) Director at Large (currently being held by Mr. Paul Oliver).
Karate Canada will accept nominations of candidates for these 4 positions until September 9th, 2016, inclusively. You may click here to view the official Call for Nominations, and here to view the Nomination Form. Please note that each submitted form must include the nominee’s written consent (signature), as well as the signatures of 5 other registrants. Please complete and return this form to Karate Canada either;
Thank you.- via email, at the following address: karatecanada.elections2016@gmail.com ,
- by fax (at 514-252-3211), or
- by mail, at the following address, so it is received no later than September 9th, 2016:
Karate Canada Elections
c/o Canadian Olympic Committee
500 Boul. René Lévesque Ouest
Montreal QC H2Z 1W7
August 24, 2016
Karate Canada Newsletter: First Issue Now Available!
Karate Canada is thrilled to release the very first issue of its new online Newsletter. You may stay up-to-date on all recent news, and obtain important updates on all upcoming events, by subscribing to the newsletter and receiving email notices of and links to all future editions (plans are to release the next issue this fall). This first issue contains a word from our President Mr. Craig Vokey, as well as an individual athlete profile / interview highlighting 2016 Senior Pan Am kata medalist Mr. Kenneth Lee. |
 |
 |
You can also access it by scanning this QR-Code with your mobile device. |
|
You prefer reading the Newsletter as a PDF? This Edition is available in PDF : NEWSLETTER No. 1 in PDF >>> |
Note : |
August 16, 2016
2016 Summit Program Now Available
Karate Canada is very proud to release the first version of its official Program / Information Bulletin for the upcoming 2016 Annual Summit, which will once again be held at the Toronto Airport Sheraton Hotel and Conference Centre, from September 30th to October 2nd inclusively.
This exciting event will offer elite kumite and kata training sessions with world-renown international Guest Star Instructors and with our National Team Head Coaches, as well as seminars and clinics for Coaches / instructors, Officials, athletes, and Provincial / Territorial Association staff and administrators. On the heels of the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympic announcement, the 7th edition of this yearly event will also be accessible to all, and include both an “Olympic Outreach” and an "Open House” component.
Click here to review the 2016 Summit's detailed program.
Online pre-registration will open shortly, and will remain open until September 25th.
A visible notice will be posted on Karate Canada's website and its social media once pre-registration becomes available, and Provincial / Territorial Association Presidents will receive email notification of this as well. Early bird rates are available to Summit participants who will pre-register on or before September 16th. Hotel reservations at the special discounted group rate for Summit participants is available now and until September 9th inclusively.
Don’t miss this great yearly rendez-vous of Canadian karateka! We look forward to seeing all of you soon in Toronto.
August 12, 2016
A Word From Our President Mr. Craig Vokey
Following the announcement that karate will be included in the Olympic Program at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, our President, Mr. Craig Vokey would like to share his thoughts on the path to Tokyo 2020:
“What a fantastic time to be a part of Karate Canada! The IOC announcement allows so many dreams to take flight and further enhances the opportunities and credibility of legitimate, government recognized amateur sport in Canada. I want to take a moment and thank my PTSO colleagues, Heritage Canada, Sport Canada, the PKF and WKF for standing by Karate Canada through its transition from the NKA to a modern and professionally run not-for-profit sport organization. The true test of leadership is to dedicate your efforts to benefiting others and to espouse modern governance principles. There have been many difficult decisions that have been essential to our success and I congratulate the past leadership, PTSO Presidents and the Board for taking the difficult path when it was required.
I also wish to thank the dedicated athletes, coaches and officials for their continued selfless support and dedication to our sport. I am continually overwhelmed with pride when I watch our athletes compete, our coaches coach and the professionalism and impartiality of our officials. This dedication is matched only by our Executive Director, staff and our many volunteers.
Tokyo 2020 will not be easy. The tournament is small, the path difficult and the challenges many, but, in my heart, I know that all members of this federation are up for the challenge. Ganbatte!”
August 3, 2016
Karate Now in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Program!
The world and Canadian sport karate communities are celebrating today’s announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that it has formally approved the addition of five new sports, including karate, to the program of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The inclusion of these five new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes to the Olympic program in Tokyo, without impacting existing sports. The sport of karate will be represented by total of 80 athletes, set to compete in six kumite (sparring) and two kata (forms) divisions.
“The entire Canadian karate community is thrilled with this historic news,” says Karate Canada President Mr. Craig Vokey, “and inclusion of the sport of karate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ program represents a milestone of immense significance for all karateka across the globe. With the continued support of the Canadian government, the Canadian Olympic Committee and our other partners, Karate Canada is sparing no effort to ensure its readiness for these Games, and we excitedly look forward to seeing our remarkable Canadian karate athletes shine on the world stage, in the very birthplace of this hugely popular martial art and combat sport.”
“We have been preparing for this opportunity for years, and can’t wait for the entire world to see some of our best athletes shine in Tokyo in 2020. We sincerely hope that we may benefit from increased support and funding in the near future, in order to help further ensure the Canadian karate team’s success at these Games” adds Executive Director Olivier Pineau.
The Canadian Olympic Committee has also provided the following statement:
“We applaud the IOC’s decision to include karate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Program. It is an important recognition of that sport which has experienced significant growth world-wide and the exceptional athletes who take part in it. This addition will attract millions of new fans around the world to the Olympic Movement. Congratulations to Karate Canada, we’ll see you in Tokyo.”
Tricia Smith
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
July 23, 2016
National Team Ready for 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships
Upon having received final confirmations from invited athletes selected at the conclusion of the recent 2016 Junior National Training Camp (in accordance with published Criteria), Karate Canada is very pleased to release the final composition of its National Team for participation in the upcoming 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Karate Championships (August 22-28, in Guayaquil, Ecuador). You may click here to view the full list of athletes and support staff / volunteers who are scheduled to represent Canada soon, at this prestigious competitive event (where they will also be accompanied by numerous parents, family members, and Canadian officials). We sincerely congratulate all athletes on their selection, and wish everyone the very best of luck in Ecuador!
Karate Canada to Greet USA National Team Members at August ON-QC Inter Regional Kumite Training
Karate Canada is pleased to announce the recently confirmed and imminent participation of several USA National Team Senior Kumite athletes in the upcoming Senior Kumite Ontario-Quebec Inter-Regional Training Camp, which will take place in Kingston (ON) on August 6th and 7th. Please note that participation in this training camp is by invitation only. This event will constitute an important step in the preparation of our Senior National Team Roster kumite athletes for upcoming international events of the season, such as the German Open Karate-1 Championships (September) and the Senior World Championships (October).
