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Sensei Darren Humphries – Godan (5th Dan/Degree Black Belt)

In 1986 Sensei Darren started Shintani Wado Kai Karate in Carlyle, Saskatchewan under the instruction of Sensei Rathe Mokelky (Rokudan - 6th Dan). Since 1986, Sensei Darren has been an active member in the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF). He sits on several SWKKF committees including the Tournament Committee and Grading Committee. Sensei Darren has been a three time member of the Shintani National Team (1996-1997, 1997-1998 and 2002-2004). He also holds the rank of Sandan (3rd Dan) in Shindo (art of the 3 foot staff) and actively promotes it across Western Canada. To gain additional martial arts experience, Darren started training in Korean Hapkido in 1993. In 1997, he received his 1st degree black belt in Hapkido. Sensei Darren also attends and teaches seminars across North America.

Sensei Sandro Reffo – Yodan (4th Dan/Degree Black Belt)
Sensei Sandro started karate in 1988 at the age of 24 at the University of Calgary club run by Sensei's Dudley and Pam Driscoll. He attained the rank of blue belt before heading west to Vancouver where he studied under Sensei Blaine Beemer -Rokudan (6thDan) , and whom he continues to study under as well as with Sensei Darren Humphries. Sensei Sandro attained his Yodan grading in 2007. Through the course of his job Sensei Sandro travelled extensively throughout the United States and studied several styles, Kenpo and GojoRyu in Delware, and attained a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do while in Texas. In California Sensei Sandro assisted with a Wado Club in San Diego run by Sensei Lin Henry. Today Sensei Sandro runs the Hokusei Wado Kai Karate Club in Arbour Lake based out of St Ambrose School on Wednesday nights, and assists with the Dynamic club on Fridays.

Sensei Paul Klein - Shodan (1st Dan/Degree Black Belt)
Sensei Paul began in Wado Kai Karate under Sensei Dudley Driscoll (Godan) and Sensei Pam Driscoll (Godan) in 1994 at the University of Calgary. Sensei Paul trained until 1999 and took a hiatus from karate as a blue belt. In 2005, Sensei Paul returned to karate, training at Calgary North Wado Kai Karate where he achieved his Shodan rank (first degree black belt) in May 2010. Sensei Paul instructed both the family and adult classes at the Calgary North Wado Kai club until November 2010. While preparing for his Shodan grading, Sensei Paul trained under Sensei Darren Humphries and has since joined Dynamic Karate as a permanent member. Sensei Paul has been an active member of the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation for the time he has been doing karate.

Wado Kai Karate

Wado is a Japanese karate style founded in 1939 by Hironori Otsuka, which combines the techniques and philosophies of shindo yoshinryu jujutsu and shotokan karate techntsuka. Wado translated means the "way of peace/harmony". Wado is one of the four major styles of karate in Japan and perhaps the purest form of karate-do (the way of the empty hands). Wado karate aims to not only train the physical body, but to also train the mind so students can react intuitively to various situations. Wado karateka (karate students) , develop physical expertise, inner strength, calmness of character, self-control, respect for others, and true humility. Wado techniques include: punching, kicking, blocking, striking with open hand, joint twisting, and trapping techniques. Wado students use kata (a sequence of techniques done in certain order against imaginary opponents), kihon kumite (prearranged sparring) and kumite (free style sparring) as tools to develop students. Kumite (free style sparring) is usually judged on a point system; one referee and four corner judges determine which techniques are given a point. In free sparring, there is no contact allowed to the head, below the waist except for foot sweeps, or to the spine; only light to medium contact is allowed to the torso. Attacks to the head and torso can all score points in a tournament; therefore, Wado karate-ka tend to fight with explosive, close movements with an emphasis on well-controlled techniques. Wado karate uses taisabaki (body shifting to avoid the full brunt of an attack) extensively in training exercises.

Shindo

Shindo is the art of the 3 foot staff. Shindo was developed in the early 1970's by Sensei Masuru Shintani. Sensei Shintani developed the Shindo over a 12 - 15 year period before introducing it to his students in the mid 1980's. Techniques in Shindo are extensions to the body and incorporate many of the principles taught in Wado Kai Karate. Typical techniques include: strikes, blocks, control holds and take downs.

Hapkido

Although the origin of Hapkido dates back centuries, Hapkido as it is known today did not exist until the 1940's. The term Hapkido is derived from the following Korean words: "Hap", meaning harmony, coordinating or coming together; "Ki" meaning life energy or force; "Do" meaning the path or way. In essence, Hapkido is "The way of power and coordination". Hapkido is a mixture of Aiki-Jujitsu, native Korean arts and new innovations; therefore Hapkido techniques consist of a variety of techniques from various martial arts. Typical Hapkido techniques include : strikes, kicks, blocks, holds, joint locks, chokes, throws, break falls, tumbling, ground fighting and weapons training.