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Here are the results and photos of the Funakoshi Cup world championship 2024 at Takasaki, Japan:

Canada showed their presence at the Funakoshi Gichin Cup 2024 16th Karate World Championship Tournament. This Championship took place in Takasaki, Japan on October 25th to October 27th 2024. 82 athletes, 8 coaches and 4 judges took part of this great competition gathering 1800 athletes from 56 countries.

Congratulations to our medalists!
We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievements of three incredible women who have earned medals.

Alessandra Longo - BRONZE in individual Women Kumite
Noemi Yamashiro - BRONZE in the 40-44 Individual Women Kata
Joanne Robidas - SILVER in the 65-70 individual Women Kata

Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance have truly paid off.

Please consult the full results of Team Canada (DOC)

Photos from the event:

Here are the 2023 Canada National Championship Results:

Results file (PDF)

Congratulations!

AUGUST 2023 - 4th Panamerican JKA Karate Championship in Colombia, 2023

This time again, Canada was present at the JKA Panamerican Karate Championship. This Championship took place in Bogota, Colombia on August 19 and 20, 2023. 15 athletes, 3 coaches and 1 judge took part of this great competition gathering 534 athletes from 15 countries. The biggest teams were Brazil (96) and Chile (95) followed by Argentina (67) and Colombia with 58 athletes. Were also represented Costa Rica (13), Bolivia (5), Venezuela (35), Mexico (25), Ecuador (17), Uruguay (19), USA (34), Paraguay (18) and Peru (22) and Panama (15).

This competition of very high level was very helpful for those who invested all their energy in their preparation as well as in their respective categories during the Championship. Having the privilege of competing against the best JKA competitors in the Americas is a chance not to miss for all competitors wishing to progress. This first international competition since the pandemic have been an opportunity to become aware of the level of intensity required for those high level competition and will serve as a preparation for the World Championship in Japan in October 2024.

The first day of the of Competition was for the juniors. Canada was represented by 6 juniors.

Jimmy Painarin and Trey Ishmael in the 11 years old category.
Shen Hudon in the 15-16 years old category.
Frédérick Vinette, Patrick Rodriguez and Kelly Yan in the 17-18 years old category.
Congratulations to Trey Ishmael for his gold medal in kata. Also,
Shen Hudon and Frédérick Vinette won their match in the first round of kata.
Shen Hudon , Frédérick Vinette and Kelly Yan won their match in the first round of kumite.

The second day of Competition was for the adults. Canada was represented by 9 adults.

Ly Andy Phok in the 19-20 years old category.
Kanako Isobe, Xin Yi Fan, Luigi Garde, Francis Labit, Ness Samba, Fidel Labit, Rafik Kodsy in the category 21-39 years old.
Michel Simard in the category 61-65 years old category.
Congratulations to Michel Simard for his gold medal in kata and his bronze medal in kumite. Also, Luigi Garde won his matches in first 2 rounds in kata.
Kanako Isobe, Xin Yi Fan, Francis Labit and Ness Samba won their match in the first round in kata.
Francis Labit, Ness Samba, Fidel Labit and Luigi Garde also won their match in the first round in kumite.
Francis Labit was the only one to win his match in team kumite against Chile.

Nadia Hardy was the only Canadian judge in that competition and worked non-stop during those 2 days.

Coaches for that Championship were Jean-Pierre Cusson, Manon Quirion and Trevor Ishmael who worked hard during the preparation as well as during the Championship.

Jean-Pierre Cusson, Head Coach

2019 FALL INTERNATIONAL GASSHUKU, TOKYO, JAPAN.

Strong Canadian presence! From JKA-SKD Canada:
Jean-Pierre Cusson, Shahrokh Hoghooghi, Manon Quirion, Oscar Avellaneda, and Bio Aikawa.

ALBANY FALL CAMP, NEW YORK, USA, SEPTEMBER 21^ST, 2019

Left to right: Nadia Hardy, Jean-Pierre Houle, Loren Romero, François Gélinas, Alain VanDerLoo, Melarie Taylor, Bio Aikawa

JKA-SKD INTERNATIONAL GASHHUKU, MONTREAL, AUGUST 29^TH - SEPTEMBER 1^ST, 2019
Guest instructors: Master Ueki Masaaki Shihan, 10^th Dan, JKA Chief Instructor,
along with Imura Takenori Sensei, 8^th Dan
and Igarashi Tatsuro Sensei, 3^rd Dan, both JKA Headquarter instructors.

(click photo to view full size)

REPORT FROM THE PANAMERICAN JKA CHAMPIONSHIP HELD IN BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA, AUGUST 10-11^TH, 2019

The 2019 JKA Pan-American took place over 2 days in Bogotá, Colombia. The 24 individual kata categories were attented by around 470 competitors and the same number of competitors attended the 24 individual kumite categories. There were also a total of 12 team categories, for a total of 96 team events. The Canadian team was composed of 21 athletes (13 from JKA SKD Canada).