3rd Ontario-Quebec Regional Junior Kumite Training Camp on August 7th
Karate Canada will hold its third Ontario - Quebec Junior Kumite InterRegional Training Camp of the season on Sunday, August 7th (from 10 AM to 2:30 PM EDT) at the Kingston Military Community Sports Centre. The training sessions will be led by Karate Canada’s Junior National Team Kumite Head Mr. Denis Beaudoin. Email invitations have already been issued to all eligible participants. We wish to remind all invited athletes that participation in this Training Camp will be mandatory for all current and eligible Junior National Team Roster kumite athletes residing in the provinces of Quebec or Ontario (within 300 km of the venue). This event also represents an important step in the final preparations of our Junior National Team athletes for the upcoming Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (August).
3rd BC Regional Kumite Training Of The Season, August 6th
Karate Canada will hold its third BC Regional Kumite Training Camp of the season on Saturday, August 6th, at the Tiger’s Eye Karate-Do Club (North Shore), located in North Vancouver. The joint Junior and Senior training sessions will be led by Karate Canada’s BC Training Centre Kumite Coach Mr. Sandeep Gill. Email invitations have already been issued to all eligible participants. We wish to remind all invited athletes that participation in this Training Camp will be mandatory for all current and eligible Junior and Senior National Team Roster kumite athletes residing in the province of BC and within 200 km of the training venues. This Training Camp represent an important step in the final preparations of our Senior National Team Roster athletes for the upcoming German Open and World Championships (September & October), and of our Junior athletes for the upcoming Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (August).
Kata National Training Camp to Take Place in BC on August 11-14
Karate Canada will soon hold its annual National Kata Training Camp for Senior National Team athletes. This invitation Training Camp will be led by our National Team Kata Head Coach Mrs. Katarina Vadovicova, and will take place at te Steveston Karate Dojo in Richmond, BC, on August 11-14. This 3 and a half-day event will assemble current Senior National Team Kata athletes (including AWAD / Para athletes), and is also open to invited Junior National Team Roster kata athletes and Youth medalists from the 2016 National Championships. We wish to remind all invited Senior National Team kata athletes that their participation in this Training Camp will be mandatory. This Camp will serve as important preparation of our Senior National Team Roster athletes for the upcoming German Open and World Championships (September & October), and of our Junior athletes for the upcoming Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (August).
July 20, 2016
Karate Canada Celebrates the Conclusion of its Largest Junior National Training Camp To Date
Karate Canada has proudly concluded on Sunday July 17th the largest edition to date of its annual Junior National Training Camp, assembling no fewer than 88 athletes and 5 National Team Coaches, in both kata and kumite. This 3-day Camp ended on a high note, as Karate Canada announced the selection of its National Team athletes for participation in the 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (to be held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in August - the full list will be posted shortly). The Camp was co-led by National Team Head Coaches Katarina Vadovicova (Kata) and Denis Beaudoin (Junior Kumite), with the help of Assistant National Team Coaches Karen Armour (Junior Kumite), David Strohbach (Junior Kumite) and Pam Ross (Junior Kata). The event also benefited from the invaluable volunteer contribution of the following five referees, whom we all thank profoundly for their generous support: Mr. Babak Sotoudeh, Mrs. Tammy Hennessy, Mrs. Kiran Kainth, Mr. Farshid Hosseinirad, and Mr. Mahmud Majlesi. Highlights of the Camp included an educational presentation on mental preparation by sport psychology expert Mr. Patrick Béland; a physical testing segment for kumite athletes; as well as a surprise visit from Senior Kumite Head Coach Nassim Varasteh and much more.
As usual, Karate Canada salutes the unwavering commitment of all parents who support and accompany their young athletes through their journey to excellence. We also wish to sincerely thank all of the staff members and volunteers who once again made this great event possible. Finally, we wish to congratulate all participating athletes for their hard work and dedication, and we look forward to the remaining Junior National Team Roster events of the season, such as the National Kata Training Camp (Richmond BC, August 11-14; optional for all invited Youth and Junior athletes), the upcoming Regional Kumite Training Camps to be held in Kingston (August 7th, for Ontario and Quebec junior athletes) and North Vancouver (August 6th, for BC junior athletes), and the aforementioned 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Karate Championships.
July 8, 2016
Updated Junior Athlete Rankings and Status
Karate Canada is pleased to release the current Junior athlete rankings and status lists for both kata and kumite athletes, as updated after the recent World Youth Cup in Croatia. Please note that these status and ranking point listings will be used to select our National Team for participation in the upcoming 2016 Junior Pan American Championships, in accordance with current and published Junior National team Criteria:
•Junior National Team Rankings - Kumite (July 12, 2016) : (pdf)
• Junior National Team Rankings - Kata (July 5, 2016) : (pdf)
July 7, 2016July 7, 2016
2nd Atlantic Regional Kumite Training Camp to be held in Newfoundland, July 8-10
Karate Canada will hold its second Atlantic Regional Training Camp of the season (in kumite) this Friday to Sunday, July 8-10, at the Mary Queen of Peace School, located at 137 Torbay Road, in St. John's, Newfoundland (A1A 2G9). This Training Camp will be led by our Atlantic Training Centre Kumite Coach Mr. Randy Rix, and is being organized jointly with Karate NL. Here is the complete Schedule:
Friday July 8:
-Session One: 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
(National Team Roster, Youth Division medalists from 2016 Nationals and invited sparring / training partners only)
Saturday July 9:
-Session Two: 10:00 am - 12:30 am (also open to provincial-level participants)
-Session Three: 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm (also open to provincial-level participants)
Sunday July 10:
-Session Four; 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
(National Team Roster, Youth Division medalists from 2016 Nationals and invited sparring / training partners only)
We wish to remind all invited athletes that participation in this Training Camp will be mandatory for all current Junior and Senior National Team Roster athletes (in kata and in kumite) residing in the Atlantic provinces and within 200 km of the venue.This event also represents an important step in the final preparations of our Senior National Team Roster athletes for the upcoming German Open and World Championships (September & October), and of our Junior athletes for the upcoming Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (August).
July 4, 2016
Success for Team Canada at the Youth World Cup
Karate Canada would like to extend its sincere congratulations to all members of the Junior National Team Roster (and Youth division medalists from the 2016 National Championships) who competed at the 2016 WKF Karate 1 World Youth Cup in Umag, Croatia, on July 1st-3rd. Our official delegation included 40 athletes, as well as 6 coaches, and some officials and support staff. We are pleased to report that in their first participation in this prestigious international event, Canadian athletes have achieved 15 top-ten finishes, including no less than 7 medals. You may click here to view the full results, and you may visit our Facebook page for more detailed information and pictures. Next on the horizon for our Junior National Team Roster members is the upcoming Junior National Training Camp in Toronto, where Karate Canada will announce the final team selection for the 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships!
Call for Applications - Athletes with a Disability at the 2016 Senior World Championships
Karate Canada is pleased to announce that we will be accepting applications from additional athletes with a disability (AWAD) to possibly attend the 2016 Senior World Karate Championships in Linz, Austria (October 22-31).
