The Kanto Sho Karate Club

06/08/2026

A nice day was had by all. Congratulations to the students who competed at the tournament this weekend. You demonstrated your skills exceptionally. Highly skilled kata, powerful kumite. Thank you to the organizers for inviting us. We are grateful for the opportunity. To all the students keep training and let’s have a fun karate summer. Dojo is life. THE KANTO SHO KARATE CLUB “the most spirited”.

06/04/2026

We had a nice night at the dojo welcoming back Derek Lai, a former Institute of Karate student who trained with Sensei Rob and Glen during the 1980s and 1990s. After earning his Shodan and representing Team Canada in Japan, Derek moved to Edmonton, where he served the city as a dedicated police officer for many years until his retirement. It was awesome to reconnect, catch up, and see him looking so youthful.
So many people remain deeply connected to “The Institute,” (Institute of Karate) which holds a fascinating place in local martial arts history. In a neat historical tidbit, many of our original students and teachers (Hienz and Manfred Rottman in particular) actually came from Simon Karate and Kung Fu, which was established in the mid-1960s as the very first karate dojo in Calgary. Back in the early 1960s, our school was known as The Institute of Karate and Kung Fu, becoming The Kanto Sho Karate Club, meaning the direct lineage of Kanto Sho runs all the way back to Calgary’s original roots. If you ever trained with us at any of our old dojos, please drop in and say hi

06/02/2026

Okay, kind of a cool day for me. (Sensei Glen) Picking up a few groceries at the store. The lady in the picture was my first karate teacher back in 1978. When I joined the Institute of Karate, back in the day you were often taught by one of the junior instructors. (Over saw by seniors) Everybody got tons of individual attention. A tradition we still have today. (Because teaching teaches the teacher) Charlotte was a green belt at the time, I was fortunate to get a lot of training/learning with Sempai Charlotte which grounded my basics and formed part of my skills for the rest of my life. I have alway remembered the patience, enthusiasm and attention to detail she brought to every class. It just shows the positive effect you can have on someone for their whole life. I am so grateful, I felt rejuvenated kind of like a kid to see someone so cool again. It really is a wonderful life.

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Frank on earning his yellow belt since starting in September 2025, proudly joining his son Chris and wife Li as an inspiring martial arts family at the Kanto Sho Karate Club. Families training together is one of the great things about dojo. Every parent or adult who joins always says “I wish I started sooner” but it is never too late to start training. Congratulations to Frank and thank you to all of the families for you continued support and hard work. A good dojo has longevity of students. Check out the qualifications of our instructors on our website, along with reasonable fees and compare. kantoshokarate

05/03/2026

The longest running tournament in Alberta continues to be the best.
Thank you Sensei Hanratty for creating this all those years ago.
Sensei Meaghan and Hargreaves continue to referee with skill, fairness and integrity. More to come on this in a few days.
Needless to say impressive performances by all of the students who participated. And to the Sensei’s who supported the student this day Winter, Justin and Jason grateful. Special thanks to Justin for reffing.

04/08/2026

03/31/2026

Another successful yellow belt grading! Congratulations to Scarlet on earning her next rank last night. Her hard work and dedication truly showed, well deserved.

She was proudly presented her belt by Sensei Winter, and it was a special moment as her mom helped tie it on. Moments like these reflect the strength of our dojo family.

Bailey and Scarlet, another incredible family. Thank you for being such a great part of the dojo.

03/30/2026

Sensei Akira Onodera (Part two)

April 20, 1939- March 2026

I will never forget my first trip to Japan in 1984, when Onodera Sensei welcomed me and Team Canada. We spent the entire summer training at the original Renbukai headquarters in Shinjuku. Every day, he welcomed us warmly and treated us with fairness and respect, even standing up for us at the All Japan Tournament. Though he spoke no English, he communicated the true spirit of karate perfectly. His ability to connect transcended language, and he played a profound role in shaping the international Renbukai community. He made everyone feel welcome, answering questions with patience, clarity, and depth. He carried no air of superiority—only a sincere desire to share knowledge, friendship, and the growth of Renbukai.

In the late 1990s, Sensei Kirik and I returned to Japan year after year to train at his dojo. After each class, we would sit together, sharing snacks and a beer. He would show us historical documents, old tournament footage, and speak about the finer details of technique and stories from the early days. Those lessons and memories are invaluable and will be shared in time.

Onodera Sensei never became a distant or hardened figure. He remained youthful in spirit, open in communication, and deeply human—qualities that made him so widely respected, admired, and loved.

Although it was a difficult moment when he moved away from Renbukai, he remained one of the most important influences in our karate lives. To this day, we strive to teach in the way he taught us.

He will always be remembered as one of the greatest influences in my life.

03/28/2026

Spring grading 2026. What an incredible night at The Kanto Sho Karate Club! 11 students graded and passed to the next rank after showcasing their skills in kihon, kata, and kumite (both full and non-contact). Our dojo celebrates its diverse community, united by a shared passion for karate. Mother’s, father’s, grandfather’s and children. You all performed exceptionally, and it's evident that your hard work and perseverance paid off. We're honored to guide you and share our love for karate.

02/23/2026

What a special night at the dojo!

Four outstanding students successfully graded for their Shodan — congratulations to Jason, Li, Lily, and Kaleb. This achievement represents years of dedication, discipline, and perseverance. The year leading up to a Shodan grading is especially intense, and this is known as one of the toughest Shodan gradings. You rose to the challenge with strength and character.

You are special — not only because of your karate accomplishments, but because of who you are. You lead by example as both students and teachers at the dojo. Thank you for your hard work, your commitment, and for being such positive role models.

Some of you will represent Team Canada this fall at the All Japan — an exciting adventure ahead — but for now, take a moment to truly enjoy this achievement. Earning your Shodan is a milestone you will remember for the rest of your lives.

Thank you to the families who support these dedicated students and to all the instructors who have guided them along the way. This accomplishment belongs to all of you as well.