JKA International of Canada Inc.
P.O. Box 2837 R3C 4B4 Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Attention: The March 14th 2020 Kata Competition has been CANCELLED. Sorry for this late notice. The YMCA phoned Sensei McKenzie just now and told him. While I am emailing the participants please pass this information along to those you know.... Thank you Colette Marr on behalf of Sensei Don McKenzie JKA International of Canada [email protected]

Attention JKA Members in good standing: IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2020: For both of these important events - seminar and National Championship the venue will be the same - St. Boniface College ... Annual Seminar with Sensei Yutaka Katsumata: January 31-February 2, 2020 St. Boniface College (Université de Saint-Boniface) 200 De la Cathédrale Ave Winnipeg MB https://ustboniface.ca/ *Pre-registration is mandatory. Participation forms MUST be accompanied with payment* MEMBERS: $95 for full seminar $45 per class NON-MEMBERS: $105 for full seminar $55 for one class Registration Deadline: Jan 27th, 2020 Questions: (204) 795-6571 or [email protected] NATIONAL JKA INTERNATIONA KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP Date: Saturday May 2, 2020 9AM - 5PM Friday, May 1, 2020 is the Judging Seminar being held from 1PM - 6PM FULL details on the Tournament will be sent in the New Year. HOTEL INFORMATION WILL BE SHORTLY ONCE SENSEI CONFIRMS

Congratulations to the following who were successful in the performance of the technical requirements necessary for their various levels of proficiency. Advancing to Shodan (1st Dan) - Pamela Lawhead; NiDan (2nd Dan) - Shirley Rivalin, Dennae Smith, Peter deBeer SanDan (3rd Dan) - Jennifer Cook... YonDan (4th Dan) - Jodie Kuhl Peter deBeer and Pam Lawhead are from the Thomson Karate Club. Peter took over the Thomson club just a short time ago (1 1/2 years) and the club has grown from almost shutting down to an impressive 80 plus membership. Shirley Rivalin, Dennae Smith, Jenn Cook and Jodie Kuhl are all from The Pas Karate Club, making a very impressive show of female power. They have an impressive competition record, always being in the medal categories. Jodie Kuhl is the Chief Instructor at The Pas Club. She took over this position around 2009. Jodie started her training 2003, and is the 2nd female to achieve a rank this high in Canada; and the first person in Northern Manitoba. This is an admirable achievement for the Ladies of The North. Marr Sensei

Congratulations to Donece Hughes and Frederick Page for advancing in their ranks at the September 2019 Seminar in Winnipeg, MB. Here is a biography of Donece Hughes amazing career in Karate: Congratulations to Donece Hughes who recently tested and received her 5th Dan in September 2019....Continue reading

A Celebration of Sensei R. L. Fusaro Dearest friends and students of Sensei Robert Fusaro, Youre invited to a celebration of Senseis life on what would have been his 86th birthday. Everyone is welcome.... When: Saturday, September 7th, 2019 at 2 PM. Where: Midwest Karate Association, 1200 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411. NOTE: Venue is subject to change if RSVPs exceed the dojo capacity. RSVP: Please RSVP as soon as possible via email at [email protected] or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/342109543395168/ We need an accurate count for location planning. Speaking: If you would like to speak at the celebration, please note that on your RSVP. Time will be allotted for all if possible. Training: If you would like to train that day in honor of Sensei, we invite all karateka of any level (& regardless of how long its been) to attend class Saturday morning. Beginner class is at 9 am. Intermediate-Advanced class is 10-noon. Light refreshments will be served. The dojo will be open all day for guests and visitors.