Karate Canada has already qualified two Athletes to the AWAD Senior National Team for the 2016 Senior World Championships in Linz, Austria. To be eligible, athletes must qualify in one of the categories set out in the WKF- Rules Karate for Person with Disabilities:
http://www.wkf.net/pdf/rules/wkf_rules_karate_person_disabilities.pdf
Athletes may be selected up to a maximum of 3 per category.
Athletes who are eligible and who apply for selection may be selected to the team in the following decreasing order of priority, based on available spots:
1. Athletes who are eligible and who have placed first in their division at the most recent (2016) National Championships, followed by second place, and then by third place winners;
2. Athletes who are eligible and who participated in the most recent (2016) Nationals Championships;
3. Athletes who are eligible but who have not participated in the most recent (2016) National Championships.
** IMPORTANT: All selected applicants / athletes MUST attend either the 2016 Kata National Training Camp (Richmond, BC, August 11-14; invitational only) OR the National Kata Training Camp which will be held at / during the 2016 Karate Canada Summit (Toronto, ON, Sep 30- Oct 2) in order to be eligible to compete at Senior World Championships as part of Karate Canada’s AWAD Senior National Team.
All applications must include the athlete’s name, date of birth, time they have practiced karate, classification, and a short biography (including information about practice of karate). All applications should be submitted by email to Karate Canada’s Program Manager Ms. Alexandra Roy, at: alexandra.roy@karatecanada.org.
The deadline for submissions is July 14, 2016.
(Karate Canada will reply to all applicants by July 28, 2016. Selected athletes will be provided with all the necessary information for participation. Please note that while Karate Canada will cover any registration fees and offer qualified coaching staff and assistance at the event, all other participation costs (including travel and accommodation) will be the sole responsibility of participating athletes. )
June 30, 2016
Strong Canadian Presence at the Youth World Cup in Croatia
Karate Canada is very excited to confirm that no less than 40 Junior National Team Roster athletes and Youth division medalists from the 2016 National Championships are preparing to represent Canada at the 2016 WKF Karate-1 Youth World Cup, which will assemble teams from all over the world in Umag, Croatia, on July 1-3. Our Canadian athletes are accompanied in Croatia by 5 National Team Coaches, 1 Team Leader / Manager, Karate Canada’s President, and a number of International Officials from Canada. You may click here to see the full list of Team Canada athletes and coaches for this event. We wish all Team Canada athletes and Coaches the very best of luck in this tournament, and salute the usual dedication of our Canadian officials. We also wish the very best of luck to all other Canadian participants in the World Youth Cup. (Results will be updated as soon as possible on our Facebook page and website.)
June 27, 2016
The Canadian Karate Community Mourns the Passing of
Mr. Ryan Jimmo
Karate Canada is profoundly saddened by yesterday’s news of Mr. Ryan Jimmo’s sudden, tragic passing. The son of long-time Canadian Referee Mr. Paul Jimmo, Ryan was actively involved as a karate competitor at the national level for a number of years; he was also a very successful mixed martial arts competitor. He was greatly appreciated and respected by his peers. On behalf of our President Mr. Craig Vokey, our entire Board of Directors and everyone in the Canadian karate community, Karate Canada wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the entire Jimmo family. Our thoughts are with Mr. Jimmo’s loved ones in this difficult time.
June 22, 2016
First Information Bulletin for the 2017 National Championships
Karate Canada is thrilled to release its first version of the Information Bulletin for the 2017 National Championships, which will take place in Quebec City (QC) on February 24-26, 2017. This document contains loads of useful information pertaining to the venue, host hotel, registration timeline, eligibility criteria, competition divisions, automatic invitations, wildcards, schedule of activities, coaching requirements, etc. Additional information will also be available soon in later versions of this Bulletin. You may click here to read this important document. We wish everyone the best of luck in their preparations leading up this tournament, and we look forward to greeting all of you in Quebec next February!
June 17, 2016
Program of the 2016 Junior National Training Camp Now Available
The 2016 Junior National Training Camp (Toronto, July 15-17) is quickly approaching. Athletes who have received a formal invitation to attend from Karate Canada are strongly encouraged to register online before the deadline of June 24th. You may click here to view a short program / Information Bulletin containing information about this event. (Reminder: participation in this invitational 3-day training camp is mandatory in order for invited Junior National Roster athletes - and Youth division medalists form the 2016 National Championships - to remain eligible for possible selection onto the 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Karate Championships Team.) Don’t miss your opportunity to receive targeted high performance training from Karate Canada's National Team Head Coaches Katarina Vadovicova (Kata) and Denis Beaudoin (Kumite), as well as from other National Team Coaches, and to benefit from an educational seminar presented by mental performance expert Patrick Béland (M2M).
June 14, 2016
Updated Junior Athlete Rankings and Status
Karate Canada is pleased to release the current Junior athlete rankings and status lists for both kata and kumite athletes, as updated with regard to age eligibility for each category. Please note that these status and ranking point listings will be used to select our National Team for participation in the upcoming 2016 Junior Pan American Championships, in accordance with current and published Junior National team Criteria:
- Junior National Team Rankings - Kata (June 7, 2016) : (pdf)
- Junior National Team Rankings - Kumite (June 7, 2016) : (pdf)
June 7, 2016
IOC Decision Brings Karate One Step Closer to Olympics
The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board has taken a very important decision last week which brings the sport of Karate one crucial step closer to being featured in the Olympic Games’ program for Tokyo 2020. You may click on the various links below to read different press releases on this topic:
-from the International Olympic Committee;
-from the World Karate Federation;
-from the Canadian Olympic Committee;
-from Karate Canada.
2017 National Championships : Age Eligibility Rules
Karate Canada is pleased to confirm new age eligibility rules for the 2017 National Championships, set to take place in Quebec City (QC) on February 24-26, 2017. You may click here to read a document and matrix outlining these age eligibility rules. Provincial and Territorial Associations are encouraged to use this information for their team selections towards participation in these National Championships. More information will be available very soon regarding automatic invitations, wildcards, seeding of draws, etc, and Karate Canada will be releasing a first Bulletin of the 2017 National Championships very soon.
