We celebrated another amazing year at West Island Karate / Karaté de L'Île by throwing our 2nd annual Karaoke Family Christmas Party!  Our first ever karaoke party last year was just stupidly fun :-), so we knew then that this was going to be a WIK/KDL tradition.  As always, everyone contributed to our potluck supper by bringing tasty appetizers, delicious entrées and scrumptious desserts.  So against a backdrop of holiday music and videos of our students in action, we feasted, fueling up for the fun to come.  Once the meal was done, the keeners in the crowd chose their songs from a list of almost 700 tunes and signed up for their turn on stage - and what a stage it was!  Thanks to Paul Belair (one of the dads from our dojo who happens to own a party production company), the karaoke performances were enhanced by a video projector and screen, a fog machine, and an elaborate laser light show!  It was CRAZY fun and enjoyed by both the singers and audience alike.  Highlights of the night included Sempai Victor's heartfelt version of "Lady In Red" which he dedicated to his wife (dressed appropriately in red for the occasion).  Sensei John revealed his sensitive side by serenading us with Elvis' "Love Me Tender".  But predictably, Emily and Erin's rendition of "Gangnam Style" (in Korean no less) brought the house down as many in the crowd broke into Psy's now famous Gangnam Style dance step.  Of course, Sensei John was somehow able to convince Santa to drop by for a visit and pass out presents to all the kids who had trained hard this year.  Once Santa departed, it was back to the karaoke until we were literally kicked out of the chalet at the end of the night.  Thank you to everyone who came for making our dojo Christmas party another incredible "dojo family" experience.  Click on the picture above to check out some fantastic photos of the party courtesy of our own David Boily (thanks so much Dave).  He really captured the insane fun and holiday spirit of the evening.  From all of us at West Island Karate/Karaté de L'Île, happy holidays and all the best for the new year!  OSU!

As we entered into the last month of 2012, Sensei conducted gradings of our West Island Karate / Karaté de L'Île students at all levels.  For many students (and parents), this is a new experience and one that is perhaps not well understood initially.  Sensei happened to find an excellent explanation of the grading process by Shihan Robert Wiklund which accurately reflects how he views it as well:

Like any test, the Karate Grading exam is not a perfect way of assessing competence. Passing a test that results in a license to drive an automobile does not make a good driver.

A Karate Belt Holder is only as good as his/her ability at every training session. A Karate Grading test acknowledges ability at a 'point in time' - the true test of a person’s Karate Level is their ongoing commitment to the art.

The awarding of Karate Belts should be a fantastic time for both the examiner and the student. When the result of long diligent practice of Karate technique is displayed by a student at a serious Karate Grading examination, and when the performance is assessed by a competent, responsible examiner - everyone wins. Any other way and Karate loses.

The Karate Grading

-  Measures Development
-  Recognizes Progress
-  Incentive to Learn
-  Reward for Effort

Never give up.
Osu.

Congratulations to all the students who passed their grading as well as to those who attempted it but who were not able to complete it successfully this time.  In particular, many congratulations to Rebecca who earned her Shodan...omedetou gozaimashita Sempai.  Osu!  Click on the picture above to see some wonderful photos of the gradings courtesy of our own Anne-Marie Lemieux.     

West Island Karate brought a team of seven determined competitors to the North American Championship hosted by Shihan Camille Ohan.  They battled hard in kata and kumite, showing a lot of heart against some tough competition.  There were victories, defeats, smiles and tears, but regardless of the outcome, Sensei and the squad of coaches and parents who came along for support were very proud of each and every one of them.  Well done to all.  Many thanks to Shihan Ohan and his team of volunteers for kicking off our new tournament season.  Osu!

Sensei John always says that no West Island Karate student ever puts on their black belt for the first time with a dry dogi on.  So even though Alex and Em had already passed their Shodan grading back in June, they had to endure a few more rounds of tough kumite on this evening before receiving their belts.  In the end, they survived :-), and Sensei made it official by personally tying their black belts around them for the very first time.  It was a proud moment for both student and teacher, and the culmination of many years of hard training for both Sempai Alex and Sempai Em.  Omedetou gozaimashita (congratulations) Sempais.  Well done.  Osu!

