Blog Posts

March 2020

3/6/2020

Congratulations to our students who participated in the 28th Annual Ontario Karate Challenge, Feb 16, 2020:
Heidi Kippenhuck - Gold Kata and Silver Kumite
Jaxson Furey -Bronze Kumite
Jorja Furey - Bronze Kumite
Paul Furey - Silver Kata
Ethan Hesch - Silver Kumite
Mat Chenthivel - Bronze Kata, Gold Kumite
Marius DiCarlo - Gold Kata, Gold Kumite
Chris DiCarlo - Gold Kata, Bronze Kumite
Matthew Bailey - Gold Kata and Gold Kumite

January 2020

1/26/2020

With the start of the New Year, I wanted to take the time to update students on some club and Chito Ryu Association news and upcoming events.

In the News:

Black Belt Grading:
On Saturday, November 30th there was a Yudansha (Black Belt) grading in Toronto. On behalf of all the members of the New Hamburg Karate Club, I would like to congratulate Paul Kroes and Ray Roth for all their diligence, determination and hard work in successfully grading to the rank of Shodan (First Degree Black Belt). Thank you Ray and Paul for all your dedication and commitment to our Dojo, and in striving to constantly improve yourselves both as students and teachers. Well done!

Chito Ryu Association of Ontario Elections:
I would like to congratulate Paul Arsenault on his election as President of the Chito Ryu Association of Ontario. The association is our style’s governing body in the province and provides many resources and supports to dojos, instructors and students. These include instruction manuals, crests, grading certificates, instructor licenses and coaching certification, tournaments, seminars and clinics, to name just a few. I would like to thank Paul for all his hard work and involvement with the CRAO and proudly representing the New Hamburg Karate Club.

Visit from Kyoshi Ferri:
On Thursday, December 5th we were very honoured to have had a very special guest attend our classes. Sensei (Kyoshi) R. Ferri is a 7th Degree Black Belt who has been training and instructing karate for over 45 years. He is the 2nd highest Chito Ryu Instructor in Canada, next to Sensei Higashi. Thank you to all the students that participated and made him feel welcome.

Upcoming Events:

Tournaments

Ontario Karate Challenge
The new year signifies the start of our tournament season. The first tournament "Ontario Karate Challenge" will take place on Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 at Brantford Collegiate Institute in Brantford. Participants compete in their own age and rank categories in kata, weapons and/or kumite. We will be reviewing tournament rules and practicing with competitors leading up to the tournament. Registration information is posted at the back of the dojo. Registration deadline is Thursday, February 6th.

Chito Ryu Association of Ontario Spring Tournament
April/May 2020, more information to follow.

Reminder:
Spirit wear T-shirts can be worn in class, instead of your Gi jackets, on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Also during the summer session, any classes that are held outside, students will also have the option to wear their T-shirts.

Dates to remember:

January 12 - Yudansha Clinic (Brown and Black belt classes)
February 2 - Yudansha Clinic (Brown and Black belt classes)
February 17 - No class (Family Day holiday)
February 22 - Ontario Karate Challenge Tournament (Brantford)
February 24 and 27 - Grading Little Samurai and Senior Kids’ classes
March 1 - - Yudansha Clinic (Brown and Black belt classes)
March 16 and 19 - No classes (March Break)
April/May - Chito Ryu Association of Ontario Provincial Tournament

KansouThe monthly Kansou, or "thought for contemplation", is brought to us courtesy of Sempai Burnside. Please check out our website each month for sempai's most recent thought.

October 2019

10/18/2019

Dear members,

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all the new members that have joined in the last few months. I wanted to update you on some events and activities that will be happening this coming fall and into the new year.

Upcoming Events:

Higashi Sensei Clinics and National AGM:
The Canadian Chito Ryu Association will be holding its annual general meeting the first weekend in November. Sensei Shane Higashi is a 10th degree black belt and the head of our Chito Ryu style. He will also be holding a number of free clinics during the weekend. This is a great opportunity to meet and train with Higashi Sensei and some of the most senior black belt instructors from across Canada. More information regarding specific times and locations will be sent out shortly. Let me know if you have any questions.

Friday Nov 1, 2019: Black Belt Clinic - early afternoon (Higashi Dojo - 89 Curlew Dr, Toronto, ON M3A 2P8)
Saturday Nov 2: AGM - Morning meeting at the hotel
Saturday Nov 2, 2019: Free open clinic. Early afternoon at the hotel
Sunday, Nov 3, 2019: Free clinic at the hotel. Black belt (early morning) Kyu (coloured) belts (mid morning)
Toronto Don Valley Hotel, 175 Wynford Dr, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J3

Provincial Chito Ryu Annual General Meeting:
When: Sunday, November 17, 12:30pm – 3:00pm
Where: 89 Curlew Dr., North York, ON M3A, Canada
Description: 2019 CRAO Annual General Meeting

This meeting is open to all CRAO members/students. The purpose of this annual meeting is to discuss past, present and future business ventures of the CRAO and to vote on the Executive Committee positions as applicable.

Tournaments

Ontario Karate Challenge (Brantford)
The first tournament "Ontario Karate Challenge” of the new year will take place in Brantford, on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Participants compete in their own age and rank categories in kata, weapons and/or kumite. Registration information will be posted at the back of the dojo starting in January.