Updated Senior Athlete Rankings and Status
Karate Canada is pleased to release the current Senior athlete rankings and status lists for both kata and kumite athletes, as updated after the recent Senior Pan American Karate Championships. Please note that these status and ranking point listings will be used to select our National Team for participation in the upcoming 2016 Senior World Karate Championships, in accordance with current and published Senior National team Criteria:
- Senior Athlete Ranking and Status List - Kata (June 6, 2016)
- Senior Athlete Ranking and Status List - Kumite (June 1, 2016)
May 31, 2016
Two More Medals for Canada on Last Day of Senior Pan Ams
Team Canada is celebrating two additional bronze medal wins in Rio de Janeiro, at the 30th Senior Pan American Championships. On Saturday, May 28th, the final day of competition, Canadian athletes finished in third place in two separate events. In the women’s team kata category, athletes Daphné Trahan-Perreault, Hidemi Uchiage, and Sumi Uchiage defeated the Mexican team 3-2, before losing to the team from the Dominican Republic, who then went on to claim the silver medal. In the men’s team kumite category, athletes Patrice Boily-Martineau, Alexandre-Benjamin Rivest, Nicholas-Patrick Rivest, Carl Rodrigue, Sarmen Sinani and Philippe Soucy defeated very strong teams from Columbia and the Dominican Republic, before losing by a very narrow gap (3-2) to Venezuela, whose team went on to claim the silver medal. In a heated repechage face-off, the Canadian male kumite team defeated the Argentinian team 2-1 for the bronze. This brings Canada’s final medal tally at this event to three bronze medals, with two top 5 and two top 7 results as well. You may click here for full results from the tournament, and click here for a recent news release regarding the conclusion of the event. Karate canada wishes to sincerely congratulate all participating athletes, Coaches and Referees!
Canadian Officials at the Senior Pan Ams
Karate Canada wishes to salute the dedication of our Canadian Referees who recently officiated at the 30th Senior Pan American Karate Championships in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil: Mrs. Yoshie Furumoto, Mrs. Valentyna Zolotarova, Mr. Trevor Walmsley, Mr. Doug Smerek, and PKF Referee Commission member Mr. Zvonko Celebija. Our sincere congratulations also to Mr. Trevor Walmsley for achieving his Referee B license, to Mrs. Yoshie Furumoto for obtaining her Kata Judge A license, and to Mr. Doug Smerek for successfully securing his Referee A and Judge A licenses in Kata!
June 12 Ontario-Quebec Inter-Regional Senior Kumite Training Canceled / Postponed
Please note that the 2nd Ontario-Quebec Inter-Regional Training originally scheduled for June 12 (in Kingston ON) is being cancelled / postponed for Senior Kumite athletes only (training will go on as planned for all Youth, Cadet, Junior and U21 divisions as well as for all kata athletes). This has been decided in order to ensure optimal recovery and preparation of athletes for the upcoming German Open and Senior World Championships. More information will be made available soon regarding a possible replacement event, likely near the end of July / early August. Thank you for your understanding.
Ms. Gillian Benson is Karate Canada’s New Administrative Assistant / Logistics Coordinator
Karate Canada is pleased to announce the recent addition of Ms. Gillian Benson to its office staff, where she will fulfill the dual role of Administrative Assistant / Logistics Coordinator. Ms. Benson will be working out of our Montreal office, and will provide assistance with daily office operations, communications, administrative tasks and various logistical duties, mostly around Karate Canada's National Team programs.
We wish to warmly welcome Gillian to the team!
May 29, 2016
2nd Ontario-Quebec Inter Regional Training Camp of the Season - June 12
Karate Canada will hold its second Ontario - Quebec InterRegional Training Camp of the season (in both kata and kumite) on Sunday, June 12 (from 10 AM to 3:00 PM EST) at the Kingston Military Community Sports Centre. The training sessions will be led by our 3 National Team Head Coaches (the kata trainings will be led by Mrs. Katarina Vadovicova, and Junior and Senior Kumite sessions will be led by Mr. Denis Beaudoin and Mrs. Nassim Varasteh, respectively). All invited athlete (s) will receive the necessary information by email shortly.
We wish to remind all invited athletes that participation in this Training Camp will be mandatory for all current Junior and Senior National Team Roster athletes (in kata and in kumite) residing in the provinces of Quebec or Ontario (within 300 km of the venue). This event also represents an important step in the final preparations of our Senior National Team Roster athletes for the upcoming German Open and World Championships (September & October), and of our Junior athletes for the upcoming Youth World Cup Karate-1 event and Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (June / July & August).
2nd Regional Training Camps of the Season in British Columbia
Karate Canada will hold its second BC Regional Kumite Training Camp of the season on Saturday, June 11th, in the Vancouver area (exact schedule and location to be confirmed shortly). The joint Junior and Senior training sessions will be led by Karate Canada’s BC Training Centre Kumite Coach Mr. Sandeep Gill.
Furthermore, Karate Canada will hold its first BC Regional Kata Training Camp of the season on Sunday, June 12th (from 9 AM to 4 PM PST) at the Kimeru Shotokan Karate Club (in Vancouver). The Junior and Senior training sessions will be led by Regional Kata Training Centre Coach Mr. Brian James, with assistance from National Team Assistant Kata Coach Ms. Pam Ross. All invited athletes will receive the necessary information by email shortly for both of these training camps. We wish to remind all invited athletes that participation in these Training Camps will be mandatory for all Junior and Senior National Team Roster athletes residing in the province of BC and within 200 km of the respective training venues. These training sessions represent important steps in the final preparations of our Senior National Team Roster athletes for the upcoming German Open and World Championships (September & October), and of our Junior athletes for the upcoming Youth World Cup Karate-1 event and Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships (June / July & August).
2nd Atlantic Regional Kumite Training Camp to be Held in Newfoundland, July 8-10
Karate Canada will hold its second Atlantic Regional Kumite Training Camp of the season in Newfoundland, on the weekend of July 8-10 (exact schedule and location to be confirmed shortly). The Junior and Senior training sessions will be led by Karate Canada’s Atlantic Regional Training Centre Kumite Coach Mr. Randy Rix. More details and email invitations coming soon…
May 26, 2016
Kenneth Lee Wins Bronze on Day 1 of Competition at the 2016 Senior Pan Ams
Team Canada has claimed its first medal of the tournament today in Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), as Kenneth Lee won a bronze medal in men’s individual kata division, the first Pan American medal for Canada in this division in many years. Other highlights of this first day of competition include a top 5 finish for Alexandre-Benjamin-Rivest (men’s 84+kg kumite) and a top 7 finish for Rita Ngo (women’s individual kata), both newcomers to the Senior National Team. You may click here in order to read a press release summing up today’s events. Stay tuned for more updates, as many more of our nation’s best karate athletes step onto the mats tomorrow and Saturday.
Amended and Updated 2016-2017 National Team Criteria
Please note that Karate canada has recently adopted minor changes to its 2016-2017 National Team Criteria (Senior and Junior, in both kata and in kumite), as well as to its 2016-2017 Youth Team Pilot Project Outline.
These amended documents can be found in our “Documents" tab, or by clicking on the titles listed below:
1- 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria for Kumite Athletes (version 2.0, May 21, 2016);
2- 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria for Kata Athletes (version 2.0, May 21, 2016);
3- 2016-2017 Junior National Team Criteria (version 3.0, May 21, 2016);
4- 2016-2017 Youth Team Pilot Project Outline (version 2.0, May 21, 2016).
