WJKA Canada

Certified 9th degree (Kudan) Karate black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

ASKA (All Shotokan Karate Association),

and Dai Kei Ryu Budo Ken Kyu Kai.

Certified 9th degree (Kudan) Karate black belt under:

ISKS (International Shotokan Ryu Karate Do Shihankai).

Don Owens has been a practitioner of the martial arts for over 50 years.  

He began his training in Canada in 1965, under the instruction of Yamashiro Hiroo sensei, a student of Sugano Jun sensei, 9th Dan, JKA Vice Chairman.

Don has had the opportunity to train with some of the most senior Japanese instructors in the world, including Nakayama Masatoshi 10th Dan, Chief Instructor to the JKA, and Sugano Jun 9th Dan, JKA Vice Chairman.  

In 1981, Don began his career with the Vancouver Police Department.  One year later he founded the Vancouver Police Dojo.  As a police officer, Don drew from his martial arts training and experience on a regular basis.  Using his karate expertise in combat and potential combat situations was a constant on the job.  Often situations were difused without the use of physical force or the offender was subdued without injury due to Don's martial arts training and abilities.

In 1992, Don was invited to meet Asai Sensei.  Through Asai Sensei he was given the right to the name of Canada JKA.  Asai Sensei and Kagawa Sensei both visited the Vancouver Dojo a number of times.  It was also at this time that Don founded the North Langley Karate Dojo, where he currently continues teaching today.

In 2010, after meeting Yokota Shihan, Don and his students joined the WJKA on the invitation of Knobel Sensei and Yokota Sensei.  Don is currently the Technical Advisor of the WJKA and holds a seat as a member of the WJKA Shihankai (Board of Masters).

Don is also,

President and Technical Director of the Canadian Japan Karate Association (CJKA), 

Director in the All Shotokan Karate Association (which has National Karate Association of Karate Style recognition),

and Director of Qualifications with the International Shotokan Karate Association (ISKS).

He still visits his instructor and long time friend, Yamashiro Sensei, and continues training and teaching Karate.  

dowenskarate@shaw.ca

Certified 5th (Godan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

ISKS (International Shotokan Ryu Karate Do Shihankai),

Roger has been a practitioner of Karate for over 30 years.

Certified 6th (Rokudan) degree black belt under:

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Andy has been a practitioner of Karate for over 40 years.

Sensei Andy Pruim began his Shotokan Karate training in 1972.  Over the years  Sensei Pruim's considerable knowledge of Japanese Budo has made him a recognized expert in traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate and Kobudo, having recently being inducted into the West Coast Can-Am Martial Arts Hall of Fame. 

Sensei Pruim founded Wescom Karate in Victoria in the early 1980's which eventually turned into one of the Island’s largest Dojos.  Since moving to the Lower Mainland,  Sensei Pruim has continued with his training in Japanese Budo by  regularly traveling to Japan  in order to train with some of the world's foremost Karate masters including Kanazawa Hirokazu Sensei (10th Dan Shotokan Karate) .

Sensei Pruim also attended the International Budo University, located  in Katsuura, Japan on several occasions for advanced Budo training where he was introduced to Atarashii Naginata. Sensei Pruim  founded one of the few Naginata schools in Canada after training with some  of the top Naginata Instructors in Japan including Kimura Yasuko Sensei.  Kimura sensei is a senior director of the International Naginata Federation and personally requested Sensei Pruim’s assistance in establishing a Naginata presence in Canada.

In addition to be being a top forms competitor, Sensei Pruim has written, developed and produced several historical and technical articles on Karate and it’s history,  a number of which were published in the internationally renowned  "Black Belt" magazine. Sensei Pruim has also hosted a 20 part instructional TV series on Karate as well as having compiled his myriad of historical Budo research into a “e.Book” entitled “Karate-Do: A Simple Path”, now available by request or via www.shotowa.com

Certified 2nd (Nidan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Danny has been a practitioner of Karate for over 20 years.

Certified 3rd (Sandan) degree black belt under:

ASKA (All Shotokan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Richard has been a practitioner of Karate for over 15 years.

Certified 3rd (Sandan) degree black belt in Wado Ryu,

Sensei Weidendorf brings years of experience to the dojo and has a background in self defense.

Certified 2nd (Nidan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Leonard has been a practitioner of Karate for over 20 years.

Certified 2nd (Nidan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Dawn has been a practitioner of Karate for over 20 years.

​

Derek Vink

​

​

Paul Vance

​

Ed Joss

​

Loriann McGowan

​

Reese McGowan

​

Samantha Cowx

​

​

Gordon Paterson

Certified 2nd (Nidan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Derek has been a practitioner of Karate for over 18 years.

Certified 2nd (Nidan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Paul has been a practitioner of Karate for over 35 years.

Certified 2nd (Nidan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Ed has been a practitioner of Karate for over 25 years.

Certified 1st (Shodan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Loriann has been a practitioner of Karate for over 10 years.

Certified 1st (Shodan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Reese has been a practitioner of Karate for over 8 years.

Certified 1st (Shodan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Samantha has been a practitioner of Karate for over 13 years.

Certified 1st (Shodan) degree black belt under:

WJKA (World Japan Karate Association),

CJKA (Canadian Japan Karate Association),

Gordon has been a practitioner of Karate for over 6 years.