One of our students, Alice Marlowe, recently participated in a fundraiser called "Shave To Save".  This annual campaign is organized by Montreal's Virgin Radio 96 in association with the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.  The participants raise money for breast cancer research by promising to shave their heads in exchange for donations.  The hair is then used to manufacture wigs for cancer victims recovering from chemotherapy.  This was a remarkable and extraordinary gesture by Alice when you consider that she is all of 15 years old!  Alice committed to doing this because one of her friends had participated last year and Alice thought it was a very worthy cause to support - in particular because she knows people who have been stricken by this horrible disease.  In making her decision, Alice actually risked expulsion from her school because the dress code forbids girls from having very short hair and/or going completely bald.  Fortunately the school decided to make an exception in this particular case.  With the help of contributions from her fellow karateka at West Island Karate / Karaté de L'Île, Alice not only reached her target of $2000...she far exceeded that...raising a grand total of almost $3500!  Bravo Alice-san!  Omedetou gozaimashita (congratulations)!  You are truly an inspiration and everyone at the dojo is extremely proud of you.  Many thanks to everyone who contributed for your incredible generosity.  Osu!  Btw Alice, you look very cute with a shorn head. :-)

Like last year and in 2009, West Island Karate / Karaté de L'Île was once again invited to give a demonstration at the Montreal Japanese Language Centre's annual Autumn Festival.  This event is always a wonderful opportunity to take in some Japanese culture (in particular the delicious home-made food and confections...mmm) and interact with the Japanese community in Montreal.  Kyokushin Karate is one of many martial arts that has its origins in Japan, and at West Island Karate / Karaté de L'Île, we always strive to teach it in the most pure and traditional manner possible, staying true to Sosai's original vision and adhering to the associated Japanese terminology and etiquette.  Our team took to the stage to demonstrate exactly that.  Onlookers were treated to a tiny glimpse of the training required, and through our students who varied widely in level and maturity, they could see how the techniques were refined over the years.  Many thanks to the Montreal Japanese Language Centre for having us back and for their unparallelled hospitality each time.  Domo arigato gozaimashita.  Well done to all the students who participated in this year's demo.  Osu!  Click the above picture to peruse some photos of the demonstration (including some "backstage" shots as they warmed-up in a separate room just prior to their demonstration).

Satisfied that his work in Quebec City was done, Sensei John donned his Zorro costume and mounted his trusty steed, Toronado, for the journey home.  Sensei rode westward all night so he could return in time for our dojo's annual Halloween Training.  There were some close calls on Highway 40 (including some odd hand gestures from a few irate drivers), but Sensei finally pulled up to our new dojo in Île-Perrot, Karaté de L'Île, where the training was taking place.  Leaving Toronado by the fountain in the parking lot to relieve his thirst, Sensei cautiously entered the dojo.  Inside, he was greeted by a bewildering array of colourful, humourous, and sometimes disturbing characters (and those were just some of the parents' costumes).  Undeterred, Sensei Zorro led his costumed charges through a hilarious but spirited training, flanked by Sempai Annie (school girl), Sempai Manon (creepy doll), Sempai Dave (gumball dispenser) and Sempai Victor (gorilla).  In the end, all our students worked hard enough to earn some Halloween treats from Sensei.  And thus another memorable Halloween Training at West Island Karate / Karaté de L'Île came to a close.  It was more fun than you could shake a shinai at.  Osu!  Stay tuned for photos and video from the Halloween Training...coming soon.  Meanwhile click on the picture above for a closer encounter.