Saturday August 10th was the Championship for the Juniors (11 to 18 years old). The Canadian competitors were: Khayyam Cesar-Mohamed (12), Jayden Blitzer (13), Frédérick Vinette and Caline Huang (14), Ly Andy Phok, Ali Afrasiabi and Khayden Cesar-Mohamed in the 15- to 16-years-old category, as well as Andru Tecce, Ariel Crisostomo, Sara Hughes and Kathryn Chin in the 17- to 18-years old category. Three medals were obtained by the juniors:

Caline Huang, bronze medal in individual kata (13 competitors from 8 countries).

Frédérick Vinette, bronze medal in individual kata (20 competitors from 11 countries).

Andru Tecce, Ariel Crisostomo and Ly Andy Phok, bronze medal in the 17- to 18-years-old team kata (9 teams from 9 countries).

Sunday August 11th was the Championship for the 19- to 20-years-old category, the 21-year-old and over category and the Seniors categories (40-45,46-50, 51-55, 56 +). Canada’s competitors were Mario Biscotti in the 19- to 20-year-old category, Kanako Isobe, Nilovna Bascunan-Vasquez, Hugo Degroote, Francis Labit, Fidel Labit, Luigi Garde, Rafik Kodsy and Kamar Abdur-Rashid in the 21-years-old and over category, and Wilfred Seerathan in the 51- to 55-years-old category. Two medals were obtained in those categories:

Wilfred Seerathan in the 51- to 55-years-old category, silver medal in individual kata (12 competitors from 9 countries) and bronze medal in individual kumite (12 competitors from 9 countries).

Kanako Isobe obtained the 7th place in women's individual kata (45 competitors from 11 countries).

Francis Labit won his first two rounds in individual kata to be in the top 16 (61 competitors from 14 countries).

Two judges represented Canada: Sensei Minoru Saeki and Sensei Denise Saeki.

Two coaches represented Canada: Sensei Jean-Pierre Cusson and Sensei Manon Quirion.

Jean-Pierre Cusson

PHOTOS & REPORT - 2018 Panamerican Championship - Lima, Peru

Canadian team
(Absents on the photo: Aidyn Dagenais-Adler, David Ihaza et Andru Tecce)

The 2018 JKA Panamerican Championship was held in Lima, Peru. The tournament was held on two days, Saturday was for juniors and Sunday was for adults.

The canadian team was composed of 21 competitors, 9 from JKA SKD (Aidyn Dagenais-Adler, Frédérick Vinette, David Ihaza, Jacob Pichhadze, Ly Andy Phok, Khayden Cesar Mohammed, Ariel Crisostomo, Andru Tecce, Nilovna Bascunan-Vasquez) and 12 from CJKF (Maya Jose, Darian Nasirzadeh, Celeste Wolske, Dina Petko, Kanako Isobe, Luciana Garcia, Francis Labit, Fidel Labit, Luigi Garde, Rafik Kodsy, Diyari Azad, Wilfred Seerattan).

The canadian team, both juniors and seniors, competed with great spirit. JKA SKD members got very good results and got the medals for Canada. This was a great learning experience for all the participants and the level of competition was high. There was good camaraderie and support between the canadian competitors. There was also a very great enthusiasm and support from the parents who traveled to Lima with their young athletes.

The canadian coaches were Jean-Pierre Cusson, Manon Quirion and Ed Leung. Brad Jones was the canadian judge at this Championship.

You will find below some of the highlights of the canadian results.

Jean-Pierre Cusson, canadian coach

Aidyn Dagenais-Adler, 12 years old category : SILVER MEDAL in kata (There was 16 competitors in the category).
Ly Andy Phok, 15-16 years old category : SILVER MEDAL in kata (There was 42 competitors in the category).
Ariel Crisostomo, 15-16 years old category : BRONZE MEDAL in kata (42 competitor's category, he had to perform a tie breaker kata twice and won both times).
Ly Andy Phok, Ariel Crisostomo and Andru Tecce, 15-16 years old team kata : GOLD MEDAL (There was 9 teams competing. Argentina got silver and Chile got the bronze).
Frédérick Vinette, 12 years old category : top 8 in kata (There was 20 competitors in the category).
Maya Jose, 13 years old category : top 8 in kata (There was 15 competitors in the category).
Nilovna Bascunan Vasquez, adult category : top 8 in kumite (There was 41 competitors in the category).
Wilfred Seerattan, 51 years and more : top 8 in kata (There was 13 competitors in the category).
Andru Tecce, 15-16 years old category : top 16 in kata (42 competitors).
Khayden Cesar Mohammed, 15-16 years old category : top 16 in kata (42 competitors).
Kanako Isobe, adult category : top 16 in kata (41 competitors).

