Welcome

Welcome to the New Hamburg Karate Club.  Since 1979 we have been teaching Chito Ryu Karate-Do in the Township of Wilmot and surrounding area to people of all ages. Come and try one of our free classes and experience the benefits of Chito Ryu Karate-Do for yourself.

Chito Ryu Karate Do

PictureO'Sensei Tsuyoshi Chitose
Chito Ryu Karate-Do is an Okinawan martial art based on anatomy and physiology that was started by O'Sensei Tsuyoshi Chitose (10th Dan). It blends the hard and soft styles of Naha-te and Shuri-te to create a martial art that can be practiced by men, women and children of all ages for years without detriment to the body.

Chito Ryu Karate-Do was the first style of karate brought to Canada in 1956 by Sensei Masami Tsuruoka who gained his black belt from O'Sensei in Kumamoto, Japan. Sensei Tsuruoka's top student, Shane Higashi, went on to later become a 9th degree black belt, Saiko Shihan (Chief Instructor), and the head of the style in Canada. Sensei Higashi also helped to spread Chito Ryu Karate-Do all around the world to places like Norway, Australia, Jamaica and others. In Canada, Chito Ryu Karate-Do remains one of the few recognized styles on the provincial and national level, while Sensei Higashi serves as a Technical Advisor to the Board of Karate Canada.
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Sensei Shane Higashi

Instructors

The New Hamburg Karate Club has been active in the Township of Wilmot for over 40 years. The success of the club is owed to the quality of teaching provided by the chief instructors throughout its history. Sensei Richard Hesch is the current chief instructor, taking this role in 2002, and is supported a team of volunteer instructors.
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Richard Hesch
Chief Instructor

Sensei Hesch holds the ranks of Yon-dan, Shidoin, and is a certified NCCP Level 1 Theory and Level 1 Practical coach.
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Don Burnside
Instructor & Technical Advisor

Sempai Burnside holds the rank of San-dan and is a certified NCCP Level 2 Theory and Level 1 Practical coach.  Sempai Burnside provides the monthly Kansou for contemplation.
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Paul Arsenault
Instructor

Sempai Arsenault holds the ranks of San-dan and Jun-Shidoin.  He is also the past (2008-2017, 2019-2022) President of the Chito Ryu Association of Ontario.
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Kurt Lowrick
Instructor

Kurt holds the rank of Sho-dan.
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Bruce Middaugh
Instructor

Bruce holds the rank of Sho-dan and is a certified NCCP Level 2 Theory and Level 1 Practical coach.  Bruce was Chief Instructor of the New Hamburg Karate Club from 1994 to 2002.
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​Chad Spaulding
Instructor

Chad holds the rank of Sho-dan.
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​Joe Brenner
Instructor

Joe holds the rank of Sho-dan.
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Paul Kroes
Instructor

Paul holds the rank of Sho-dan.
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Ray Roth
Instructor

Ray holds the rank of Sho-dan.
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​Amber Dahmer
Instructor

​Amber holds the rank of Sho-dan.
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Heidi Hesch
Instructor

Heidi holds the rank of Sho-dan.
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Jesse Buchanauer
Instructor

Jesse holds the rank of Sho-dan.