KARATE ONTARIO HISTORY

EVOLUTION

By Charles Rhodes, P. Eng., Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this web page is to summarize major evolutionary events in the history of karate in Ontario.

At this time we are seeking reliable historical documentary data. The data should relate to people, tournaments, tournament results, officiating, coaching or Karate Ontario governance. Photographs of prominent individuals would be helpful.

Please email data to CSLRhodes@gmail.com or letter mail or courier documents to:
Charles Rhodes
20190 Kennedy Road,
Sharon, Ontario
Canada
L0G 1V0

Telephone: 905 473 1704
 

MAJOR EVOLUTIONARY EVENTS
1957 - Masami Tsuruoka teaches karate in Mac's Gym

1958 - Masami Tsuruoka opens dojo over Lakeside Bowling Alley in Queen Street / Lansdowne area of Toronto

1962 - commencement of Canadian Open Karate Championship in Toronto

1962 - 1st camp Kamikaze (A one week karate summer camp in Coboconk, Ontario on property owned by Gaylord Lindal)

1962 - Masami Tsuruoka starts teaching karate at the University of Toronto

1963 - 2nd Canadian Open Karate Championship at Varsity Stadium, Toronto

1964 - Formation of National Karate Association (NKA) - President Masami Tsuruoka, Vice President - Ned Paige, Vice President - Shane Higashi, Sec. Treas. John T. Matsumoto

December 1964 to January 1965 - Tsuruoka Hq. Club (and hence NKA) moves from Queen Street to a 3rd floor walk up location on west side of Yonge Street south of the TTC station at SW corner of Yonge St. & Bloor St., above the Golden Nugget tavern. There was a dance studio on the 2nd floor. There was a narrow steep stairwell between the floors. The only windows were at the extreme west end in the men's change room and at the extreme east end overlooking Yonge Street. The floor wis linoleum tile which became a sweat covered skating rink in the summer.

1965 1st Canadian National Exhibition Karate Championships

1966 - Monty Guest became head instructor at fist Tsuruoka branch dojo in Toronto

1967 - Visit of Grand Master Tsuyoshi Chitose to Canada along with Yamamoto Mamoru

1967 - 1st Canadian Amateur Athletic Union (CAAU) inter-university karate championship won by University of Toronto with team captain Frank Foulkes

March 1, 1969. Charles Rhodes and Ron Tkacz enroll in Tsuruoka Hq. club on the same day. Ron Tkacz was to play a key role as a long time director of Karate Ontario.

Male adult classes were 1.5 hours, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM Monday to Friday, 2 hours on Sunday mornings.

Spring 1969, Ogawa, Yasunori Ono, Kenzo Dozono and Seunori Tominaga arrive from Japan. ~ May 1969 Ogawa wins at Montreal tournament, later marries a female club member and returns to Japan; In August Ono wins CNE Championship, Dozono forms club in Belleville, Tominaga takes over University of Toronto Club in Hart House (males only as per Massey will). There is another U. of T. karate club catering to females in the Benson Building.

Fall 1969 - Ono severely injures Dave Harrison

December 1969 to January 1970 - Tsuruoka Hq. Club (& hence NKA) moves to 2nd floor walk up location at 328 Dupont Street, Toronto, above a car repair shop, on the north side of Dupont just west of Spadina Road. The floor was varnished hardwood but the workout area was too small for the size of the club. The women changed in sensei's office and shared the same shower facility as the men, although they had a separate access door and a five minute lead time.

1970 - World Union of Karate Organizations (WUKO) formed. NKA sent Kumite team to Tokyo. Mr. John Carnio from Toronto won a silver medal.

Summer 1970 - Ono breaks leg of Gaylord Lindal

Ono no longer welcome in Tsuruoka dojo

1971 - 2nd WUKO World Championships in Paris, France. A deep division occurred over bias in the officiating which led to formation of another organization named International Amateur Karate-do Federation (IAKF).

For many subsequent years the NKA sent competitors to both WUKO and IAKF world championships.

Approximately 1972 - Ron Tkacz became involved in tournament promotion and brought to bear printing facilities that he had access to at the Tooronto Star. That facility was to benefit Karate Ontario for more than 30 years.

