Our Youth Program Classes resume on Saturday, September 8th.
All classes are at Grandview Heights Community Hall 12603 63 Avenue.

Training for students currently ranked White, White Stripe, Yellow, and Yellow Stripe is on Saturday mornings from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM, and on Tuesdays evenings from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. This term will conclude with our annual youth winter grading in December.

Training for students currently ranked Orange, Orange Stripe, Green, Green Stripe, Blue, and Blue Stripe is on Saturday mornings from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, and on Tuesdays evenings from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. This term will conclude with our annual youth winter grading in December.

Note: The minimum age to attend BKA classes is 6 years.
Note: Parents can train for free during the youth class. You’ll receive instruction in the same techniques, and this offers a unique perspective for you as a parent into the experience and skills your child is building.

Our Adult Program Classes resume on Friday, September 7th.
All classes are at Grandview Heights Community Hall 12603 63 Avenue.

Training for students currently ranked White, Yellow, Orange, and Green, and Blue is on Friday evenings from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, and on Sunday evenings from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. This term will conclude with our annual adult winter grading in December.

Training for students currently ranked Blue, Brown, and Black is on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM, and on Friday evenings from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. These students are also welcome to train during the introductory classes on Friday and Sunday, as listed above. This term will conclude with our annual adult winter grading in December.


We require that all students (new and returning) complete our registration process.
Complete our on-line registration form here: http://www.edmonton-karate.com/registeronline.html
Payment is by cash or cheque and can be completed at the first class.


Are you looking for new gear? The BKA will be accepting orders for new gear online, available at this link: http://www.edmonton-karate.com/orderequipment.html

The Bushido Karate Association is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this fall, and we’ll be marking the milestone with year-round special events and commemoratives for members.
We’re honoured to have so many long-time members, and to have played a role in shaping young lives through martial arts training for so long.

The first reveal of our 25th anniversary year is our new logo! We have now honourably retired the old logo, and begin the celebration of our 25th anniversary with this new design!

Sensei James Freeman will be delving into the symbolism and ideas behind the logo in the coming days, taking the time to explore what it means to us as an organization - but in the meantime here is a brief note on some of the style elements and symbolism that went into this design:

The broken circle design can be interpreted in many ways, but was initially based on the ensō, a symbol from Japanese Zen Buddhism representing strength and enlightenment. The ensō circle is drawn in one or two uninterrupted brush strokes. When the circle is closed, it represents perfection. The open circle as seen here acknowledges imperfection as well as representing space for development and improvement. Drawing the ensō is a meditative practice, often performed daily, with the artist always striving towards greater mastery.
The maple leaf, of course, represents Canada, while the red rising sun circle nods to the Japanese heritage of our martial art.

Within the circle is the kanji for “Bushidō" (“dō” = way, “bushi” = warrior; collectively, “way of the warrior).

The Bushido Karate Association is offering an exciting summer camp for your karate kid! The camp will include opportunities to further karate training in both kata and kumite, as well as enrichment in self-defense, technique, and physical fitness. Your son or daughter will be able to enjoy indoor and outdoor karate, sports, and crafts.   Come join us, and have fun!

Register now!

This year the students will get to try...

OLYMPIC KUMITE
Students will learn the rules of the international ring, work on their kumite strategy, and test their speed and agility with fun and challenging drills!

INTERNATIONAL KATA
A wide range of unique and interesting katas are performed on the international stage. Your child can try out movements and techniques from different styles of karate, and maybe even learn a cool new kata!

BUNKAI
The art of analyzing kata to find the application behind the moves. We’ll learn about practical self-defense techniques contained within some of the katas the students are already familiar with.
We may have a few surprise guests coming too...

Sign up now for a fun-filled, active, and exciting week!
Grandview Heights Community Hall

12603 63rd Ave, Edmonton
July 23rd - July 27th, 2018
8:30AM - 3:30PM
Cost: $150/child

Fees payable by Cash or Cheque.  Payable on the first day of the camp.

Note: Minimum of 10 Students Registered by June 20th, 2018 for camp to go forward.

Register Online at this link: http://www.edmonton-karate.com/summercamp.html

Great grading last night!  Congratulations to the 18 adult club members who achieved new ranks ranging from yellow to brown. We had a beautiful night in Edmonton, and were able to move parts of the grading outside to add to the memorable experience.  Thank you as well to the 17 yodansha from the BKA who participated in the Joseke Board, and to the other 11 club members who helped make the event special.

Awesome grading day yesterday at the Annual AB Black Belt Grading in Edmonton. Congratulations to four successful candidates from the BKA: Sensei Gene Klenke (to Shodan), Sensei Pedro Garcia Guerra (to Shodan), Sensei Sidney Taylor (to Nidan), Sensei Michael Chmay (to Nidan).