Please note: the only significant changes from previous versions consist in the following:
- the tie-breaking criteria have been updated (in section 6.1 of both the Sr Kumite and Kata Criteria, and in section 4.4 of the Jr Team Criteria) to ensure increased objectivity in selection, while alleviating potential problems linked to the wording of the previous version (and previously prescribed use of “challenge matches”)
- the dates and calendars of the upcoming Regional and Inter-Regional Trainings and competitions have been updated.
- a few other minor changes were made in order to ensure improved consistency and clarity.
New Members on the Communications & Marketing Committee
Karate Canada is Pleased to Announce that the following three individuals have been appointed as new members of the Communications & Marketing Committee: Mrs. Debra Kofsky (Chair), Mr. Marc Ward, and Mr. Clarence Borja. All three volunteers bring a wealth of relevant expertise to this new role, and the Committee is excited to get important work underway very soon. Karate Canada wishes to welcome them in this new role, and to thank them for their dedication and commitment.
Invitations to the 2016 Junior National Training Camp To Be Issued Shortly
Individual invitations will be issued very soon to all eligible and current Junior National Team Roster athletes and to all eligible Youth division medalists from the 2016 National Championships, for participation in the upcoming 2016 Junior National Training Camp. This 3-day event will be held on July 15-17, at the Toronto Airport Sheraton Hotel & Conference Centre. We wish to remind all eligible participants that attendance will be mandatory in order for invited athletes to remain eligible to be selected in order to represent Canada at the 2016 Cadet & Junior Pan American Karate Championships. Eligible athletes who would not, for any reason, receive an invitation in their email inbox by next Tuesday (May 31st) should contact Karate Canada promptly, at: info@karatecanada.org. Please note that this official invitation email will contain all required information, such as the start and end dates and times for the Training Camp, the link and information for hotel room reservations, the link to the event’s online registration page, etc.
We thank you kindly for your patience.
May 25, 2016
Updated Junior National Team Roster Ranking Points
The Junior National Team roster ranking points have been updated according to the 2016-2017 Junior National Team Criteria and include the points for the US Open. They can be found on our website under Documents/National Team or by clicking on the links below.
Junior National Team Rankings - Kata (May 9, 2016) : (pdf)
Junior National Team Rankings - Kumite ( June 3, 2016) : (pdf)
May 6, 2016
Karate Canada is Proud to Sanction the Upcoming Western Canadian Karate Championships
Karate Canada is proud to endorse the 2016 edition of the Western Canadian Karate Championships (WCKC), which will take place on June 4th at the Crescent Point Regional Field House located in beautiful Okotoks, AB.
The WCKC will showcase all levels of karateka from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. There are numerous events which athletes will be able to participate in including: Recreational, Elite, AWAD, Masters divisions and Team events. Furthermore, National Referee Committee Chair Mr. Yaro Tarana will conduct a National Officials’ Clinic on Friday June 3rd.
Register for the tournament, Officials' course and/or to volunteer!
Tournament registration
Officials' course
Volunteers
Don’t miss this great event!
April 29, 2016
Statement of Support for the Canadian Olympic Committee
“ The Karate Canada Board of Directors wishes to state its support for the new President, Ms. Tricia Smith, and the actions taken by the Canadian Olympic Committee Board of Directors to improve its policy structure, to strengthen the Canadian Sport System, and to protect and value the men and women who work at the COC and who do so much good for sport in Canada. At all levels of governance, from the very top to community-based associations, the concepts of integrity, respect and ethical decision making should permeate Canadian sport culture.
We congratulate Tricia on her leadership and look forward to the continued positive changes within the Canadian Olympic Committee. "
Crag Vokey
President
Announcing the National Team for the 2016 Senior Pan American Championships
Karate Canada is thrilled to announce its official lineup for the 2016 Senior Pan American Karate Championships. You may click here to view the full list of National Team members who have been selected for this event, in accordance with our published Senior National Team Criteria. These 25 athletes will be competing in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) on May 26-28, and will be supported by four National Team Coaches: Mrs. Katarina Vadovicova (Kata Head Coach), Mrs. Nassim Varasteh (Sr Kumite Head Coach), Mr. Kraig Devlin and Mr. Roman Saltikov. The team will also be accompanied by Karate Canada’s Medical Committee Chair and certified Athletic Therapist Mr. Gus Kandilas, as well as by Team Leader and Karate Canada President Mr. Craig Vokey, who will be Canada’s delegate at the next Pan American Karate Federation Congress. Finally, several international officials from Canada will also be part of the delegation, including Mrs. Yoshie Furumoto, Ms. Valentyna Zolotarova, Mr. Douglas Smerek, Mr. Trevor Walmsley and Mr. Zvonko Celebija. We sincerely congratulate our athletes for their selection, and wish our entire delegation the very best of luck in Rio!
1st Regional Training Camps of the Season in British Columbia
Karate Canada will hold its first BC Regional Kumite Training Camp of the season on Saturday, April 30th (from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST) at the St-David’s Church, located at 1525 Taylor Way, in West Vancouver. The joint Junior and Senior training sessions will be respectively led by Karate Canada’s BC Training Centre Kumite Coach Mr. Sandeep Gill and by Guest Star Instructor and world-renown Coach Javier Mantilla (graciously invited by Karate BC).
Furthermore, Karate Canada will hold its first BC Regional Kata Training Camp of the season on Sunday, May 8th (from 9 AM to 4 PM PST) at the Kimeru Shotokan Karate Club (in Vancouver). The Junior and Senior training sessions will be led by Regional Kata Training Centre Coach Mr. Brian James, with assistance from National Team Assistant Kata Coach Ms. Pam Ross. All invited athletes should have received the necessary information for both of these training camps by email already. We wish to remind all invited athletes that participation in these Training Camps will be mandatory for all Junior and Senior National Team Roster athletes residing in the province of BC and within 200 km of the respective training venues. These training sessions represent important steps in the final preparations of our Senior National Team Roster athletes for the upcoming Pan American Championships (May 23-29, 2016), and of our Junior athletes for the upcoming Youth World Cup Karate-1 event (June 27- July 3, 2016).
Karate Canada is Proud to Sanction the Upcoming Montreal International Open Karate Championships
Karate Canada is proud to endorse the 2016 edition of the Montreal International Open, which will take place on May 15th at the Vaudreuil-Dorion Multisports Centre. This will be the 13h edition of this event, held by Karate Québec on a yearly basis.
All karateka 8 years old and more with a green belt and above are welcome. An AWAD (Athlete With A Disability) karate division is also offered. This tournament will offer both recreational (non-Elite) divisions and Elite divisions (with prize money). Seminars led by world-renown experts Tom Scott and Akio Tamashiro will also be held on the days preceding the start of competition, and National Referee Committee Chair Mr. Yaro Tarana will conduct a Regional Officials’ Clinic offered by Karate Quebec and Karate Canada. You may click here for more information.