November 16, 1973 1st Pan-American Karate Union tournamentin Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pan-American Karate Union is formed. Masami Tsuruoka was elected 1st Vice President, Executive Director was Hidetaka Nishiyama.

1974 - Karate Ontario Association formed as government recognized provincial sports association responsible for governing all styles of karate-do in the Province of Ontario, successor to Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). Doreen Davies is elected 1st president of Karate Ontario. Karate Ontario becomes a subgroup within NKA.

December 1974 to January 1975 - Tsuruoka Hq. (& hence NKA) move to 2nd floor walk up location on south side of Davenport Road just east of Avenue Road. There was a high end car dealership on the ground floor. This dojo had a large hardwood workout floor plus an adjacent matted area. The two areas were separated by a row of steel I beam columns.

Spring 1976 - University of Toronto karate team, still under the guidance of Masami Tsuruoka, wins Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union five man team competition, team anchor was Charles Rhodes

Approximately 1976 Kei Tsuruoka retires from daily dojo management. This issue was important because collecting money is a key aspect of daily dojo operation.

1979 - Masami Tsuruoka forms a Tsuruoka organization separate from the Canadian Chito-ryu Karate Associaion, which became headed by Shane Higashi

1979 - Tsuruoka dojo location is committed by its owners for for condominium redevelopment. Gerhard Moog, principal owner of Canada Square (a realestate development firm that built Ontario Hydro head office at 700 University Avenue, and office developments at 2180 Yonge Street and 2200 Yonge Street on SW corner of Yonge & Eglinton) builds a new dojo for sensei Tsuruoka in basement of 2180 Yonge Street in space that was deemed otherwise commercially unusable. Amongst Canada Square personnel this project was known as "Gerry's Folly" because it wound up costing over $700,000. The workout area was divided in two parts by angled beams that made cross wise movement difficult. A controversial legal provision in the Moog will limiting possible future uses of the dojo space would later impact the Tsuruoka oganization and hence to some extent Karate Ontario.

Mid 1990s Board of directors of Karate Ontario includes Jon Juffs, Joel Shaw, Ron Tkacz. There was a legal dispute between KOA and Zvonko Celebija. Zvonko Celebija awarded legal costs which left KOA almost financially insolvent. Much of the Board of KOA resigns. Malcolm Fisher saves the day with a financial donation to KOA of $10,000. Zvonko Celebija was accused of being a criminal for arranging supply of fire arms to Croats in Yugoslavia. Then NATO, including Canada, spends $15 billion defeating the same enemy giving Zvonko a moral victory.

1994 ISK Dojo opens with original principals Ron Tkacz, Carmen ____, Kim Dunn. Ron Tkacz takes over interests of the other two principals. ISK dojo becomes preferred venue for KOA directors meetings and for referee clinics.

Government funding for non-olympic sports ceases. To save money all KOA Grand Prix tournaments are run in GTA and on Sundays. Tournaments are huge (~ 600 competitors) and on occasion run from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM leaving tournament officials exhausted. KOA (Zvonko Celebija, Bill Carr, Sam Moledzki, Suenori Tominaga, Alex Waith and others) implement an offical training program. Malcolm Fisher often particpates.

WKF rules and point scoring significantly change to encourage more use of high kicks. Then WKF rules further change to use red and blue gloves, red and blue belts, etc. to make it easier for tournament officials and spectators to distinguish fast action between competitors. WkF rules further change to give more responsiblity to kumite judges and reduce absolute control of referee. In new system referee needs support of one judge before awardeing points or penalties.

In KOA the first round administration of non-points matches is simplified to reduce time related to compliance with draw sheets. Various other tournament organizational steps are introduced such as running kata and then kumite back to back amongst same group in same ring to speed up tournaments.

KOA commences usee of internet for keeping KOA members up to date regarding KOA activites.

1999 - Sam Moledzki is elected president of KOA. Norm Gillies is treasurer. Mark Pridham is a director. Together they bring order to KOA administration and finances. Charles Rhodes, then an appointed KOA director, advises KOA Board of first indications that liability insurance for karate would become a major issue after a court damage award for a major martial arts related injury triggers increases in the insurance rates, reduces insurance availability and leaves dojo heads responsible for negligence. Initial attempt at KOA website fails because KOA Board wants to micro-manage the web site, which is impractical.