An eager team of 23 karateka from West Island Karate/Karaté de L'Île, accompanied by about 20 parents and friends, took a road trip to Quebec City on this beautiful autumn weekend to kick off the new tournament season.  As we did last year, we journeyed there to compete at the Karaté Kyokushin Québec Championship hosted by Sensei Jonathan Ouellet.  This was the 2nd edition of his annual tournament and the venue this year was very spacious and well organized.  Every one of our students competed hard and were ably coached by Sempai Manon, Sempai Dave, Sempai Vince, and of course Sensei John.  Our entire team did extremely well, conducting themselves admirably by showing the kind of respect towards their fellow competitors and good sportsmanship that defines our dojo.  As a result, everyone came away from the tournament with a great sense of accomplishment and a very positive experience.  Most importantly, our kids (as well their parents and coaches) just PLAIN HAD FUN!  Sensei John could not have been more proud of them.  Consequently the dinner celebration that evening was animated and raucous, but I can't really say more than that because "what happens in Quebec stays in Quebec". :-)  Congratulations to our entire WIK/KDL team...very well done to one and all.  Many thanks to Sensei Jonathan Ouellet and his volunteers for providng another enjoyable tournament experience for our students.  OSU!  Click on the picture above (courtesy of Anne-Marie Lemieux...thanks A-M) to see some fantastic photos of the action by our own David Boily (much appreciated Dave).  As always, our apologies if we were unable to capture your child in action.  We make every effort to get photos and/or video of our entire team, but sometimes that's just impossible because of circumstances beyond our control.  In any case, there are more photos and videos on the way shortly, so please stay tuned to the Photos and Videos sections of our website.  Hope you can join us on our next road trip.

On this wonderful weekend in October, we had the opportunity to train with Shihan Cameron Quinn of Australia.  Shihan Quinn's "Kyokushin credentials" are extensive and include having been an uchi-deshi (live-in student) of Sosai Mas Oyama's, often serving as his translator.  Following in that tradition, Shihan Quinn himself offers an uchi-deshi program in Australia at his dojo (an opportunity which one of our own students took advantage of last year).  He has also trained world-class knockdown fighters, including the world renowned Gary O'Neil.  During his seminar, it became obvious to the many in attendance that Shihan's knowledge of Kyokushin techniques, philosophy and fighting tactics is expansive and deep.  Among the many topics covered, he emphasized the importance of kata and paying attention to the smallest of details.  He also demonstrated eminently practical applications for the many movements we learn as karateka.  His easy-going teaching approach and wry humor was the icing on an already tasty cake.  It was a true honor and pleasure to train with and learn from Shihan Cameron Quinn.  Domo arigato gozaimashita Shihan!  Many thanks to Sensei Hugo Perez for inviting Shihan to Montreal and for hosting this invaluable, unforgettable learning experience.  Osu!

The above might not be the best quality photo, but you can clearly see that everyone had a blast training with Sensei Bert Janssens of Belgium who honoured us with a visit to Karaté de L'Île on this evening.  Sensei Bert was Sensei John's very first full-contact/knockdown opponent, and ever since that initial adversarial encounter, they have become great friends (strange sport this Kyokushin Karate :-)).  Osu Bert Sensei...thank you for your visit and for leading us in another fun training! 

After many weeks of renovations and much anticipation, Sensei John finally unveiled his brand new beard :-) as well as his new West Island Karate dojo:  KARATÉ DE L'ÎLE in Île-Perrot!  This second location augments our dojo in Beaconsfield and sports a beautiful 1250 square foot primary dojo floor plus a second floor measuring 600 square feet - both with high ceilings (plenty of clearance for practicing weapons kata).  Today's grand opening/open house at Karaté de L'Île was the perfect opportunity for many of our current students to try out the new dojo.  In addition, we were happy to provide a free trial class for many curious kids and adults who wanted to experience, firsthand, all the benefits of training at West Island Karate.  With the help of his Sempais, as well as our good friend Sensei Hugo Perez and some of his students, Sensei John led the Saturday morning kid and adult classes through some spirited training to inaugurate our new dojo.  It was an auspicious beginning for Karate de L'Île and marked an exciting new chapter in West Island Karate's 15 year history.  Many thanks to all who came out to support the grand opening, in particular to Sensei Hugo, Sempai Linda Arpin (standing behind Sensei John in this group picture)  and Sempai Pierre Graveline who joined us for the new dojo's christening.  Osu!  Click on the picture above to see some photos from Day 1 at Karate de L'Île (courtesy of your humble webmaster).

