October 15th, 2016 was a very special day for Karate in Manitoba.  Earlier this year, Shihan Yutaka Yaguchi, 9th Dan ISKF, announced his retirement from teaching.  He will officially retire at the end of 2016, but this was his final seminar in Canada.  Sensei is the Technical Director of the International Shotokan Karate Federation.  He has been practising karate since 1952.  He has been coming to Winnipeg 2-3 times a year for the past 44 years to conduct seminars and examinations.  Manitoba was the first province in Canada he had ever visited.   For more information about his him, you can check out his Wikipedia page.   

​On a personal level, he has had a great influence on my life in karate for over 20 years.  I examined for all of my dan levels under his watchful eye (however Godan was in front of both Sensei Okazaki and Sensei Yaguchi, and a panel of judges).  He always pushed me to be my best.  Seeing me grow up in karate, he was definitely like a grandfather to me.

I am extremely grateful to Sensei Larry Loreth and all of ISKF Manitoba for sharing this special occasion with the greater karate community in Manitoba.  The event was quite the reunion, bringing people from four different provinces, and even some from USA to celebrate Yaguchi Sensei's retirement and say 'Thank You' to a man who has positively impacted the lives of so many.

Congratulations, Yaguchi Shihan.  Thank you for your many dedicated years of Karate-Do.  Enjoy your retirement!