Humber College becomes preferred venue for KOA tournaments.

June 10, 2001 - Elected KOA Board consists of Sam Moledzki - president, Sebastian Pirrone - 1st VP, Mark Pridham - 2nd Vp, Norm Gillies - treasurer; Directors: Karl Sutton, Antonio Terra, Dave Lucchetta, _______, ______.

Karl Sutton takes over as KOA web master but there is little or no website management continuity after Karl leaves that position. There is lack of KOA board appreciation as to the amount of work necessary to operate the KOA web site. Karate Ontario eventually loses its original domain name karateontario.org and adopts the new domain name karate-ontario.com.

2002 Five KOA officials given awards for over 20 years of officiating at KOA events: Sam Moledzki, Alex Waith, Emilio Franch, Suenori Tominaga and Bill Carr.

Jan - April 2003 (and earlier) Sam Moledzki is president of KOA

2003 Sebastian Pirrone elected president of KOA. Norm Gillies remains on KOA Board for executive continuity

August 10, 2003 - KOA bBoard consists of: Mr. Sebastian Pirrone, Mr. Norm Gillies, Ms. Kirsty Armit, Mr. Antonio Terra, Mr. Mark Pridham, Mr. Hui Nguyen, Mr. Earl Robertson, Tim Kett, Dragan Kljenak, Sri Rangan

June 20, 2004 - KOA board consists of Mr. Sebastian Pirrone, Mr. Norm Gillies, Ms. Kirsty Armit, Mr. Antonio Terra, Mr. Mark Pridham, Mr. Earl Robertson, Mr. Dragan Kljenak & Sri Rangan.

2004 - Ron Tkacz dies. KOA switches from printed communications to members previously provided by Ron Tkacz to use of KOA web site for communication to member clubs. This methodology reduced printing and mailing costs.

March 20, 2005 - KOA Board consists of: Mr. Sebastian Pirrone, Ms. Kirsty Armit, Mr. Antonio Terra, Mr. Sri Rangnan, Mr. Mark Pridham, Mr. Norm Gillies, Mr. Dragan Kljenak, Hui Nguyen, Tim Kett

2005 Sebastian Pirrone also becomes president of NKA.

April 23, 2006 - KOA board consists of: Mr. Sebastian Pirrone, Mr. Dragan Kljenak, Mr. Sean Wong, Mr. Josh Drury, Mr. Doug Meagher, Ms. Korina Ossetchkina, Ms. Jelena Miljkovic, Mr. Sriram Rangan, Mr. Norm Gilles, Mr. Paul De Francesca

2006 Masami Tsuruoka presented 10th dan (Judan) "Founder's Rank" by National Karate Association (Karate Canada).
 

March 24, 2007 - KOA board members consist of: Mr. Sebastian Pirrone, Mr. Dragan Kljenak, Mr. Sean Wong, Ms. Korina Ossetchkina, Mr. Norm Gillies, Mr. Josh Drury, Mr. Doug Meagher, Ms. Jelena Miljkovic, Mr. Sriram Rangan, Mr. Paul DeFrancesca

WKF rules change again to eliminate the menai (could not see) judges flag signal.

2007 - 2009 - Norm Gillies is president of NKA

2007 Dragan Kljenak elected president of KOA

2009 KOA President: Dragan Kljenak, Vice President: Craig Vokey, Secretary: Joshua Drury, Treasurer: Jim Hayes, Tournament and Membership Director: Miro Pusic, Athlete’s Representative (Director): Roman Saltikov
Directors (non-voting): Patricia Wollesen, Joy Ang, Mark Pridham, Kristina Brandy, Audrey Chung

KOA executive terms extended from two to three years. KOA board meetings no longer advertised and open to membership. Poor record of KOA minutes. KOA employs a part time paid administrator which reduces work load on KOA officers and directors. A major success of the Dragan Kljenak administration was forcing member clubs to enroll their entire membership in KOA in order to get liability insurance through KOA. This issue to some extent improved KOA finances.

Magna Centre opens in Newmarket and becomes a venue for KOA tournaments.