Registration is now open on SportData. Don’t miss this great event!
Vancouver to Host the Americas Masters Games Soon!
Karate BC is excited to be working with the organizers of the upcoming Americas Masters Games in Vancouver (August 26 to September 4, 2016) to host the karate portion of the Games. Karate is one of 25 sports participating in this event, and Karate BC would like to extend an invitation to you to come and join them at the Games this August. This event should constitute a wonderful opportunity for karate practitioners aged 30 years and over to get together to compete, make new friends, renew friendships and socialize with other 30 years + athletes in Vancouver, British Columbia. For general information and to register for the Games please visit the website at www.americasmastersgames2016.com.
You may also you may click here for more information about the karate portion of the Games.
April 8, 2016
First Ontario-Quebec Inter Regional Training Camp of the Season
Karate Canada will hold its first Ontario - Quebec InterRegional Training Camp of the season (in both kata and kumite) on Sunday, May 1st (from 10 AM to 3:30 PM EST) at the Kingston Military Community Sports Centre. The training sessions will be led by our 3 National Team Head Coaches (the kata trainings will be led by Mrs. Katarina Vadovicova, and Junior and Senior Kumite sessions will be led by Mr. Denis Beaudoin and Mrs. Nassim Varasteh, respectively). All invited athlete (s) will receive the necessary information by email shortly.
We wish to remind all invited athletes that participation in this Training Camp will be mandatory for all current Junior and Senior National Team Roster athletes (in kata and in kumite) residing in the provinces of Quebec or Ontario (within 300 km of the venue). This event also represents an important step in the final preparations of our Senior National Team Roster athletes for the upcoming Pan American Championships (May 23-29, 2016), and of our Junior athletes for the upcoming Youth World Cup Karate-1 event (June 27- July 3, 2016).
April 1, 2016
Karate Canada Seeks a New Administrative Assistant / Logistics Coordinator
Karate Canada seeks a full-time Administrative Assistant / Logistics Coordinator. You may click here to read the full job description. All interested candidates must apply by submitting their resume by email no later than April 15th, 2016.
Revision to the 2016-2017 Junior National Team Criteria
Following recommendations from its High Performance & Coaching Committee, Karate Canada has adopted a slightly revised version of its current Junior National Team Criteria. The only changes are featured in article 3.4.5 of the document and pertain to possible weight division changes for kumite athletes. You may click here to read these updated Criteria.
March 24, 2016
New 2017-2018 Carding (AAP) Criteria
Karate Canada is pleased to release its Carding Criteria for the 2017-2018 Carding cycle. You may click here to read this full document, which continues to ensure optimal alignment between Karate Canada’s Senior National Team Selection Criteria and Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program. Please note that the Carding cycle, as of 2017, will begin on May 1st of every year.
Khyber Barnett Receives The Sport BC Athlete Of The Year Award
Junior National Team athlete Khyber Barnett was identified by Sport BC as one of the three top athletes under the age of 19 in British Columbia across all sports. Khyber's achievements in the sport of karate was celebrated at the Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards on March 10th in Vancouver. The Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards is Canada’s longest-running sport recognition event, honouring BC’s best athletes, coaches and officials in 18 different categories. Congratulations Khyber!
Karate Canada Office Closed for Easter Holiday
Please note that Karate Canada’s office will be closed from Friday March 25th to Monday March 28th inclusively.
Thank you.
March 22, 2016
Bronze For Karateka Kate Campbell At The Dutch Open!
Canada's Senior National Team Roster athletes competed at the Dutch Open Karate 1 Championships in Rotterdam (Netherlands) March 19th and 20th. In kata, most athletes went through several rounds, and Kenneth Lee ended up in 7th position. Canada’s best result goes to TO2015 Pan Am Games silver medalist Kate Campbell who earned a bronze medal in women's -55kg kumite division. We salute the great work of our athletes, who are working diligently in preparation for the Senior Pan American Karate Championships (May, Brazil) and the Senior World Championships (October, Austria).
March 17, 2016
Five Athletes Carded for the 2016-2017 Cycle
Karate Canada is pleased to announce that five Canadian Senior National Karate Team Roster athletes have once again been nominated and approved for Carding (Athlete Assistance Program) for the 2016-2017 cycle. Please note that Sport Canada has modified the dates of its Carding cycle for the sport of karate (and a few other sports) as of 2017, when the cycle will in fact start on May 1st instead of on March 1st. Consequently, the athletes who have been approved for AAP support for the full 2016-2017 cycle will benefit from this support for a period of 14 months. The 2017-2018 Carding Criteria will be published shortly. Here is the list of this year's Carded athletes, who have been selected on the basis of their competitive results, status and ranking point, and of our published AAP Criteria. Karate Canada sincerely congratulates every one of them, and has every confidence that they will make the best possible use of the support and resources being allocated to them:
- C1 : Camélie Boisvenue
- SR: Kathryn Campbell
- SR: Kamille Desjardins
- SR: Sarmen Sinani
- SR : Philippe Soucy
1st Atlantic Regional Training Camp and Open Kumite Seminar with Coach Varasteh
Karate Canada, in partnership with Karate Newfoundland and Labrador, Karate Nova Scotia, Karate New Brunswick and Karate PEI, is pleased to announce the upcoming 1st Atlantic Regional Kumite Training Camp of the season, which will be coupled with an Open Elite Kumite Seminar led by Karate Canada’s Senior National Team Kumite Head Coach and two-time World Championships silver medalist Mrs. Nassim Varasteh. This 2-day event will include numerous training sessions open to all Youth, Cadet, Junior, U21 and Senior Provincial Team athletes (with only one invitational session reserved exclusively for National Team Roster members and invited training partners). The Training Camp and Kumite Seminar will take place on April 29-30, in Halifax (NS). Coach Varasteh will be working in collaboration with Atlantic Regional Training Centre Kumite Coach Mr. Randy Rix and with Junior National Team Assistant Kumite Coach Mrs. Karen Armour for delivery of the various training sessions. You may click here for more information. (Please note that Karate Canada plans to hold other similar events in the future in other parts of the country as well, involving our various National Team Head Coaches, in partnership with member Provincial / Territorial Associations.) Also, the dates of the first Regional and Inter Regional Training Sessions taking place in other parts of the country will be announced shortly, as well as the planned calendar of other such trainings for the remainder of the season.