Sensei Freeman was surprised and honoured to be granted his 6th Dan and appreciates the confidence the Senate has shown in him in making this grant!

It was an awesome day, and a time to reflect on the lineage of the karate we train, and thank Sensei Shintani and those who have both transmitted his values and also those who shaped his understanding of martial arts.

Adult Club Members,

We will shift to our summer schedule starting this Tuesday, as follows:
• Tuesdays starting May 1 – 6:30PM - 8:30PM (all ranks)
• Fridays starting May 18 – 6:30PM - 8:30PM (all ranks)
• Last Sunday class – Sunday May 13 – 6:00PM - 8:00PM (all ranks)

Upcoming Events:
• Adult Grading – May 11th - 6:00PM - 9:00PM - Grandview Dojo (all ranks)
• Fitness Testing – May 18h - 6:00PM - 9:00PM - Grandview Dojo  (all ranks)

Parents and club members, the spring youth grading is this Saturday!

Attached below is information about the event, and the information flyer that has been distributed at the dojo in class and over email.

1.       Grading - The BKA annual Spring Youth Grading will be held Saturday, April 28th at Mother Margaret Mary School.  We are going to try a new format this time, and have everyone begin the grading at the same time: 9:00AM.  As the day progresses we will do three separate grading ceremonies, and upon completion of you son or daughter’s grading, they are free to go.  You are also welcome to stay and watch the higher ranks continue their gradings!

• If your son or daughter is currently a white, white-stripe, yellow, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM, and finish by 10:30AM.
• If your son or daughter is currently a yellow stripe, orange, or orange stripe, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM and finish by 11:45AM.
• If your son or daughter is currently a green, green stripe, blue, or blue stripe, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM and finish by 12:45PM.

2.       Promotion – Progress in rank in karate comes primarily through a combination of three things:

• Time – time is required to master techniques, improve timing, and build gross and fine motor skills.  For the lower ranks, we outline the general minimum times where students can expect to remain at a given rank in the attached sheets.  We do keep attendance, and look at this as we consider which students are likely ready for promotion.
• Skill – results from practice, which results from time spent on the floor.  In general, we look at three aspects to karate training.  The first is basic technique, in isolation, or in combinations.  These need to be performed at a level of proficiency appropriate for the age and rank sought.  The second is kata.  Kata is good because it shows individual commitment to learning and mastering a specific routine.  It is something your son or daughter could practice at home to improve.  The last element is sparring, either with pads, the instructors, or against other students, according to their rank.  This shows an ability to integrate basic technique into combinations in a random situation.
• Attitude – the general approach the student brings to class, and their supportiveness for other students as a training partner and in some cases, mentor.
• It is not uncommon for students at the yellow-stripe and higher ranks to need one year of training in order to advance.  Where instructors have decided that a student would benefit from another term at their present rank, they are still encouraged to come and participate in the grading experience, but we try to let parents know in advance (by e-mail) so that you can best decided how to prepare your son or daughter.  In some cases, decisions are made on the day, based on the opinion of other instructors present.  Please realize that it does not do any favours to the student to advance them too fast, as they can become frustrated with the new material and overwhelmed with the experience if they are not ready.  We explain it to the kids as being like skipping a grade at school.

With the Black Belt Grading in May closing quickly, the time has come for the annual Northern Alberta pre-grading. This year, the Bushido Karate Association will be hosting the event at The Derrick Club in Edmonton on March 18th from 10:00AM - 2:00PM. The dojo will be open at 9:30AM to allow students to warm up, as we will begin right at 10:00AM. Please bring snacks and other assorted drinks. There will be water breaks and break for lunch during the event to make sure you are well fuelled.

The pre-grading process is strongly recommended for all students looking to grade in May, so that they can be assessed by instructors outside their dojo, and received constructive feedback to assist in their success on grading day. This event will be open to all brown belt students and up. Southern Alberta
grading candidates are welcome to attend this event if they are unable to attend the grading in their region.

Action Item: If you are sending any students that are looking to be examined, please send their Name and Home Dojo to Sensei Scott Knowles (scott@edmonton-karate.com).

Action Item: If you or any of your senior students are willing to serve on the Joseki for the Pre-Grading, please contact Sensei Scott Knowles (scott@edmonton-karate.com). Ideally we would call for ranks Sandan or higher, but senior Nidans may be called on the day for extra assistance.

Download a copy of the PDF Flyer.

Parents/Students,

As distributed in class over the past few weeks, here is the information for the upcoming inter-club tournament for our youth members.  For this event we bring together the Grandview and Derrick programs for a spirited morning of fun, with an introduction to tournaments for our junior students, and some high level competition for our more senior ranks.  We hope to see you at the event!  Any questions, please don’t hesitate to email the instructional team, or speak to us in class.

The BKA’s tournament team will be in attendance!

Click here to download a copy of the PDF flyer.