Sensei Jerry Marr remembers Sensei Robert Fusaro: At approximately 11:30 on June 29, 2019, Sensei Robert L. Fusaro passed away in his sleep, marking the end of a remarkable career of a man who influenced the lives of many Canadians and Americans in the traditional karate world; myself being one of those many. My first contact with Sensei Fusaro was brief when I went to Minneapolis to compete at a regional tournament in Minneapolis in 1963. ... My first impression of this man was disappointing to me. From the name alone, Fusaro, I expected a Japanese person, not a tall thin white person of Italian descent with slightly effeminate mannerisms. This was a different era, 50s and 60s I had previously trained in Judo for 7 years; my instructors were mostly Japanese. The mindset was that Japanese trainers were the best; again, a different era. Although I had been studying JKA Shotokan karate; I also had the opportunity to study Wado-ryu from a visiting Japanese Black Belt (where I attained a purple belt). Sensei Fusaro was my first opportunity to study from someone who had trained at the Japan Karate Association headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. November 1964 was the beginning of my relationship with Sensei Fusaro. He spent hours training and teaching me, many times privately, not asking for any compensation for all the knowledge he passed on to me. Sensei Fusaro was like that. His whole life was karate. He put his energy into his students to develop their karate skills; always trying to get the best out of them. At the same time he was looking for ways to further his own knowledge and skill, to becoming the ultimate technician that he was noted for. Im very grateful to have had the opportunity to see him a few weeks ago. Darren and I spent some time with him; we talked about some of the times we shared and had a few laughs. Darren asked him about breathing related to some technique, and we were both amazed that he was able to discuss this and was even able to demonstrate his concept. He could still create power and focus. As the years passed, my relationship with Sensei Fusaro started as Sensei/Student; which developed into Sensei/Student/Friend; but always he was my Sensei. It was very rarely that I referred to him as Bob, or Robert. He was Sensei to me and always will be. That is the respect he deserves. There are some, many former students, who take the liberty to address him by his first name. There are others in the karate circle feel this is appropriate but maybe they dont understand the respect aspect of martial arts. I will miss my friend and my Sensei of 55 years. I will never forget him and what he has done for me, my students, and for JKA International of Canada. My condolences go to his wife Gloria, to his two sons Michael and Darrel who are like my U.S. family; my adopted sister and my two adopted sons.

Check out photos from the 2019 JKA National Karate Championship held April 27th in The Pas, MB. Thank you Nathalie for the great job.

Congratulations to all athletes in the 2019 JKA National Championship in The Pas, Mb On April 27th. Than you to Jodie Kuhl and Jenn Cook and the many volunteers from The Pas who made this event a success. Thank you to our Officials who made this event safe and memorable. Photos will be posted after this weekend. In the meantime visit Midwest/The Pas Karate website.

National Tournament

Congratulations to the following JKA International of Canada Members who advanced in their Black Belt Rankings during Sensei Katsumata's February 2019 Seminar; SHODAN Lars Koester from Earl Grey Karate Shaena Koester from Earl Grey Karate... SANDAN Eliott Einarson from Eary Grey Karate YONDAN Denny Chau from Midwest Karate Eugene Fillion from Midwest Karate Kenroy Pitterson from Midwest Karate You all worked hard to achieve this level of Black Belt Ranking!

Please make note of the new email address for Sensei Marr and new website for Midwest Karate designed by Darren Marr. Very professional looking! New e-mail address is: [email protected] The web site is: www//midwestkaratejka.com... Please provide feedback on what you think of the website: [email protected]

JKA International of Canada Members: Black Belt Instructor Training Program/Seminar Black belt and brown belt only event October 7 & 8, 2017... Earl Grey Community Centre - Main Gym 360 Cockburn Avenue Winnipeg Mb October 7th: 10:00 - 12:00 2:00 - 4:00 October 8th: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: $45.00 This seminar is for Black and Brown belts only. All participants must be JKA Members. 2017-2018 Membership form is attached. Anyone planning to test for their higher brown belt and black belts please notify Sensei Marr: [email protected].

Midwest/The Pas Summer Camp was a great success! Great karate instruction Great food Great fun... Look what you missed! Thanks again to all the people in The Pas who work hard under the fantastic direction of instructors Jodie Kuhl and Jenn Cook to host this event every year. A lot of work goes into making this karate camp informative and fun. Thanks Jenn for the photos.

JKA International of Canada acknowledges the new ranks of 3 very worthy and hardworking members of our organization: The rank of 7th Dan (Shichi-Dan) was awarded to: Don McKenzie (Midwest Earl Grey) for his invaluable and outstanding technical support.... In recognition for their support and their technical advancement, the ranks of 5th Dan (Go-Dan) was awarded to: Richard (Dick) Staples (Kindersley), and to Dale Carlson (Peace Hills) Well done men! Well done!

