WAKO Canada

WAKO Canada WAKO CANADA is committed to the development of amateur kickboxing across Canada. www.wakocanada.org

09/04/2026

WAKO JUNIOR WORLDS
 
WAKO Canada has spent the past year preparing our Junior National Team for the largest and most competitive kickboxing tournament in the world — the WAKO World Junior Championships.
 
From September 18–27, more than 3,000 athletes from 75 countries will come together in Jesolo, Italy, to compete on the world stage.
 
And Team Canada is ready!
 
Under the leadership of our Canadian National Team coaches, athletes have participated in regular training camps and followed a comprehensive program to be their best.
 
Over the past several years, WAKO Canada has been building a cutting-edge National Team program focused on preparing Canadian athletes for international success.
 
Our approach combines statistical performance data, high-level technical training, athlete development, and a sophisticated sport psychology framework designed for international success.
 
And this is just the beginning!
 
As kickboxing continues its journey toward the Olympic stage, our National Team program will continue to evolve. Our goal is simple: to provide our athletes, coaches, and clubs with the strongest possible pathway to compete successfully against the best in the world.
 
This is the largest Team Canada delegation in WAKO Canada history:
 
174 delegation members
30 clubs represented
83 athletes
12 private coaches
 
And athletes competing across every kickboxing discipline — from Forms to K1!
 
Follow WAKO Canada on our social media throughout the World Championships for athlete profiles, daily updates, competition recaps, behind-the-scenes moments, and highlights from Team Canada’s journey in Italy.
 
Go Team Canada!

Team GusMany of our long-standing clubs will remember the incredible work of Gus Kandilas, who made a lasting impact on ...
09/03/2026

Team Gus

Many of our long-standing clubs will remember the incredible work of Gus Kandilas, who made a lasting impact on WAKO Canada and on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Gus was the architect of the WAKO Canada medical program. He played a vital role in developing our medical protocols, ensuring that the health, safety, and well-being of our athletes was a priority at every competition.

Tragically, Gus passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2024. His loss was deeply felt throughout the WAKO Canada community. Gus had a profound impact on our association and on the many people he met throughout his life.

Adding to the tragedy, Gus’s wife, Stella, who was also a physician, had passed away from the same disease several years earlier.

In Gus’s memory, WAKO Canada is proud to support Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for pancreatic cancer research across Canada. The organization hosts road races in communities across the country to raise awareness and support this important cause.

This year, many WAKO Canada club owners, coaches, officials, athletes, and family members will be participating in the race as a tribute to Gus.

We have registered as TEAM GUS. When you register, please be sure to join the TEAM GUS team so we can come together as a WAKO Canada community in Gus’s memory.

We welcome anyone who knew Gus—or anyone who would simply like to support this important cause—to join us on November 29 for the 5 km road race in Burlington.

Following the race, we will make plans for Team Gus to gather together, share stories, remember our friend, and celebrate the incredible person Gus was.
To register, please visit:

https://raceroster.com/events/2026/114727/kicking-pancreas-5k-burlington-on

I will be running the race myself. Gus was not only a valued member of the WAKO Canada leadership team, but also a very dear friend.

Muzammal

09/01/2026

Next Gen on Fire!
 
WAKO Canada has been on the cutting edge of developing younger generations for many years. From development tournaments, the Winter Games, junior training camps, and the National Junior Team our focus has always been developing young athletes.
 
Our junior camps are held throughout the year and used to help develop provincial and national teams and also to develop up and coming athletes.
 
This past weekend 43 athletes coming from 23 clubs were part of the national team camp. 
 
The camp was rocking!
 
We had forms and weapons athletes training alongside ring and kick light athletes.  The energy and support amongst participants were incredible.  With only three weeks left before the WAKO World Junior Championship in Italy all athletes were pushing themselves at every camp.
 
We have many coaches that are part of our National Coaching Team, as well as coaches from other clubs that come out to support the work of our juniors.  The kickboxing community continues to grow and work closely together and we are excited to see our junior athletes excel.
 
A special thanks goes out the private coaches that attended the camp alongside our National Team Coaches Michelle and Jason.
 
Jesolo Italy hear we come!

08/26/2026

THE COACH
 
A coach is far more than the person standing in the corner.
 
Teacher.
Problem solver.
Counsellor.
Mentor.
Sounding board.
Advocate.
 
But perhaps the greatest role of a coach is simply this:
To believe in someone before they have learned to believe in themselves.
 
Coaches see beyond the mistakes;
beyond the doubts;
beyond the losses and defeats.


Coaches see potential;
not only the athlete standing in front of them;
but the person that athlete can become—
in sport and in life.
 
Good coaches see the spark.
Great coaches ignite it.
 
Everything you need to be successful -
You already have inside of you.
 
