Hanmer Wado Kai

Club Members  2010-2011

The Hanmer Wado Kai Karate Club was founded back in 1991 by Sensei Chris Logger (Yodan – 4^th Degree).   Sensei Chris relocated his family from Simcoe, Ontario  to Hanmer and found at that time there was no Wado Kai Karate anywhere in the area.  It was then that he decided to start up the Hanmer club and it has been part of the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) ever since. 

Back in 1998, the club was handed over to Sensei Gilles Dupuis (Sandan -3^rd Degree).   Sensei Gilles has been a resident of the Hanmer area for 37 yrs.  He first started training in the martial arts in 1993 and has also been a member of the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation since that time.  Sensei Gilles has successfully participated in numerous Wado Kai karate clinics and tournaments, as well as judging in such competitions. Since taking over the club he has shown a great dedication and commitment to the continued growth of the Hanmer Club.  

Sensei Gilles was personally presented with a Teaching Certificate from the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation by Sensei Masaru Shintani himself when he was a Shodan Rank (1^st Degree).  This is a very special achievement as it is usually given out only when a Sensei has earned the rank of Sandan, 3^rd Degree. 

The Hanmer dojo is still being run under the direction and supervision of Sensei Gilles -Head Instructor with the help from a team of qualified Black Belt members. To see a list of our current Black Belts and a brief bio please refer to the  ‘'Instructors’ page.

Sensei Gilles would also like to recognize a great respect to Sensei Willie Lebrun fromTimmins as his sponsor and Sensei June Lebrun for passing their knowledge and guidance through the years to help him build, strengthen and unify his club and the students in all aspects of karate.     

The club offers classes for all ages and levels in Wado Kai Karate (Japanese style). Our goal is to encourage and develop a balance of discipline and fun while learning the ancient martial art of karate.  Under the guidance of our dedicated Black Belt Instructors and assisted by trained volunteers students will learn the basic techniques, katas (forms) and kumite (sparring) in a controlled environment.  The basic techniques will incorporate various strikes, kicks and blocks (taisabaki – body-shifting movement to avoid full contact attacks).  In addition to the basic techniques, students will practice a combination of advanced techniques in the form of various katas.

At the Hanmer Club, we also host various clinics and tournaments and can be found on our 'Club Events & Updates' page for information.

Over the years, he continued his study of karate and other styles such as shito-ryu and some which emphasized kumite and the Naihancha kata.  Sensei Otsuka had developed a disliking for these styles as they had proven to have potential for great harm and likely deadly techniques.  He decided to go out on his own and develop a more traditional style of karate.  He introduced body shifting movement (taisabaki), upright stances and the evasion and counter techniques.  By making different combinations of movements and techniques he developed a number of katas.  These include the Pinan katas (1 through 5), Kushanka, Naihanchi, Seishan and Chinto. 

Sensei Otsuka received many distinguished awards throughout his lifetime.  The greatest was being the first karateka to be honored by the royal family with the title of Meijin.  With this came the honour of being ranked the head of all martial arts systems within the All Japan Karate-do Federation (Ju-dan or 10^th Degree Black Belt).  Sensei Hironori Otsuka had practiced karate daily until his death on January 29 1982 .

Sensei Shintani continued to train for decades before being awarded 'rukudan' in Shorin-style karate.  He travelled to Japan and competed extensively in the 1950's where he met Sensei Otsuka for the first time.  It was here where Sensei Otsuka noticed Sensei Shintani's skill and talent.  They developed a deep friendship and Masaru Shintani became one of Sensei Otsuka's students until his death.

It was in 1968, where Sensei Otsuka had "appointed Masaru Shintani as head of all Wado Karate-do in North America " and gave him the title of Supreme Instructor.  Later in 1979, Sensei Otsuka graded Sensei Shintani to Hachidan (8^th Degree) in Wado Karate and presented him with his Kudan (9^th Degree) for future use.

Sensei Shintani had practiced and taught the wado style karate for many years and right up until his death in May 2000. Prior to his death, he appointed Sensei Denis Labbe (Hachidan -8^th Degree) to be the President of the Shintani Karate Federation Senate. The Welland dojo is now considered the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Headquarters and is still under the direction of Sensei Denis.

Wado Kai Karate was originally developed in 1939 and was eventually registered as the style of Wado Kai.  Sensei Otsuka came up with the name Shinshu Wado Jujutsu which was later shortened to Wado.  The term wa means "peace' or "harmony" and do means " the way".  Thus by putting the two together you get 'the way of peace and/or harmony'.

The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) is presently one of the largest martial arts organizations under a single style in North America .