March 16, 2016
National Team Athletes to Soon Compete at 2016 Dutch Open
Senior National Team members will travel to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and take part in the 2016 Dutch Open Karate 1 Championships (March 19-20). This event will constitute a great development opportunity for all athletes. Nassim Varasteh, Senior National Team Kumite Head Coach, and Katarina Vadovicova, National Team Kata Head Coach, will accompany the athletes in Rotterdam, along with Assistant Coaches Pam Ross and Roman Saltikov. You may click here in order to view the entire team roster. You can watch the athletes compete live in Rotterdam via the sportdata YouTube channel: YouTube.com/sportdatalive. Karate Canada sincerely wishes all participants the very best of luck in this event! (Stay tuned for results, use the event’s official hashtag #LDO2016 and consult our Facebook page regularly for updates.)
March 7, 2016
NCCP Competition Development Workshop offered in Montreal
Karate Canada will offer the Competition Development module Analyze Technical and Tactical Performance at their downtown Montreal office on Sunday March 20th, 2016. Please find all the details here. The deadline to register is March 16th.
March 1, 2016
Karate Canada Senior National Team Announced
Following its Senior National Training Camp, which took place February 19-21 at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel, Karate Canada would like to officially announce the athletes selected on the Senior National Team for the 2016-2017 season. Congratulations!
2016-2017 Senior National Kata Team (PDF)
2016-2017 Senior National Kumite Team (PDF)
February 19, 2016
Maxym-Olivier Rivest Receives a Bursary from FPN Sports
On February 20th, FPN Sports in partnership with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence has granted, on the occasion of the second year of its sponsorship program, $24,000 in bursaries to 16 up-and-coming student-athletes identified as Rising Stars by their federation. Maxym-Olivier, Junior National Team member in kumite -70kg, was granted an Academic Excellence Bursary, to honour his outstanding school performances. Congratulations Maxym-Olivier!
February 15, 2016
William Claveau Receives a Bursary from the Georges St-Pierre Foundation
On January 20th, the Georges St-Pierre Foundation in partnership with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence has granted, on the occasion of the third year of its sponsorship program, $14,000 in bursaries to seven up-and-coming student-athletes competing in sports that Georges St-Pierre draws upon to hone his own skills including karate. William Claveau, Junior National Team member in individual kata, was granted an Academic Excellence Bursary, to honour his outstanding school performances. Congratulations William!
February 11, 2016
Videos from the 2016 National Banquet
You may click on the following links in order to enjoy a few short videos which were recently presented at the 2016 Karate Canada Annual Banquet:
 |
 |
 |
| KC at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games | KC’s 2015 International Medalists | Saying Farewell: Our Retiring Champions |
February 10, 2016
Words from the President
Here is a recent statement from Karate Canada’s President Mr. Craig Vokey:
To the membership of Karate Canada.
Firstly I would like to congratulate all involved on the fantastic success of the recent Karate Canada National Championships. Over 500 people participated from all 10 provinces including 375 athletes (530 entries), 67 officials, 44 coaches as well as numerous support staff and volunteers and I could not have been happier with the deportment of all involved and the atmosphere of collegiality that persisted throughout the entire event. It is a testament to the professionalism of all involved that such a large event appeared so seamless.I would also like to thank the Sheraton Hotel, the Richmond Oval, the city of Richmond and Karate BC for their efforts in ensuring the success of the event and for the support given to Karate Canada. Thanks also go to Mr. Seiji Okada, General Counsel for Japan in Vancouver; Minister Amrik Virk, BC Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services and Mr. John Yap, MLA for Richmond-Steveston for taking time out of their very busy schedules to speak words of welcome and encouragement at the opening ceremonies and also to Ms. Jacquie Dawes, Deputy Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development for attending our event. I would like to congratulate the many medalists and look forward to meeting those attending the First Senior National Training Camp to be held shortly in Toronto. A special note of congratulations to the many Coaches who used the opportunity afforded by the NCCP Program to successfully upgrade their Competition Development Certifications and also to the many Officials who continue to volunteer their time, year after year, to professionally and impartially judge the youth of our sport. The last word of thanks, however, goes to the many parents across the country who support our sport by investing their time, energy and resources into their children to attend not only National and International events, but also local, regional and provincial events as well as the many Provincially and Territorially recognized Dojo across the country. There is a cost to sport in Canada that we are all keenly aware of.
This year promises to be a momentous year for Karate Canada with the lead up to the announcement for Tokyo 2020. With the anticipation of increased opportunities for our sport will also come increased oversight and ever increasing monitoring from our funding partners. Regardless of direction, Karate Canada will continue to use its core principles and values as outlined in its Strategic Plan to guide its decisions, namely: Our people and members always come first; We are driven by excellences in everything we do; We believe in the power of the Team; We are driven by high ethical standards. Beyond our core principles I would state that a National Federation is only as strong as its Provincial and Territorial affiliates. It is my hope that at all levels of governance we will achieve improved communication, collaboration and program alignment for the betterment of Karate in all parts of Canada.
Sincerely,Craig Vokey
Karate Canada Concussion Seminar
Karate Canada will be offering a Concussion Seminar on February 19th during the 2016 Senior National Training Camp. The Karate Canada Concussion Seminar is designed for the participant who wants more information on concussion anatomy and physiology, injury recognition and management
as well as Return to Play and Return to Learn guidelines. Present and proposed Karate Canada concussion forms will also be discussed.
- Presenter: Karate Canada Medical Committee Chair, Mr. Gus Kandilas
- Language: English
- Date: Friday, February 19, 2016
- Location: Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel, 801 Dixon Road, Toronto, ON, M9W 1J5
- Time: 7pm to 9 pm
- Cost: $25 in advance (by February 18), $30 at the door/on February 19
- Pre-requisite: The NCCP eLearning module 'Making Head Way' (free at coach.ca)
- 2 Professional Points (PD) will be allotted for participating in the seminar
To register, send an email to alexandra.roy@karatecanada.org by February 18 with your full name and NCCP number. Payment must be done prior to the registration deadline. A Paypal invoice will be sent to your email once we receive your request to register.
February 8, 2016
Mr. Derek J. Ryan is Karate Canada’s New Acting Vice-President
Karate Canada’s Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Derek J. Ryan to fulfill the role of acting Vice-President, on an interim basis and until the next Annual General Meeting (September 30th). Our sincere congratulations to Mr. Ryan for this appointment!
Two New Members Join the High Performance & Coaching Committee
Mr. Jim Jennings and Mr. Kraig Devlin have both been appointed by Karate Canada’s Board of Directors to sit on the High Performance & Coaching Committee, where they are now joining the other 6 members of this Committee: Dr. Peter G. Davis (Chair), Christopher De Sousa Costa, Katarina Vadovicova, Nassim Varasteh, Denis Beaudoin and Hasan Bratic. Jim and Kraig both bring a considerable wealth of HP-related experience and expertise to this Committee. We thank and salute all members for their ongoing dedication, and wish to warmly welcome Jim and Kraig to this new and important role.