Sensei John conducted some advanced belt gradings of the adults during the last week of June, culminating with a black belt shinsa (grading) for Alex R and Em W.  Those of us who participated in this rare event to help and support the two candidates, witnessed a very demanding test of their physical and mental endurance.  Every aspect of their karate skills was examined in great detail over the course of several hours, in particular their Kyokushin spirit.  It was both a privilege, and a very humbling experience, to watch Alex and Em realize this special milestone in their training.  Congratulations to all the adults who passed their grading this week, in particular to Alex and Em who earned their Shodan to join the yudansha (black belt ranks) of West Island Karate.  Omedetou gozaimashita Sempais!  Osu!

The last tournament of the "competition season" combined two events:  the Montérégie Championship during the day with the Dagéki World Karate Championship in the evening.  The Montérégie Championship is hosted by Sensei Fouad El Harrif of Karaté Kyokushin St-Luc and offers kata, elite kata and semi-contact kumite for juniors and seniors.  The Dagéki World Karate Championship is a full-contact/knockdown competition for adult men and women, and is organized by Union Karate Canada, an association consisting of Sensei Fouad El Harrif, Shihan Réal Gagnon of École de Karaté Sylvain Lessard in Rimouski, Sensei Denis Cordiero of Montreal Kanreikai Karate and Sensei Sylvie Comeau of Centre Karaté Lamarre.  West Island Karate's team was comprised of about a dozen junior students as well as Sempai Manon who competed in elite kata, and Sempai Kimm who fought in the women's lightweight division of the knockdown competition.  Our entire team did a fantastic job and Sensei John was very proud of all their performances and the way they conducted themselves.  They represented West Island Karate with great Kyokushin spirit and true sportsmanship.  In particular, Sempai Kimm put in many extra hours of grueling training over the last few months in preparation for this event.  It definitely paid off as the gains she made carried her all the way to the top of the women's lightweight division!  It wasn't an easy road to victory.  The day started off a little rockily for Sempai Kimm when she unexpectedly discovered that she would have to fight a preliminary match in the afternoon!  She took it all in stride however and was able to win that fight and advance to the evening competition.  Things didn't get any easier though as she had to face last year's champion(!) next, a hard-punching tough fighter from Poland, in the semi-final.  It was a close, very hard-fought, seesaw battle which necessitated an additional 2 minute extension to determine the winner (the regulation rounds were 3 minutes long).  When the smoke cleared, Sempai Kimm earned a unanimous decision from the judges.  Her final fight was much the same story, a close match against a very game opponent which went to an extension.  Both fighters were visibly spent towards the end of the extension round.  It simply came down to who wanted it more, and once again, Sempai Kimm earned a unanimous decision.  Taking first place was all the more impressive when you consider that Sempai Kimm fought an extra match (the other competitors in her division did NOT have to fight a preliminary).  It was a very proud moment for her coach, Sensei John, and for her VERY VOCAL supporters and fellow-karateka from WIK. :-)  Omedetou gozaimashita Sempai (congratulations)!  West Island Karate is very thankful to the UKC for organizing another great event and for providing a wonderful tournament experience for our students.  Congratulations to all our students who competed this year on another successful tournament season.  Osu!  Photos and videos of our entire team competing at the Dagéki tournament will be posted shortly, but since I'm sure everyone is anxious to see Sempai Kimm's fights, I've posted those first (videos courtesy of David Boily...much appreciated Dave as always).  Enjoy!

The 2012 CANADIAN JUNIOR KYOKUSHIN CHAMPIONSHIPS marked a special occasion for our annual tournament as we moved into a new, more spacious venue.  After 10 years, it had become obvious that we had outgrown the gymnasium in the Kirkland Arena, so Sensei John decided to host the 11th edition of the CJKC in our new tournament home:  the hockey rink itself.  This gave us the breathing room we needed to produce a more efficient and enjoyable event for everyone in attendance.  When all was said and done, the overwhelming consensus was that this year's edition of the CJKC was the best one in its 11 year history thus far!  Click the picture above to see a treasure trove of marvelous photos of the tournament courtesy of Joseph Galli (thanks so much Joseph).  Meanwhile here's a note of thanks from Sensei John along with his report on the 2012 Canadian Junior Kyokushin Championships:  

Osu,

This past weekend, West Island Karate hosted the 11th edition of the Canadian Junior Kyokushin Championships.  To accommodate the growth of our annual tournament, we moved into a new larger venue: the hockey rink in the Kirkland Arena.  This expansion allowed us to host the morning registration in the same room as the competition area, a convenience enjoyed by the participants, coaches and parents alike.  We now had ample room for 4 widely-spaced tatamis as well as numerous open areas for the competitors to warm up while they waited, but still be close enough to watch the action and support their teammates.  The spacious grandstands provided the ideal vantage point for the spectators and allowed parents to keep a close eye on their children.

