Happy New Year - 2014!

Happy New Year! I hope that 2013 was a good year for everyone...it certainly was eventful! Calgary Gojukai members participated in all the major IKGA Canada events this past year, not to mention attending the IKGA World Championships in Mumbai, India in December. It certainly was busy!

I hope that 2014 will be a full and prosperous time for everyone, and that all our members are able to make good progress in their training in Gojukai Karatedo. 

Regular classes resume on Monday, January 6th 2014. Please note that this is the start if the annual registration period and annual fees are due. Also, the new fee structure will come into effect. Please refer to the newsletters that were sent home. If there are any questions don't hesitate to contact me. 

Examination time is nearly upon us...I hope that everyone has been practicing!

I look forward to seeing everyone back in class in the New Year! Enjoy the rest of your holiday, and all the best for 2014!

Rob Richardson

IKGA Canada Black Belt Seminar 2013

In October 2013, Calgary Gojukai was the host of the 6th annual IKGA Canada Black Belt Seminar. This was the 3rd time that we have been able to host this event.

Instruction was provided by members of the IKGA Canada Technical Committee: John Priegert Shihan, Donna Gardecki Shihan, Rob Richardson Shihan and Dana Nawata Sensei.

As many of our members know, these intensive camps/seminars are a great way to compress many hours of training into a short time, and with a small, focused group of black belts this was definitely the case. Calgary Gojukai members were well represented. Yukiko Hirayama Sensei, Thomas Llewellyn Sensei, David Filleul, John Sherban, Radim Vesely, Brent Gross and Conrad Wilson all were in attendance, and represented Calgary Gojukai very well!

Saturday's training was focused on Yakusoku Kumite and Jiyu Kumite, accented by discussion and lectures by John Priegert Shihan. For those that may have forgotten, our day consisted of Nanahon Kumite and Gohon Kumite, followed by variations of Nanahon Kumite and some drills. All of this was tied together with some lively Kiyu Kumite training and discussion about the various forms and methods of kumite.

For those that applied for Dan exams these were conducted after the day of training wrapped up. I am happy to note that  John Sherban passed his exam and is now Nidan-ho, and Brent Gross also passed, and is now Shodan. Fantastic job and congratulations to you both!

Sunday's training was focused on Kata and Bunkai. Both Seisan and Seipai kata were explored, and for some this was new ground. Also, both Seisan and Seipai Bunkai were taught to the willing and/or able. It was a lot of information and hopefully most of it stuck! Sunday was also reserved for those taking Jun-Shidoin (Assistant Instructor) and Shidoin (Instructor) exams. For those Black Belts over the rank of Nidan-ho who would like to be instructors, these exams are mandatory. I am happy to congratulate Thomas Llewellyn Sensei on successfully passing his test and advancing to Shidoin.

All in all it was a fantastic weekend, and I hope a memorable one for all IKGA Canada Black Belt members, not just our own Black Belts that attended. Hopefully all members of Calgary Gojukai will have the chance to attend one of these in the future!

The next seminar to keep in mind is the Edmonton Gojukai Winter Camp, at Sylvan Lake in February. More details to come!

Calgary Gojukai News - 2013

New IKGA Website!

International Karatedo Gojukai Associaion is excited to announce the launch of their new website! It can be found at www.gojukaikaratedo.com. This is a new site with updated information, rare photos, information from around the IKGA world, a news blog and messages from the President of IKGA, Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi. Visit the new site often for news about IKGA, and be sure to share it on social media to help get more traffic to the site.