Who Are We?
Sensei David Bentley - Brentwood Bay Dojo
Sensei Bentley is the Chief Canadian Instructor for Shukokai in Western Canada. He currently holds Godan (5th Dan Black Belt) and has been training with the Shukokai style for more than 25 years. He's competed at the international level and has been an instructor for over fifteen years, both in England and Canada.
Sensei Bentley is a certified National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) coach and instructor, is First Aid certified and has had many successful clubs in England, Ontario and British Columbia. His most recent achievements include Sports Psychology Certification 2006, Karate BC Coach of the Year 2007, a silver medal for Canada in kumite (sparring) at the KSI World Championships in 2008, and a bronze in kumite at the KSI World Championships in 2010.
Sensei Karen Naylor - North Saanich Dojo
Karen started training with Sensei in 2001 to see if the martial arts would be a good sport for her teenage sons. But right from the start, she knew Karate was what she wanted to do. Friendships with club members and with Shukokai karate people around the world have been an added bonus. Working together at Karate with her daughter, Becky, has given them a common interest.
Karen loves the discipline, goal-setting and noticeable improvement that comes from training. Local tournaments and special training events with local and world chief instructors have been stretching experiences - and lots of fun. The body and brain sweats of Shukokai Karate have encouraged her to push herself out of her comfort zone to compete, test, teach and achieve.
Sensei Rob Walker - Westshore Dojo
Rob joined Kimura Shukokai in 2004 after studying various martial arts since the 1970s. In 2005, he began exploring the sport side of karate, competing in over 30 tournaments and thoroughly enjoying the competitive, social and personal growth aspects of tournament participation. The highlights of his tournament career are his Provincial Kumite Championship in 2008 and his opportunities to compete for Canada at the Kimura Shukokai World Championships beginning in 2006. Rob trained with the Karate BC Zone 6 team for several years and with the BC Provincial Training Squad in 2008. In addition to certification as a tournament judge, a Fit4Defence Instructor and a National Coaching Certification Program coach, Rob is currently the President of Karate BC and a Vice-President of the Vancouver Island Zone (6) under Karate BC.
Sensei Sarah Walker - Westshore Dojo
Sarah started in Shukokai karate in 2004 and achieved her Shodan in 2010. She began competing in 2005, has won numerous medals and is still an active competitor. Her competitive highlights include competing at the 2006 BC Winter Games, winning several medals at Karate BC Provincial Championships and representing Canada at the KSI World Karate Championships since 2006. In addition to many competition-focused training workshops, Sarah has trained with the Karate BC Vancouver Island Zone team since 2005 and trained with the BC Provincial Training Squad in 2008. Sarah is certified as a tournament judge, a Fit4Defence Instructor and as an National Coaching Certification Program coach.