Members of the Tsawwassen Shotokan Karate Club attended a gasshuku (seminar) in Chilliwack last month and achieved new black belt degrees.
Heading the seminar were Sensei Oishi, an eighth degree black belt and four-time all-Japan champion, Sensei Yasuo Sakurai, a seventh degree black belt from Japan, and Don Sharp, a sixth degree black belt from Chilliwack. Tsawwassen instructors Graham Mallett (fourth degree) and Ashraf Omeria (third degree) were assistant instructors.
The gasshuku was attended by 80 people, some from as far away as Montreal and New York. At the seminar, Tsawwassen members Donna Williams passed to second degree black belt and Lorne Malinoski obtained his first degree black belt.
Training sessions of the Tsawwassen Shotokan Karate Club are held in the South Park Elementary gym, 735 Gilchrist Dr., on Mondays and Thursdays from 7 to 8: 30 p.m. during the school year. Summer classes are held on Thursdays (7 to 8: 30 p.m.) at the Bayside Club.
Students ages eight to 80 are welcome.
The Tsawwassen Shotokan Karate Club was established in 1981 and was located in the Tsawwassen Junior Secondary gym for 23 years.
Instructors are black belt certified by the Japan Karate Association and the club is affiliated with the Japan Karate Association of B.C.
It is a non-profit club; instructors donate their time. The club has a long history of teaching traditional Japanese karate in a friendly atmosphere for fitness, self-defence and fun.