We saw the usual turnout in terms of number of competitors as well as number of dojos.  The tournament started precisely at 10 am, as advertised, and we were able to wrap things up just before 5 pm.  The morning registration and re-weighing of the competitors was quick and relaxed.  Everyone was taken care of in record time with very little waiting and minimal line-ups.  Our custom tournament system (developed in-house by Steve Roumeliotis...pictured in the center of this photo) played a large role in the efficiency of the CJKC.  The software facilitated registration of the competitors and preparation of all divisions beforehand, helped with the scoring of the kata and kumite competitions, and allowed us to make quick changes when necessary as the day went along.  Like last year, we once again provided access to the system (via any smartphone, tablet or laptop) for the spectators, coaches and competitors through a mobile website.  Everyone in attendance could track the tournament results in real-time as well as consult other useful tournament information. This year, the various pages of our mobile website were viewed 2368 times (30% more than in 2011).  This fun and unique feature of the CJKC is obviously very popular, so we will continue to provide this ability and attempt to expand on it in the future.

Steve and Mike were once again charged with manning the administration desk.  They were working hard, but things were running so smoothly that they found time to walk around the arena and actually enjoy the tournament.  Mike even found himself multitasking as he was conscripted to coach some WIK competitors.  He might have found a new calling, going 7-for-7 with the kids he coached (he just wanted you to know Vince ;-)).

The tournament began with a special performance by members of Arashi Daiko, the renowned Montreal-based, traditional Japanese, taiko drum troupe.  Their powerful performance was very impressive and invoked a rousing, standing ovation from everyone in attendance.  It was a spine-tingling, unforgettable moment, setting the tone for the entire tournament and inspiring the competitors to new heights.

Sensei Hugo Perez took charge of the refereeing teams which were comprised of a good mix of beginners with more experienced officials.  Widely acknowledged as one of the best and most experienced referees in the Montreal area, Sensei Hugo had generously given us another refresher course on refereeing in the weeks leading up to the tournament to ensure that we had the best possible officiating at the CJKC.  Domo arigato gozaimashita Hugo Sensei.  We would also like to thank Shihan Tom Flynn for making the trip from his dojo in Vermont to attend this year's CJKC.  Not one to sit on the sidelines, Shihan rolled up his sleeves and helped to judge kata and referee many of the kumite matches.  Domo arigato gozaimashita Tom Shihan.

There were many inspired katas and strong competition from all dojos.  The competitors showed a high level of precision and strength in their katas.  Many dojos did very well.  No one dojo dominated.  The kata divisions were completed in just under 2 hours which is a testament to the efficiency of our volunteers.  They worked tirelessly to prepare subsequent divisions as each current division was completing and receiving their trophies and medals.  It was a smooth, behind-the-scenes process that was appreciated by everyone in attendance.

Lunch time!  Delicious pizza from Pizza Nikkos was offered at the tournament canteen for the patrons and was provided free for all our volunteers and referees.  Some of the kids unexpectedly depleted our supply by helping themselves as well :-), but fortunately it was an easy matter to have more delivered.  After lunch ended at 1:30 pm, we continued with the kumite portion of the tournament.

The kumite divisions were all prepared in advance according to age, rank, gender and weight.  Any minor adjustments to compensate for discrepancies found during the morning registration were quickly made at the administration desk.  Divisions containing too large a range in weight between competitors were broken up into separate divisions.  This was done to ensure the safety of all the competitors, something which has always been of paramount importance at the CJKC.  The inherent cost of creating a new division (i.e. providing more trophies) has never been a consideration.

