Canadian Wado Ryu History
The history of the Canadian Wado-Ryu Karate Federation began in the western province of British Columbia.
Its “founding father”, Mr. Jim Hamilton, came to Canada from Scotland in 1971, where he was a member of UKKF since 1967. He was a ? Dan from Suzuki Tatsuo Sensei. At that time karate was relatively young in Canada as the other major styles were also spreading and developing throughout the country.
In 1977 Mr. Alex Waith, 6th Dan C.W.K.F. chief Instructor, received his formative training in Britain’s U.K.K.W. before emigrating to Toronto from Guyana where he was a founding member of The Guyanese Karate Federation.
He arrived in Canada with a 2nd Dan from Suzuki Tatsuo sensei and under his direction and request he established eastern Canadian Wado-Ryu at the University of Toronto.
In the same year, Mr.Graham Guthrie, also from England, started to teach Wado-Ryu in the central province of Saskatchewan. There were other, smaller, splinter groups teaching a form of Wado-Ryu in Canada at the time, however, it was not until the 1970s when internationally recognized Wado-Ryu Karate was truly established in Canada.
Mr. Hamilton unfortunately retired from karate in 19?? and Mr. Waith was appointed Chief Instructor of the Canadian Wado-Ryu Karate Federation. Mr. Waith is a former national referee and member of the National and Ontario Karate Association’s Technical Committees. He oversees the technical standard of all Wado groups applying to join these associations.
Since its birth the C.W.K.F. has had the pleasure of being visited yearly by Suzuki Sensei, Shiomitsu Sensei, Iwasaki Sensei and three times by Saiko Shihan Ohtsuka II.
The C.W.K.F. joined the Wado-Ryu Karate-do Academy in 1989 and has regular summer and winter courses conducted by Shiomitsu Sensei Hanshi. Canada is an immense country that takes several hours to traverse. Its size makes it very difficult for all Wadoka to meet and train regualrly. Our connecting link has been the dedication and commitment to teaching that Shiomitsu Sensei has given us by traveling from coast-to-coast in often times treacherously cold weather. We are very grateful.
Members of the Canadian Wado-Ryu Karate Federation have been successful in provincial and national karate competitions and have also participated in international Wado-Ryu Championships. As well, some members have had the opportunity to live in Japan and train at the Wado-Ryu Karate do Honbu as well as other affiliate dojos.
The Canadian Wado-Ryu Karate Federation is a growing organization that has sought to maintain the highest standard of teaching and excellence.