May 27 2017 JKA Canada Results

AWARDS AT THE BANQUET The 2017 JKA International of Canada Championship held in Kindersley Saskatchewan May 27, 2017 was an event that displayed the fighting spirit and technical level that this organization prides itself in. The Chris Johnson Budo Spirit Award for the Kyu competition event went to Hayden Cullen from the Peace Hills Karate Club this year; and the Jerry Marr Sportsmanship award for the Black Belt event went to Alexis Lehmann from Midwest The Pas Karate Club. A...DDITIONAL AWARDS Since the reformation of the JKA International of Canada in 2002, the development and advancement of the organization could not have been possible without support from Don McKenzie, Dick Staples, Dale Carlson. Their concern has always been for the memberships welfare, and to help provide the best in technical development. There have been many times they have sacrificed personal valuable time and expense to attend extra technical seminars to advance their own technical knowledge and skills. This has been evident in the September seminars for the brown and Black Belts. In recognition for this support and for their technical advancement, the ranks of 5th Dan (Go-Dan) was awarded to both Richard (Dick) Staples, and to Dale Carlson. Additionally, the rank of 7th Dan (Shichi-Dan) was awarded to Don McKenzie for his invaluable and outstanding technical support. There was surprise, shock, and a show of emotion by the recipients when these awards were presented to them. Those in attendance displayed their own approval and congratulated each of the recipients for these well deserved recognitions.

Richard Tug Wilson: 1931-2017 TUG WILSON has left many of us with memories that will be long remembered by those whose lives he touched; and some of us that he touched, was left with a mark that was not forgotten even after the swelling went down. His accomplishments are many, but my relationship with him was in the martial arts worlds of Judo and Karate. I met TUG almost 60 years ago at the Manitoba Judo Club. He entered the club one evening and asked if he could train.... After changing into his gi (uniform), we began to practice. I moved in, and over my shoulder he went. He saw the look in my eyes that said Do you want some more? His look back at me said Have you made out your will lately? Well, the outcome did not go well for me, and I became a human floor mop, or what it would feel like to be a yo-yo. This was the beginning of my relationship with RICHARD TUG WILSON. Over the years, TUG and I were teammates, rivals, and as he often called it adversaries. We both had our own training places (dojos), mine was the Manitoba Judo Club and later Midwest Karate; his was the Winnipeg School of Judo (later adding and Karate). TUG founded the Manitoba Karate Association and was instrumental in founding the National Karate Association with his Sensei Masami Tsuruoka. TUG called me one day and asked to meet for lunch. I was surprised as I hadnt heard from him for some time. He had retired from the martial arts scene some years before to pursue other interests. I met with him at his home. We ate, talked about the old days, recalling my turning 21 years of age and TUG taking me to the pub for my first alcoholic drink legally. That was long, long ago. We met many times after that, discussing martial arts and the way it had become. Even though TUG had retired from this part of his life, he never really left it. His knowledge of how things had changed amazed me at how he knew of various events. I more we spoke, the more I valued opinions and his support. The most fun was discussing the tournaments and some of the people we met and knew. TUG attended our competitions and events, and it was nice to see he was able to renew past relationships with people he met many years ago. He also met some new friends. He especially liked the rednecks from Alberta and Saskatchewan. Its very difficult to relate all the memories I have. TUG will be long remembered by myself and my wife Colette who shared a fond relationship with him.

Sensei Marr asks you all to join in congratulating JKA International of Canada members who successfully passed their black belt tests on February 4th, 2017 at the annual seminar with Sensei Yutaka Katsumata: In alphabetical order:... Earl Grey Karate Club Jason Hirose Shodan Midwest Karate Club Dino Jurca Sandan The Pas Karate Club Alexis Lehmann Shodan As all of you know the standards for testing within JKA International of Canada is high so we congratulate these students who continue to exhibit the high quality black belts in traditional karate.

September 2016 Seminar and Dan Results: MESSAGE FROM SENSEI MARR Please pass this message on to the JKA Canada membership: ... I would like to thank the instructors for their contribution at the JKA Canada Technical Brown & Black Belt seminar this past weekend. Using the kata, Niju-Shiho-Ho as the theme, Senseis McKenzie, Staples and Carlson provided the participants with information, beginning with technical movements and body dynamics, to application from a different perspective. All three men excelled in their abilities as top instructors and through their expertise those who attended this seminar benefitted greatly. Dan examinations took place, and I would like to congratulate the examinees. Their performance demonstrated that the hard effort and training they put in resulted in: Pass to Shodan Level: Adelyn Einarson Clint Jonsson Matthew Strader Pass to Nidan Level: Eliott Einarson Pass to Sandan Level: Thomas Conrad Pass to Yondan Level: Jarret Marr This is an annual event, and provides invaluable information for instructors and senior ranking members of JKA International of Canada. It is with your best interest in mind that JKA Canada supports this event through Midwest Karate and hopes you take advantage of the invaluable information provided by the Technical Committee of JKA International of Canada. Thanks to all who attended. I hope to see you back next time. Marr Sensei