2010 Dragan Kljenak re-elected as president of KOA

NKA renamed Karate Canada

November 16, 2013 - Long time senior KOA official Bill Carr dies.

2013 Dragan Kljenak re-elected as president of KOA for a three year term and then November 29, 2013 elected president of Karate Canada

October 10, 2014 O-Sensei Masami Tsuruoka dies.

2016, S. Tominaga dies

January 1, 2017 Karate Ontario replaced by Ontario Karate Federation as the sport governing body for karate in Ontario. Brad Jone is interim president.

TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS:
Tournaments rely on an adequate supply of suitably trained officials (referees and kata judges). Official training is an ongoing cost born by Karate Ontario and the tournament officials themselves. To maintain the quality of the officials, especially in multi-style kata competitions and high level kumite competitions, it is essential for Karate Ontario to recover monies from sponsors of non-karate Ontario tournaments that rely on use of Karate Ontario trained officials.
 

KARATE ONTARIO TOURNAMENTS:
Usually four Grand Prix tournaments per annum are used to determine the composition of the Ontario team going to the annual national competition. Elite competitors must participate in at least three of these tournaments to earn points towards a placement on the KOA team for national competition. Originally there were more tournaments but ~ 1995 the KOA officials found that the impact on their personal lives of these extra tournaments in addition to other tournaments and referee clinics, KOA board meetings, etc. was simply too much. This issue was aggravated because for several years, due to financial pressures at Karate Ontario, there was no honorarium or meal, transportation and accommodation money for tournament officials.
 

KUBOTA CUP TOURNAMENTS
An annual tournament, usually in late June, organized by Okuyama's group, which usually relied on KOA officials.
 

SAM MOLEDZKI'S TOURNAMENT
An annual tournament, usually in late April, organized by Sam Moledzki's group which usually relied on KOA officials
 

OTHER MAJOR TOURNAMENTS
From time to time the Chito-ryu and Tsuruoka organizations held their own major tournaments, which often relied on KOA trained officials.
 

STYLES:
Karate Ontario recognized five styles (Shotkan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Wado-ryu and Chito-ryu). However, because Chito-ryu is not recognized in world competition a Chito-ryu competitor could win in Ontario but had to perform kata from one of the four major styles at national and world competition.
 

CONSTITUTION:
The Karate Ontario constitution evolved over time with the last major changes in 2007. C. Rhodes was a leading member of the Karate Ontario Constitution Committee up to that date.
 

WEB SITE:
The Karate Ontario domain name karateontario.org was registered some time in the early 1990s but otherwise unused until about 1999. At that time the KOA Board attempted to micro manage the web site, which was an entirely unworkable arrangement. Even today more than a decade later there are major management problems relating to the KAO web site. For example, there are no recent minutes of meetings of the Board of Karate Ontario. The KAO board lost control of the domain name karateontario.org and replaced it with karate-ontario.com.
In January 2017 Karate Ontario was replaced by the Ontario Karate Federation as the sport governing body for karate in Ontario. www.onkarate.org
 

INTERNATIONAL SPORT KARATE HIERARCHY:
For karate competition, competition rule making and official qualification the hierarchy is:
World body is WKF (World Karate Federation)
Regional body is PKF (Pan-American Karate Federation)
National body is Karate Canada (previously NKA (National Karate Association))
Provincial body wass Karate Association of Ontario (KAO) also known as Karate Ontario (KO).
Commencing January 2017 the provincial body is the Ontario Karate Federation (OKF)
 

COMPETITION REGULATION ISSUES:
Highly experienced competitors such as Malcolm Fisher dispute some of the WKF rules and regulations. An issue of great significance is the surface for kata performance. Traditional kata involving high speed turns cannot be safely executed on the high friction foam rubber mats used for kumite competition. This is an unresolved issue due to current use of matted surfaces for national level kata competition.

In the Pan-American competition held in Mississauga, Ontario in 2015 a limited amount of video playback was used to contest official scoring in high level kumite matches. The slow motion video playback revealed a large fraction of scoring errors by officials, indicating that slow motion video playback will likely become even more important in future major karate kumite competitions.
 

This web page last updated January 27, 2017.