ZANSHIN THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE YOSHUKAN ASSOCIATION Spring 2017

Two Yoshukan Karate Association Camps this Summer!

The Yoshukan Karate Association is pleased to sponsor will cover senior material in: ; ; and Kobudo. two Yoshukan camps the summer of 2017. There will be Flyer is attached in this issue and registration can be done a YOSHUKAN TEEN CAMP organized by Sempai Max directly with Sensei Provencher at: [email protected] Krouguerski from June 29-July 3, 2017 in Grafton, Ontario (Kancho Robertson farm). This camp is open to any Yoshukan student between the ages of 12-17 and of any rank. Students KANCHO CORNER must be accompanied by their instructor. The camp itinerary will provide our Yoshukan Students with training from Kancho Robertson, Sempai Krouguerski; Sempai Renée Robertson What Does it all Mean? and Sempai Jake Robertson. NO ELECTRONICS ALLOWED! I recently celebrated my 60th birthday Flyer for the camp is in this issue of ZANSHIN and registration and did the usual reflection on my life and should be done with Sempai Krouguerski at: mkrougu@ what lessons I have learned along the sympatico.ca way. When I speak with younger people, I There will also be our annual YOSHUKAN BROWN/ always remind them that it seems like just BLACK BELT CAMP, hosted by Sensei Louise Provencher in yesterday that I was 25 and to live every Montreal (GADBOIS DOJO) and taught by Kancho Robertson minute along the way. from August 18-20, 2017. Sensei Devorah Dometrich With close to 50 years in , will also be attending and teaching Kobudo. There will be I have had the privilege to train with many Black Belt examinations on Friday, August 18 from 1-4 and outstanding teachers and, unfortunately, potentially Kobudo Examinations for eligible students on two of them passed away recently. Kaicho Mamoru Yamamoto, Sunday, August 20 from 9-11. Camp is open to any Yoshukan Founder of the Yoshukai Karate Association and teacher of Brown or Black Belt (or Blue with instructor’s invitation) and Kancho Mike Foster and Sensei Fern Cleroux, Canadian Karate icon. When teachers of this standard pass, you immediately reflect on their lives and what they have accomplished. IN THIS ISSUE The lesson that screams at me is that these titans lived every moment. They took risks, competed, traveled and met every battle head on. While they came from different countries, cultures 2 Gadbois Dojo and backgrounds, they shared a common trait…courage. They 4 Yoshukan Tournament 2016 both touched thousands of students over the course of their lives Yoshukan Tournament & ADAMA Recognition! and left an indelible mark on everyone they met. 5 Hochelaga Yoshukan Dojo While we could list the championships they won or the ranks they possessed, these are minor accomplishments in face of NDG Dojo 6 how may lives they interacted with and improved through their 7 YKS Mississauga examples. So, when I reflect on ‘What does is all mean’….I think of these two world-class teachers and realize they had the 8 Karaté Excellence in Montreal answer. Courage, risk, strength of character (earned through the 9 Yoshukan Quebec does Online Training with Kancho! crucible of budo training) and gentleness of heart with those less 10 Camp d’été 2017 Summer Camp strong. What an inspiration they were…and will continue to be after Yoshukan Teen Summer Camp 11 their passing. Our job is to learn from their example and apply the 12 Kata:Ryusan same courage to paths we choose for ourselves. Gadbois Dojo

Event Grading for Gadbois students. Thanks to Maryève, Milad and Mattheus for passing down the Yoshukan techniques and philosophy!

Gadbois Dojo has new mats! Thanks to Joel, Murphy, Look who came to visit and train with us at Gadbois... our Toufik and Samy for all your help in putting these in place! young, intelligent and vibrant Sarah Perez.

ZANSHIN 2 Event World championships... our first World Champion in Para Karate October 2016!... visited our club in December... Member of Karate Ontario and ADAMA.

Group Testing Sensei Rob looking over the karatekas ... all of this November and beginning December 2016

Patrice who has been practicing with the ASM for the last 8 years has not only won his division, but also the Open National Championships in February, 2017. Milad and kumite category this year. Samy competed at National Championships! Watch out for Samy who’s only 12 years old... he lost by 2 points to the Canadian Champion (who is 1’ taller and has a 15kg weight advantage)!