You need someone to help you …
discover it;
believe in it;
grow it;
 
That someone is your awesome coach.
 
WAKO Canada salutes every coach for what they do
and who they are.

For the Love of SportThe fights show our skills The challenges build our experiences The friendships last a lifetimePerh...
08/23/2026

For the Love of Sport

The fights show our skills
The challenges build our experiences
The friendships last a lifetime

Perhaps the best part of the North American Open Century Cup is sharing the ring with people from around the world that share the love of sport!

In 2025 there were incredible bouts with athletes from different countries and different continents.

With team confirmed from South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Turkey, and Brazil every continent will be at the 2026 Century Cup!

The competition will be fierce -
but the friendships will be forever!

The regular registration deadline is tomorrow …

https://wakocanada.ca/event/north-american-champion/

Be a part of history!

08/20/2026

WAKO USA on Fire!
 
WAKO USA has been developing an incredible grassroots structure for the growth and development of kickboxing across the country.
 
The results can be seen in the overall 3rd place finish at the PANAM Championship in Chile. Clubs from across the country fielded an amazing team of athletes in all disciplines from point fighting to K1.
 
The next stop for Team USA is the North American Open Century Cup!
 
This is the only WAKO IF internationally sanctioned tournament on the continent.  Not only does your athletes get ranking points for medalling, but your entire team gets an opportunity to compete under WAKO IF rules with the same protocols, processes an open scoring system.
 
But there is more!
 
·      Winners in all divisions get amazing TITLE BELTS!
·      Athletes can enter in more than on discipline!
·      More ring divisions for younger athletes!
·      More tatami divisions for KL and LC!
 
The location is the beautiful PANAM Sports Complex which comes with amenities for everyone -
 
·      Olympic Size Swimming Pool
·      Full athletic center
·      Restaurant on site
·      Large warm up area
·      Comfortable spectator stands
 
The regular registration deadline is August 24th Don’t wait register quickly.
 
For more information and to register -
 
https://wakocanada.ca/event/north-american-champion/
 
Scroll to either TATAMI or RING to register
 
Important!  The weight categories will only appear when you enter your gender, age and discipline.
 
See everyone at the Century Cup!

08/17/2026

DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY 🇨🇦

WAKO Canada is building an athlete pathway that gives every competitor a clear road map for growth in our sport—from their first development tournament to the possibility of representing Canada on the international stage.

A strong development pathway gives coaches the tools to guide athletes step by step, while allowing competitors to gain experience, build confidence, develop their skills, and take on bigger challenges when they’re ready.

Our Development Series tournaments create a positive first step into competition: a safe, supportive, and exciting grassroots environment where clubs can confidently bring newer competitors into the ring. They also give more experienced athletes opportunities to sharpen their skills, gain valuable competition experience, and keep moving forward.

Our clubs are embracing the WAKO Canada Athlete Pathway as an important part of building the future of our sport—from the athlete competing for the first time to the competitor working toward the national team and beyond.

This year, for the first time, the CENTURY CUP brings both sides of that pathway together under one roof.

🥊 North American Open Championship — high-level competition for experienced athletes.

🎃 Halloween Howl — a fun, exciting, and supportive introduction to tournament competition for newer competitors.

One event. Two levels of competition. More opportunities for our athletes and clubs.

It gives clubs the opportunity to support athletes at different stages of development, while allowing competitors to see what’s possible as they continue to grow.

At WAKO Canada, we’re committed to creating more opportunities, strengthening our sport, and building the next generation of athletes.

The pathway starts here. Where it takes you is up to you. 🇨🇦🥊

https://wakocanada.ca/event/north-american-champion/

PANAM ChampionshipWAKO CANADA took a small and young team to Santiago, Chile for the PANAM Championships this past week....
08/16/2026

PANAM Championship

WAKO CANADA took a small and young team to Santiago, Chile for the PANAM Championships this past week.

Our team was diverse with athletes competing from almost all of the kickboxing disciplines from Point Fighting, K1, Low Kick, and Kick Light.

Our clubs fielding athletes were -

Gladiators MMA -Alberta
Studio Unis Val baire- Quebec
Total Martial Arts - Ontario
Sudbury Kickboxing - Ontario
PROAM Tae Kwon Do - Quebec
Sudbury MMA - Ontario

Our team came away with 3 Silver and 3 Bronze medals. Canada is proud of the entire team.

A huge gratitude goes out to Coaches Luis Martinez (Alberta) and Samuel Gagnon (Quebec) who coached and supported the team. Both coaches worked very hard to enable every athlete achieve their best potential.

A special thanks goes out to Samuel Gagnon as was our chef de mission for Team Canada. He made sure that our team was cohesive and focus.

Our next stop …. Italy and the WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP!

Go team Canada!

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Burlington, ON
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