There were some epic battles all throughout the afternoon leading up to the teenage brown and black belt divisions that completed the day’s events.  Denis, our usual Urgence Sante medic who is responsible for administering any first-aid to competitors, reported that it had been the quietest year to date for him.  Only a couple of bruises were treated with some ice.  This is impressive when you consider the inherent contact-nature of the sport.  It was obvious that responsible, well-trained referees and proper match-ups played a direct role in keeping all the competitors safe.  This ensured that all the kids, as well as their coaches, parents and supporters, left our tournament with positive experiences and memories.

On behalf of West Island Karate, I would like to thank the parents, dojo operators and competitors for making this edition of our annual tournament the best one in the 11 years since its inception.  Many thanks go to the referees for not only dedicating their time and energy on tournament day, but for the many hours of training to which they committed in order to sharpen their skills and provide a professional and safe experience for the competitors.  Lastly, a very big thank you goes out to all the volunteers from WIK.  Because of you, we can provide a high quality tournament year after year that gives our juniors a stage to test their skills, and allows them to see and feel what true Kyokushin spirit is all about.  A portion of the tournament proceeds will go towards the WIK Fighters Fund, a resource that helps our competitors train and travel for competition.

Thank you for your continued support.  It is very much appreciated.  I sincerely hope to see everyone again next year for the 2013 Canadian Junior Kyokushin Championships.

Osu.

Sensei John Kalaidopoulos
West Island Karate
Director of the Canadian Junior Kyokushin Championships

Canada's Best Dance Crew?  What?!  No, they're just part of the 38 strong from West Island Karate clowning around at the Yukan Karate Championship.  Hosted annually by Sensei Denis Cordiero of Montreal Kanreikai Karate, this tournament features kata, weapons kata and semi-contact kumite for juniors and seniors.  All the members of our team have been preparing for the usual summer series of tournaments by taking supplemental Tournament Training classes at the dojo.  Given their stellar performance at this tournament, it was obvious that our younger students benefitted not only from the extra training, but in particular from the many years of tournament experience accumulated by our very successful senior students and Sempais who teach these Tournament Training classes.  All of them have been through the trials and tribulations of being on the tatami, so they are uniquely qualified to pass on what they've learned from Sensei John and combine that with their own knowledge of what it takes to succeed at the junior level.  Congratulations to our entire team on a job well done (with a big shout-out to our lone senior representative in kumite this year...J Lopez...click here to see a video of one of his fights as well as videos of some of our juniors performing kata)!  Osu!  Many thanks to Sensei Denis Cordiero and his hard-working volunteers for hosting another well organized and enjoyable event.  Thanks to Joseph Galli who snapped the photo above (much appreciated Joseph), we have some wonderful pictures from the tournament to share with you.  Just click on West Island Karate's Best Dance Crew above to enjoy Joseph's photo album of our team in action.  Osu!

Each year, West Island Karate hosts a tournament for juniors (under 18) called the Canadian Junior Kyokushin Championships.  It goes without saying that for the past 10 years, we have always strived to provide the best tournament experience possible for everyone involved, from the competitors to their coaches, parents, supporters, and even our own volunteers.  Of paramount importance at the CJKC is the safety of the competitors.  Recognizing that well-trained, responsible refereeing is a key factor for ensuring this safety level, Sensei John once again turned to his good friend Sensei Hugo Perez of Centre de Karaté Perez for help.  Sensei Hugo is arguably one of the best referees in the Montreal area and has many years of experience in this regard.  In past years, Sensei Hugo has generously donated his time to teach us the fine art of refereeing Kyokushin tournaments.  These lessons were invaluable and have helped us provide a very professional level of refereeing at the CJKC.  So in the weeks leading up to this year's edition of our tournament, Sensei Hugo dropped by the dojo to give us a refresher class on refereeing.  Also in attendance were some of Sensei Hugo's Sempais, Sensei Richard Labonté of Karaté Kyokushin Tiger with a few of his Sempais and students, and some Sempais from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.  Sensei Hugo can make refereeing look effortless, but as with most things in Kyokushin, it definitely is not as easy as it looks and requires incredible concentration, quick reflexes and a lot of practice.  All in all, it was another great learning experience and a lot of fun.  Many thanks to Sensei Hugo for his time and energy...domo arigato gozaimashita Hugo Sensei.  Click on the picture above to see some photos from the refereeing class courtesy of your humble webmaster.  Enjoy.