ZANSHIN 3 Yoshukan Tournament 2016

At event Yoshukan Tournament Nov. 19th 2016, YOSHUKAN ST-LAURENT DOJO attended … Sempai Henry refereed while Sensei Charles coached! Very proud to have most of our Karate seniors coach or referees: Sensei Rob, Sensei Charles, Sensei Alain & Sempai Sandra, Sempai Mattheus, Sempai Miki, Sempai Milad, and Sempai Maryève

Yoshukan Tournament & ADAMA Recognition!

Yoshukan Tournament November 19th 2016... All Yoshukan clubs were present and several other invited dojos attended as well... We also included a para karate division – Autistic individuals and physically limited participants performed kata. An example of perseverance and that anything is possible if you try. Sensei Louise with Sempai André and Sensei Mohamed have formed a teaching comittee for karate instrutors who teach to participants with special needs. Louise was recognized by the Sports Minister in 2014 as Sylvie Mercier submitted her candidacy. Louise in turn submitted Mohamed’s candidacy in 2016 and he was awarded the pretigious award for his highly valuable contribution as a volunteer in the Montreal sports community.

Kids waiting for instructions to begin the tournament (ADAMA Aimé Compé).

ZANSHIN 4 Hochelaga Yoshukan Dojo

Coupe Mark Hamon October 10th 2016 in Montreal. Yoshukan is very proud of Fatima from HOCHELAGA YOSHUKAN DOJO! who won Gold in Kumite and Silver in Kata. Well done Sempai Mattheus! Also proud of Marek Champion in Kumite and 2nd out of 15 competitors in Kata. Plus, Zoya also performed well at Open... check out how we can butt and win too! Many thanks to Yoshukan teachers as well: Maryève, Milad, Mattheus and kumite teachers Ridha, Guy, Patrice and Louise.

Continued on Page 7

ZANSHIN 5 NDG Dojo Jeux de CDN/NDG

Eternele also competed in kumite for under 10 (not an Our competiors Eternele Guerin-Girard, Noam Lefebvre and official category for this competition) and showed some Louis Abecassis competed in team Kata and won 2nd place. fierce skills. Here she is showing off her winner’s attitude! (pictured in order) Eternele placed first in kata and Circuit, Our three competitors will move on to compete at the Noam placed First in Kata and third in Circuit and Louis Jeux de Montreal April 1 representing the borough of Cote placed first in Kata and 2nd in Circuit. des Neiges/NDG and Yoshukan!

Sensei Malcolm Mazumdar – 70 Years Young Receives his Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt)

NDG Chief Instructor, Sensei Robert Kalinowicz, Sensei Sensei Provencher awarding Sensei Mazumdar his Sandan Provencher, Sensei Charles Mayer and NDG Students with certificate on behalf of Kancho Robertson Sensei Mazumdar

ZANSHIN 6 YKS Mississauga

This past year saw a surge in membership at YKS and this was evident at our December party. Juniors and advanced students joined together with games, contests and presentations; everyone showed their best and had a great time! Calvin Zheng was awarded the Student of the Year, a tribute to his determination and evolution in 2016, and especially his outstanding blue belt test!

Calvin testing for Blue Belt

Christmas party at YKS

Great kata Luisa

The program at YKS is led by Sensei Max Krouguerski. This year Peter Klambauer successfully attained his first kyu grading, as Max did his third dan. Training is overseen by Kyoshi Goyo Ohmi, of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu

AJ and Krystian

ZANSHIN 7 Karaté Excellence in Montreal

Last Fall (November 2016) 22 of my students attended the A few of my students attended the annual multi-dojo annual Quebec Yoshukan Tournament organized by Sensei Yoshukan belt test held at Centre Gadbois and all that attended Louise. (Photo 1) For the first time we had an adult category did very well. These photos include some of the new belt and several of the women got their first ever tournament recipients. (Photos 5-6) A test held on February 25th for white experience (Photo2). and yellow belts was also successful and appreciated by We also went to the Jeux de Montréal qualification on students and parents alike! (Photo 7) December 10th and Jeux du Sud Ouest on February 4th (also Sensei Louise visited and taught at the dojo several times organised by Sensei Louise) with a smaller group. Students and her sessions are always appreciated by the students :) and parents alike enjoyed both experiences. (Photos 3-4). (Photo 8)

ZANSHIN 8 Sensei Provencher and Sempai Mercier teaching applications at Sempai Sandra Coffey’s Karate Excellence Dojo on January 27th.

