Sensei Emil Hillel was born on 11/11/1966 in Bulgaria. At the age of 10, he starts to train judo in one of the few clubs in the country.
”We did not have any information about martial arts, because the government didn’t allow ordinary people to train karate. Only people who were in the army and the police force were allowed. At that time karate was like a myth for us. At the judo dojo, we didn’t
have gi (judo uniform). So we practised with pants and shirts. The floor was hard, we didn’t have mats.”
After injury Sensei Emil stops to train judo. At the age of 18, he joins the Bulgarian army where he is part of SBR (Specialized dogfight - Bulgarian military system for neutralizing the enemy) team. Two years later, after his army service, a friend of his recommends him to the Kyokushinkai club.
”At that time there were only 3 clubs in the country. All the time we did sparring without any protection. If you were late three times for class, you would be dismissed, because there were many people waiting to take your place. We sewed our own karate uniforms from white sheets”
In 1991, after the end of the cold war Sensei Emil immigrates to Israel where he continues training with Ju-jitsu. In Israeli army he studies the basic techniques of Krav Maga
(The Israeli military fighting system). For a while, he runs his own dojo in Tel Aviv teaching Ju-jitsu. In 2003, he starts to train Okinawa Goju Ruy. In 2008, he immigrates to Canada – Montreal where he continues his training. In 2012, he opens his dojo - Shinshin dojo. Dojo is located in Montreal, Quebec. He combines and imports in Goju Ryu techniques from Ju-jitsu, Krav Maga, etc...
Currently Sensei Emil holds a 3rd Dan black belt in Goju Ryu, He is also awarded a 1st Dan black belt in Ju-jitsu.