After one of the shortest and mildest winters in recent memory, Sensei John decided to ring in the early spring with gradings in both the kid and adult classes.  The chance to be tested for the next rank is something which is solely earned by each and every student at West Island Karate.  The hard work put in through regular training over the course of the year is the minimum preparation needed to get through what is always a challenging test.  As any student at the dojo will attest to, a grading can be an unnerving and very humbling experience.  Every aspect of your karate abilities and knowledge are scrutinized in great detail.  Consequently Sensei often says that you learn something about yourself through each grading.  Certainly it  gives you a first-hand appreciation for those who have gone before you and what it takes, both physically and mentally, to get to the ranks of the yudansha (black belts).  Congratulations to all the candidates who earned their next rank.  Osu!  Thanks to our own Anne-Marie (much appreciated A-M!), we have a slew of great action photos of the gradings to share with you.  Click on the picture above to see her photos from the adult grading or click here to see her pictures of the kids grading.  Enjoy.

A sizeable team from West Island Karate made the trip eastward to attend the Kanreikai Joliette tournament hosted by Sensei Dominic Morin.  Featuring kata, weapons kata and semi-contact kumite, it was a good test for all our competitors.  As expected, each member of our team competed hard and represented WIK very well.  Many thanks to Sensei Morin for putting on another enjoyable tournament.  Click the picture above to see some great photos of our team in action courtesy of Marie-Hélène Gauthier (thanks so much Marie-Hélène).  Then check out the 15 videos of our WIK team in full flight.  Congratulations to all of them on a job well done!  Osu!   

A 10-person team from West Island Karate made it safely across Montreal's bridges ;-) to attend the Coupe des Samurais tournament on the south shore.  Hosted by Sensei Alexandre Haché of Karaté IDS, the tournament featured "one matches" (single, three-round, semi-contact fights) for each junior competitor as well as "elite" kata (kata performed by green belts and up only) for both juniors and seniors.  This was followed by a full contact/knockdown competition for adults in the evening.  Our entire team was well prepared and competed hard.  Predictably, there were some victories and there were some defeats.  But as Sensei John always emphasizes to all his students, they are already winners by virtue of simply competing...irrespective of the outcome.  Anyone who has ever competed in a Kyokushin karate tournament knows the tremendous effort required to prepare for such an undertaking.  The training can be physically (and mentally) grueling, so it takes great discipline and a steadfast perseverance.  Perhaps even more daunting is the prospect of stepping into the ring to test yourself against an opponent who has trained just as hard - all the while being judged and critiqued by other high-level karateka as well as an audience of spectators (most of whom are non-practitioners).  To say this requires courage (and a thick skin) would be a monumental understatement!  For those who have challenged themselves in this way, the greatest reward - arguably - might be that their karate skills have been raised to another level through all the preparation, as well as the invaluable life experience garnered through testing those skills in competition.  Those very significant gains will stay with them long after a tournament is over.  All of us at West Island Karate would like to salute our entire team of competitors.  You are all truly winners and you have the undying respect of your fellow karateka.  OSU!  Click on the picture above to see David Boily's spectacular photos of the tournament (much appreciated Dave...as always).  Then go check out some videos of our team in action at the tournament.

2012 got off to a flying start at West Island Karate's annual New Year's Training.  This year Sensei John was very happy to welcome Shihan Max Ferraiolo (Kyokushin Budokai), Sensei Hugo Perez (Karate Perez), Sensei Fouad El Harrif (Karaté Kyokushin St-Luc) and Sensei Alexandre Haché (Karaté IDS) as well as some of their Sempais and students to our event.  In addition, we were joined once again by two Sempais from Russo Dojo (Sensei Vittorio Russo).  In total, we numbered 75 and it was truly an honor to train alongside and learn from all these wonderful Kyokushin karateka.  Sincere thanks to all of them for taking the time to attend our first training of the new year.  Fortunately our own Anne-Marie Lemieux was on hand to snap some great shots of the event (thanks so much A-M).  Just click on the photo above to see her photo album.  Happy New Year to everyone!  May your year be filled with health, prosperity, great trainings and much laughter.  Osu! 

Click here to read what happened at West Island Karate in 2011