Mr. Rozmarin Joins the Finance Committee
Seasoned Business Analyst Mr. Bogdan Rozmarin has recently joined Karate Canada’s Finance Committee, where he will work alongside other current members Stéphane Rivest (Chair and KC Treasurer), Craig Vokey and Olivier Pineau. We thank Bogdan for his commitment, and warmly welcome him to this important new role.
February 3, 2016
Celebrating Canadian excellence in Karate at the 41st National Championships
Hundreds of athletes and dozens of coaches, referees, delegates and volunteers were assembled once again in the Richmond Olympic Oval, in beautiful Richmond, BC, last weekend, for the 3-day long 2016 Karate Canada National Championships. All participants were greeted to warm welcoming speeches during opening ceremonies by the Consul of Japan to Vancouver Mr. Seiji Okada, by the British Columbia’s Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizen’s Services, the Honourable Amrik Virk (also father of long-time Senior National Team member Jusleen Virk and her sisters, who are also elite karate competitors), by the Richmond-Steveston MLA Mr. John Yap, and by Karate Canada’s new President, Mr. Craig Vokey (who acknowledged the gracious presence of the honourable Deputy Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Mrs. Jaquie Dawes), before the action got underway. Co-host Karate BC has been a vital partner in ensuring the tremendous success of this event, by recruiting numerous volunteers, and by providing generous assistance and equipment.
For only the 2nd time in its 41 year history, the National Championships featured and showcased competitors in AWAD (Athletes with a disability) divisions, who once again inspired the entire Canadian karate community with their display of determination, courage and perseverance Another very popular item was the continued inclusion of the “Youth” divisions, featuring 12-13 year old athletes.
For the 3rd consecutive year, all matches from this event were webcast live across the nation, thanks to our partnership with SportsCanada.TV (you may click here to view all archived matches, including several with colour commentary), and the action was followed closely at home (as well as in numerous other nations) by thousands of friends, members, supporters and family members. Please visit Karate Canada’s Facebook and Twitter pages for more details and numerous pictures. As usual, the National Championships were preceded by a National Coaching Certification Course, Dan examinations and various other activities. Karate Canada also held its customary annual Banquet shortly after the conclusion of the tournament. Various prestigious awards were presented to members of the Canadian karate community at this banquet, which was graciously co-hosted by our long-time MC, Mr. Charles Fink and Karate Canada’s Executive Director Mr. Olivier Pineau. This year’s Ross Rumbell Award (in recognition of years of outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Canadian karate) was awarded to none other than former Team Ontario Head Coach, National Champion and National Team member Mr. Jim Jennings, whom we sincerely congratulate for this well deserved honour. You may click here to view the entire list of award recipients.
Karate Canada wishes to sincerely thank Karate BC, the event’s Tournament Director Mr. Kurt Nordli, its Head Official Mr. Yaro Tarana, its staff at the event (including Program Manager Ms. Alexandra Roy and Karate Canada’s new Events Manager Mrs. Cheryl Tataryn), all participating Committee members and volunteers, various members of the Board of Directors, our National and International Officials, as well as our various partners and sponsors for this event, including Sport Canada / Heritage Canada (the Canadian government), Hosting BC, Hosting Richmond, Sheraton and Marriott Hotels, Singleton Urquhart Legal Counsel, Arawaza Equipment, Bushido Martial Arts & Fight Gear Supply, Mikado Martial Arts Supplies, Barnett-Dembek Architects Inc, Special T Group Events, and many others. Finally, we wish to thank and congratulate all Provinces and participants for their remarkable performances. We wish all of you a great 2016-17 competitive season, and look forward to greeting you in Quebec City in March 2017, for our next edition of these Championships!
You may click here to view the full results of this tournament, which was the main entry point for members of our Junior and Senior National Teams. Given the high calibre of performances seen at these National Championships, the future looks bright, and Canada has very strong hopes leading up to the upcoming Senior Pan American Championships, Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships, Senior World Championships and numerous other international events of the season.
January 28, 2016
Important announcement from Karate Canada
Following a decision of the Members of Karate Canada, Mr. Dragan Kljenak has been removed from his position on the Board of Directors. Mr. Craig Vokey has been appointed as the new President, until the 2016 Annual General Meeting.
January 27, 2016
2016-2017 National Team Criteria
and
New Youth Pilot Program
Karate Canada is pleased to release its National Team Criteria for the 2016-2017 season, along with the outline of its new Youth (12-13 year old division) Team Pilot Program and Selection Criteria. These Criteria all come into effect immediately. You may click on the following links to view these documents:
- 2016-2017 Youth Pilot Program Outline
- 2016-2017 Junior National Team Criteria
- 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria for Kata Athletes
- 2016-2017 Senior National Team Criteria for Kumite Athletes
Live Streaming of the 2016 National Championships
Karate Canada is pleased to announce that all the action from the 2016 National Championships (January 29-31, Richmond BC) will be available online, through SportsCanada.TV’s live streaming service. You may click here to enjoy all matches, which will begin this Friday morning. The complete competition schedule is also now available via SportData; you may click here to view this schedule (please note that this schedule remains subject to change).
January 15, 2016
Karate Canada Seeks New Members for its High Performance & Coaching Committee
Karate Canada is looking for volunteer and qualified candidates interested in joining its High Performance and Coaching Committee. You can view the full job description by clicking here. Please submit applications no later than January 23, 2016 to the Committee Chair Dr. Peter Davis, at: peter.davis.spm@gmail.com (and please cc Karate Canada’s executive Director, Mr. Olivier Pineau, at: olivier.pineau@karatecanada.org).
January 13, 2016
NCCP Workshop and Evaluations at 2016 National Championships
Karate Canada will offer the Competition Development module Analyze Technical and Tactical Performance at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel on Thursday January 28th 2016. The opportunity to get certified for coaches trained in Competition Introduction and/or Competition Development will also be offered during the National Championships. Please find all the details here. The deadline to register is January 20th.
January 7, 2016
Dan Testing at 2016 National Championships
Members of Karate Canada's Technical Committee will be at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel on Thursday January 28th 2016 from 1-4pm to evaluate karatekas and provide National Dan Certification. In order to register, please fill up the following form and follow the instructions. We will then contact you with more details on your examination. The deadline to submit your application is Wednesday January 20th. Do not miss this opportunity to get certified!
January 6, 2016
UPDATED VERSION of the Information Bulletin for 2016 National Championships
Karate Canada is pleased to release the second version of its Information Bulletin for the 2016 National Championships (Richmond, BC, January 29-January 31st).
This important event will constitute the 41st edition of the Canadian National Karate Championships, and it will, for the first time, formally include athletes with a disability (AWAD) in active competition.
Mark your calendars as online pre-registration on SportData will begin November 23rd, 2015 and close January 11th, 2016. A direct link will be provided closer to the opening date. More information will be released soon regarding the Comp Dev NCCP Course which will be offered preceding the start of the competition. We look forward to seeing all of you again soon in beautiful Richmond, BC.