Ontario Chito Ryu Association of Ontario Spring Tournament
Each year the Chito Ryu Association of Ontario, which represents our karate style, hosts a provincial tournament. This tournament is a great opportunity for students to meet and compete with other students from our own style across Ontario. The tournament is usually a smaller setting and provides a great atmosphere and opportunity for students that are competing, especially for the first time. More information to follow.

New Hamburg Karate Club T-shirts, Hoodies, Gym Bags and Jackets
Back by popular demand, we have had requests from both parents and students to order club T-shirts, jackets, hoodies and gym bags. They are great for wearing at home, at tournaments, outdoors and when traveling to and from classes. This year we have gym bags again with the club logo and your name on it (Not Chuck Norris’s)

Prices are as follows:
T-shirts = $20, Jackets = $75 (youth) $80 (adult), Hoodies = $65 , Equipment/Gym bags (Extra $10 for the addition of your name) = $74 ($84).

We will be having special classes where you can wear your short sleeve T-shirt in class. You will be able to wear your short sleeve T-shirt on the 3rd Thursday of the month and any classes that are held outside.

The ordering deadline will be Monday, November 4th. Please submit your order and payments by that day. The order form and sample T-shirts, hoodies, gym bags and jacket sizes will be available at the back of class. I would again like to thank both Paul Arsenault, for creating the clothing designs, and Chad Spaulding for organizing sales.

Karate Photo Day
We will be taking pictures on December 12th. Please save the date on your calendar as there may not be an opportunity for retakes. Students have the option of purchasing various individual, group and/or class class shots. Order form and sign up list will be sent out shortly. Let me know if you have any questions.

Winter session Karate Registration
The winter session will begin on Thursday, December 5th. Returning students are given first opportunity to register for subsequent sessions. We currently have a waiting list for new students entering both the Little Samurai and Senior Kids' classes. In order to assist with the registration process, we are asking returning students to sign up for the winter session by Thursday, November 4th in order to reserve a spot. Registrations received after this date will be placed on a waiting list, which will be dependent on class size. To register, please respond to this e-mail or or sign the list in class at the back of the dojo. Note: Returning students are not required to complete another registration/waiver form. Session fees will be due the first day of the winter session class. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Sensei.

Dates to remember:
Oct 21 - No Class (Federal Elections)
Nov. 1-3 - Higashi Sensei Clinics and National AGM
Nov. 17 - Provincial AGM
Nov. 25 and 28 - Grading of Little Samurai and Senior Kids' classes
Dec. 12 - photo day
Dec. 23, 26, and Dec 30 - No Class (Happy Holidays)
Feb. 15 - Family Day - No Class
Feb. 22, 2020 - Ontario Karate Challenge Tournament (Brantford)

Kansou
The monthly Kansou, or "thought for contemplation", is brought to us courtesy of Sempai Burnside. Please check out our website each month for Sempai's most recent inspirational thought.

July 2019

7/4/2019

Hello,
I hope all of you are having a great summer and enjoying the warm weather. Before we get too far along into the summer, I wanted to take the time to update everyone on the activities and events that have happened, are happening and are going to happen shortly. Have a very safe and happy summer!

Fall Session Registration
Fall session starts on Thursday, September 5th. The fall session tends to be a very busy time with new registrations and returning students. Returning students will be given first opportunity to register for the fall session. Registrations received after this date will be placed on a waiting list, depending on class size. In order to better manage class enrolment and sizes we would like to ask all returning students to respond to this e-mail or sign the sheet at the back of class to confirm your registration prior to Monday, July 15th.
Please note: If you have previously completed an enrolment/registration form, you do not need to complete it again. Registration fees can be paid on the first day of class. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Black Belt Grading
On Saturday, June 1st there was a Yudansha (Black Belt) grading in Toronto. On behalf of all the members of the New Hamburg Karate Club, I would like to congratulate Amber Dahmer for all her diligence, determination and hard work in successfully grading to the rank of Shodan (First Degree Black Belt). Thank you to Amber for all her dedication and commitment to our Dojo, and in striving to constantly improve herself both as a student and teacher. Well done!

Tournament

Canadian Chito Ryu Association Bogu Cup (Gatineau, Quebec)

This past weekend the Canadian Chito Ryu Association hosted the International Bogu Cup tournament in Quebec. This tournament is held every two years. It’s a fun-filled weekend which also includes many different activities such as social events, clinics and a banquet. We had two students representing our dojo, Jaxson and Jorja Furey.

Results were as follows:

Jaxson - Bronze Kumite and Bronze Kata
Jorja - Bronze Kumite and Bronze Kata

Congratulations to both of you for all your success and all the hard work, commitment and training you put into preparing for the tournament. Great work!

Summer Session and Weapons Classes

Just another reminder that we will be holding some classes outside on the “nice” days. Please bring along your running shoes and socks to classes during the summer session.

For students in the Senior Kids class and adult class, we will be starting back up with our weapons training. Students are required to have a Bo staff for these classes (I will be bringing along a few extras for those who forget). These can be purchased at most stores where lumber is sold.

What to ask for at the store:
-Straight hard wood dowelling (without too much of a warp in it)
-Width: 1 1/4 inch
-Length: The length of the student’s arms and chest (finger tip to finger tip). I would recommend adding another inch or two if you are still growing, so you don’t outgrow it by the end of the summer.

Please let Sensei know if you have any questions.

Upcoming Dates:

August 5 and 8 - Club closed for the week - no classes
August 22 and 26 - Grading (kids' classes)
September 2, Labour day - no class

Take care,
Sensei

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