Congratulations to SHIRLEY RIVALIN (member of Midwest-The Pas Karate Club) who advanced to Sho-Dan at Summer Camp in Clearwater/The Pas last weekend

The Annual Summer Camp in Clearwater/The Pas was yet another successful training camp in beautiful surroundings with top-notch instructors *JKA International of Canada thanks Jodie Kuhl & Jenn Cook plus their many volunteers who worked very hard to ensure... everyone had a great training experience plus a good time Photos to follow soon

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING: Sensei Katsumata's Seminar in January 2016 resulted in 5 people who advanced in their Dan Ranks PLUS 2 NEW Black Belts youths from The Pas, Manitoba... Darren Marr, now 6th Dan Amy Sperling, now 5th Dan Terry Smith, now 2nd Dan Hailey McGinnis, now 1st Dan Samuel Rivalin, now 1st Dan Make sure to congratulate these students They have worked very hard and are now enjoying the fruit of their labours!

Well, the results are in! Congratulations to ALL our JKA Canada karate athletes you trained hard and 'the proof was in the pudding' so to speak JKA Canada thanks both Louise Seidel & Alan Korejbo... for coordinating the tournament in such short notice AND for choosing the Travelodge Saskatoon as accommodations plus the restaurant Pho Chau Thinh c/w blues band Earnest Ernies Pan Fried Blues Congratulations to Midwest THE PAS member Hailey McGinnis for winning the Sportsmanship Award you earned it Hailey Everyone had a great time!

Congratulations to MELANIE CULLEN Melanie tested for her Shodan May 10th, 2015 with Sensei Jerry Marr and Sensei Darren Marr and she successfully passed!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BLACK BELTS WHO UPGRADED THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH SENSEI YUTAKA KATSUMATA and SENSEI JERRY MARR: JKA International of Canada acknowledges the following who passed their black belt rankings as noted below. These members have trained very hard and justly earned their reward this weekend:... Donece Hughes - Yondan Dale Carlson - Yondan Kenroy Pitterson - Sandan Denny Chau - Sandan Jodie Kuhl - Sandan Don Kissick - Sandan Thomas Conrad - Nidan Dawn Buell - Nidan If someone has any photographs they would like to share please contact Colette @ [email protected] so we can post the them. Thank you.

Photos from Summer Camp in Clearwater Lake, The Pas MB Thanks again to our friend Nathalie

Photos from Summer Camp in Clearwater Lake, The Pas MB Thank you Nathalie!!

Attention: Anyone seen this logo elsewhere? Now you KNOW where it's true origin is... MIDWEST KARATE logo artwork designer... Original signed artwork - 1970 (in header of this page) Kenn White designed this logo in the 70s specifically for Midwest Karate/Jerry G Marr, using the photograph he took of Sensei Marr. Thank you Kenn White for this now infamous logo representing TRADITIONAL KARATE everywhere. ~ Kenn White, Commercial Artist Winnipeg, MB ~ website: kennwith2nz.com email: [email protected] phone: 204.504.9585

Original signed artwork of the official MIDWEST Karate logo designed in 1970 specifically for Sensei Jerry Marr Graphic Designer - Kenn White Winnipeg MB

PHOTOS!! Stage 3 Thank you Nathalie Slavik for the great photographs of the 2014 JKA Canada Nationals in Wetaskiwin AB. Please contact Colette at [email protected] if you want your photo taken down from the Facebook page

PHOTOS!! Stage 2 Thank you Nathalie Slavik for the great photographs of the 2014 JKA Canada Nationals in Wetaskiwin AB. Please contact Colette at [email protected] if you want your photo taken down from the Facebook page.

PHOTOS!!!! Thank you Nathalie Slavik for the great photographs of the 2014 JKA Canada Nationals in Wetaskiwin AB. Please contact Colette at [email protected] if you want your photo taken down from the Facebook page.

Midwest Karate which is now temporarily located at Earl Grey Community Centre, 360 Cockburn Street will officially be open for regular classes starting 1) Mondays Noon & Evening classes (12:00, 5:30) 3) Thursdays Noon & Evening classes (12:00, 6:00)

March 8, 2014 JKA Canada Provincial Championship All Photos courtesy of Nathalie Slavik

Another excellent seminar with 8th Dan Sensei Katsumata held in Winnipeg MB at Midwest Karate with the added surprise of Sensei Jerry Marr being presented with his much earned 8th Dan! ALL PHOTOGRAPHS courtesy of Nathalie Slavik - Lac du Bonnet MB