Yoshukan Quebec does Online Training with Kancho!

Sensei Provencher states: “Nothing will stop us from training with our Founder & Leader of Yoshukan Karate, Kancho Earl Robertson

ZANSHIN 9 CAMP D’ÉTÉ 2017 2017 Summer CAMP

Gadbois Gadbois

20 août 20 August 18 - 19 18 - - 19 - 20 GADBOIS

VENDREDI 18 août BBB FRIDAY August 18th 13h-16h Examen ceintures noires – Exam Black Belts 1 to 4pm

KATA Kancho 18h -20h - KATA Kancho 6-8 pm Bienvenue ceinture Bleue, Brune & Noire - Welcome Blue, Brown & Black Belts

SAMEDI 19 août – SATURDAY August 19th 9h–11h30 – 9am 11:30 Kancho Bunkai - Dometrich Kobudo

Midi - Noon Ventes & achats – Market – Buy & Sell Network Round Robin - Ateliers 13h - 15h – 1pm - 3pm Bakomihalis-Violoni-Donahue-Kalinowicz-Provencher

18h-23h – 6pm – 11pm BBQ Louise & Joël BBQ

DIMANCHE 20 AOÛT BBB SUNDAY August 20th 9h – 11h Kancho Bunkai – Dometrich Kobudo 9am to 11am 11h 30 Départ – 11 :30 Goodbyes

FRAIS DE PARTICIPATION AU SÉMINAIRE Centre Récréatif Gadbois PARTICIPATION FEE FOR SEMINARE 5485 Chemin de la Côte-St-Paul $100 - 3 Days including BBQ / 100$ - 3 jours avec BBQ Montréal, QC H4C 1X3, Canada Extra $25 for non member – Extra 25$ pour non membre (514) 872-2786 $60 any one Day – 60$ un jour au choix http://www.academiesportivemontreal.ca/ Mappe Google Map Communiquez avec Renshi Provencher (514) 935-8592 information additionnelle – Additional information

ZANSHIN 10 Yoshukan Teen Summer Camp June 29th – July 3rd

Young adults (12 – 17 yrs old) of Yoshukan Karate Association are invited to attend a first time ever, 4-day (Thursday Afternoon to Monday Afternoon), Yoshukan Karate-do training camp at the Kancho Robertson farm in Grafton, ON.

Please join us for this outdoor event filled with a lot of activities. Some of the highlights: • Learn directly from Kancho Robertson, 7th degree black belt and founder of Yoshukan Karate Association* • More than 4 hours of karate every day • Kumite, kata, bunkai, heavy bag work, weapons and self- defence classes • Fascinating evening stories by the fire pit • No electronic devices

(*) All camp activities will be run by Yoshukan instructors, some of the classes will be taught by Kancho Robertson. We also will have a special kata class with Renée Robertson (2nd degree black belt, Junior PanAm Games medalist) and Jake Robertson will teach how to properly work with a heavy bag.

Camp FEE that covers RSVP to camp organizer, sempai Max accommodation, nd Krouguerski (2 degree black belt) food, training and [email protected], (647) 226-7240 transportation - only $99 per person!!!

ZANSHIN 11 Yoshukan DVDs – White Belt to 5th Dan All kata; Bunkai; Kumite; Ukemi; Kobudo and Gosin Jutsu ZANSHIN demonstrated by Kancho Robertson and Yoshukan Instructors. DVDs show complete system from White Belt to 6th Dan Black 436 Eddystone Road Belt levels in the Yoshukan System. Grafton, ON K0K 2G0 $25 Each or $45 for 2 or $60 for all three. Please add $15 Phone: 905.601.2880 for shipping & handling charges. Payments can be made Email: [email protected] by credit card or check made out to: Yoshukan Inc. Website: www.yoshukankarate.com

ZANSHIN 12