Opening ceremony

The JKA-SKD group
(Absent on the photo: Khayden Cesar Mohammed)

Ly Andy Phok, Ariel Crisostomo and Andru Tecce, 15-16 years old team kata : GOLD MEDAL

Aidyn Dagenais-Adler, 12 years old category : SILVER MEDAL in kata

Ly Andy Phok, Ariel-Crisostomo, 15-16 years old individual kata.

Dojo Sakurai de Notre-Dame-du-Laus is active in their community! Check out the article in their community news on page 15! (French only)

Montreal JKA Fall Camp 2016 with Shu Takahashi Sensei (7^th Dan, JKA Brooklyn) and Douglas Luft (7^th Dan, JKA Albany)

Congratulations to Canadian Competitors at the 10^th South American Championship 2016!

The 10^th South American Championship was held in Santiago, Chile on September 3-4, 2016. Thirteen countries and about 450 contestants participated in this championship, with a special invitation to Canada, USA, Mexico and Panama. A total of 10 competitors represented Canada, 5 from JKA-SKD Canada: Manon Quirion, Richie Phok, Ariel Crisostomo, Andru Tecce and Andy Phok.

Here are the results of our member:

Andy Phok - placed first in both KATA and KUMITE in the 13 years male category;
Richie Phok - placed first in KATA and top 8 in KUMITE in 19-20 years male category;
Ariel Crisostomo - placed second in KATA in the 14 years male category;
Andru Tecce - placed fourth in KATA and top 8 in KUMITE in 14 years male category;
Manon Quirion - placed Top 16 in both KATA and KUMITE in adult female category.

Jean-Pierre Cusson who participated as Canadian coach was very proud of their performance and the experience that they gained.

Congratulations to all!

Photos from the event:

Canadian team

Andy Phok, first in Kata and Kumite

Ariel Crisotomo, second in Kata

Richie Phok, first in Kata

2016 International GASSHUKU report

International GASSHUKU took place at JKA headquarter in Tokyo on April 14-17, 2016. Don Sharp, Shahrokh Hoghooghi, Angelo Massotti and Pierre Blier participated from JKA-SKD Canada. Congratulations to Pierre Blier who passed ROKUDAN (6^th degree) at Dan examination on the last day of GASSHUKU. Don Sharp and Shahrokh Hoghooghi successfully renewed all of their qualifications as well as DAN examination rights.

"A fantastic camp as usual, lots of emphasis on KIHON, and judging, and the highlight of the camp was on BASSAI DAI, KANKU DAI with their BUNKAI, and one full hour of just TAIKYOKU SHODAN and how important this KIHON KATA is for creating a good stance as well as tuning points on the KATA. We also had a simulation tournament with Japanese university students to practice our judging skills. These students were really exciting!"

– Don, Shahrokh, Angelo

Don Sharp (LEFT) and Angelo Massotti (RIGHT) with Izumiya Sensei

Shahrokh Hoghooghi (RIGHT) with his son, Shayan Hoghooghi

Shayan Hoghooghi in a pre-GASSHUKU class by Ueda Sensei and Okuma Sensei at JKA Headquater

Les Championnats Sud-Américains 2015 organisé par l'association JKA Sud-Américaine , Sao Paulo, Brésil.

"I had a wonderful time in Brazil, met some good people and ate some great food. It is always a learning experience weather competing in a regional up to international level. I was able qualify up to the semi finals in kata, and went up against a very tough Brazilian competitor in Kumite who won third place at the tournament.

This tournament will make me improve as much as the competitors I competed against. Competing in a international tournament let's us uncover the talent of different countries, which pushes ourself to restructure our technics. To quote Master Funakoshi 'the ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of it's participants.'

It was nice to be with Senseis Jean Pierre, Shahrokh and Manon, they were a great support to our team Canada. I discovered how important it is to have this support when competing in different countries, this is why it's important for our participation as a team."

- Trevor Ishmael Sensei, Shotokan Karate Yamato Academy (Photo:2^nd from left)

(Original text) "La compétition s'est assez bien passée même si j'aurais aimé faire mieux. Je me suis classée pour les finales en KATA et KUMITE (top 8), ce qui est bien. Je fais partie de l'équipe Canadienne depuis 1994. C'est un privilège et une fierté bien méritée de représenter notre pays. Mon Sensei, Jean-Pierre Cusson a toujours été mon entraineur et coach depuis mes compétitions de haut niveau.

Plusieurs fois championne Canadienne, je ne les compte plus depuis plusieurs années!... Je veux le remercier et toujours continuer à me surpasser à travers ses précieux conseils et entrainements, pour représenter le mieux possible notre pays."

- Manon Quirion Sensei, Hakuro Dojo (Photo: 1^st from left)