Gallery

Outdoor sessions

Occasionally on nice days we will train outside in the open fields near the dojo. These were great ways to experience karate on different terrain and test our fundamentals! Outdoor sessions are very rare and they are not mandatory.

David and Goliath

A great example of the fun we have at seminars! This was a rare opportunity for one of our junior students to spar with one of the long-legged black belts in our dojo. He held his own! My money is on the junior!

Surprise!

A cute little secret menu item at our dojo is that the student who attends karate class on their birthday will have a chance to free-spar everyone at the end of class...one by one... one after another... it is also BYOC (bring your own cakes or treats!)

In tournaments, medals can be really fun, even better when we come out unscathed! (Jay is that blood on your Gi?!)

Nervous for your belt grading?

Thats ok! Senpai Ashley was too, and she has taken way too many tests in her life. It is very normal to be nervous and to even blank out during the test, as long as you try your best, that is all we want to see. Take a deep breath and do what you know. You got this!

The light at the end of the tunnel

Despite the hardships of preparing for belt tests, the rewards are pretty awesome! At Shodan and higher, your certificate and black belt are presented to you by the head of our organization. Here is Senpai Holly with the late Shihan Demura and Shihan Stuart with her Shodan! Afterwards, you get the amazing honor to continue practicing and kick butt. Check out that nice sweep!

Working Hard Or...?

What are all these folks sitting and standing around here in a tournament for??? During a tournament, you will see many black belts sitting in chairs or at tables, they are regulating the ring for each division! There are 4 corner judges that sit on the corners of the ring holding two flags while a head judge sits in front of a table or walks around, viewing a kumite match. They will often wear blue vests like the one Senpai Taylor is wearing. Other times we are waiting to compete... is it obvious we spend way too much time together??

Some tournaments will have unique events such as Team Kata where we must perform a kata (pattern) in synchronization and will be judged against us if we are out of place.

Check out our Facebook page for more action during tournaments, and head to the resource page to read up on the rules of tournaments!

Dinner and an Award?

As mentioned in the upcoming events, the May long weekend is the organization's biggest event, concluding with a celebratory banquet dinner and awards to follow, including last year's Black belt successful candidates (Shodan-Ho's).

Here is one our wonderful student with Sensei Gord, the recipient of the 2023 student of the year for the Calgary Karate-Do Dojo. SLAY QUEEN!

Learning Tools

One of the many training tools we use is biofeedback which helps us understand timing, form, power and retraction of the hands and feet within techniques. To achieve this, we use impact pads called bags and paddles so students can safely deliver maximum power in a precise manner.

Kobudo Division in a Tournament

Senpai Connor doing a Sai kata

Kumite Division in a Tournament

Senpai Ashley sparring against another Kyokai member

I passed my grading... Now what?

For your colored belts (everything that is not black), you get called up at the beginning of class and Sensei puts on your brand new belt. For Black belts, they get a "temporary" black belt for the remainder of the year called a Shodan-Ho. The following year they will recieve an official certificate and belt with their names embroidered in phonetic Japanese kanji. Here is Sempai Taylor's transformation from 1st Kyu to Shodan!

Shito-Ryu Goes Shorin-Ryu

In the spirit of karate, Shihan Stuart had organized a wonderful seminar in Lloydminster this past December, bringing in special guest Shihan Uema from the Shorin-Ryu style. Throughout this seminar, we learned their fundamentals, kata, bunkai, and kobudo katas, appreciating the many nuances and similarities between our styles.

Batto-do and Iaido Seminars

In addition to the traditional Okinawa weaponry that the style adopted (kobudo), our organization also practices sword/katana based martial arts called Batto-do and Iaido. Seminars are often at the Lloydminster dojo or in North Battleford and Bonnyville.

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