Mike Wilson
Roku Dan (6th) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
Ni Dan (2nd) - Iai-Jujitsu
Shihan - Shuko-Kai International
Standard First Aid, CPR-C/AED Red Cross Certified
NCCP Level 2 Trained
Canada Chief Instructor - Shuko-Kai International
Owner - Conestoga Karate
Bachelor of Mathematics
mike.wilson@shukokai.ca
Mike began Karate training in 1972 in St. Catharines Ont. under a Wado-Kai dojo in Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines run by Sensei Ron Krayewski. Sensei Ron Krayewski was a student of Sensei Masaru Shintani, and was also affiliated with Sensei Ryokichi Katano in Lock Port New York.
Mike attended about 5 classes per week and by the time he was a green belt, he was coming to every class before the students to prepare the dojo for the class. This entailed washing the tile floor and cleaning the mirrors. Karate was his life from an early age.
Mike obtained his brown belt and began a Karate program at a prestigious boarding school in St. Catharines called Ridley College. Mike ran the program for two years until he graduated from high school.
Mike also had the honour of personally meeting Hironori Ĺtsuka, the founder of Wado-Ryu, before he died in 1982.
Mike achieved his Sho Dan in Wado-Ryu in 1978 from Sensei Ryokichi Katano in Lockport New York.
After obtaining his Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, Mike moved to Kitchener, and in 1999 started training in Shuko-Kai Shito-Ryu Karate-Do.
Mike taught a couple classes per week at the Shuko-Kai dojo in Waterloo. Mike also ran the Karate program at the YMCA in Kitchener for two years.
Mike obtained his Go Dan in Shuko-Kai in 2012 from Soke Kunio Miyake.
Mike has attended many seminars and instructor training sessions from Soke Miyake at the Shuko-Kai International head quarters in McAllen Texas.
Mike currently holds a Roku Dan (6th degree) in Miyake Karate-Do Shuko-Kai, a Nidan (2nd degree) in Iai Jujitsu, all from Soke Kunio Miyake.
Mike received the title of Shihan in March, 2022.
Mike is currently Canadian Chief Instructor.
Kathy Wilson
Go Dan (5th) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
Shidoin - Shuko-Kai International
Standard First Aid, CPR-C/AED Red Cross Certified Instructor
NCCP Level 2 Trained
Owner - Conestoga Karate
Electronics Engineering Technology, Certified Interconnect Designer (EET CID)
kathy.wilson@shukokai.ca
Kathy began her Martial Arts training at 15 years of age. She studied Chito-Ryu in Nova Scotia and progressed up to her green belt before leaving for school in Toronto. After moving to Waterloo, Kathy resumed her training as a white belt in Shito-Ryu, and in 2008 she received her black belt.
Kathy has been very active in the dojo and Community Centers as a Sempai and now teaches at the main dojo.
Kathy currently holds a Godan (5th degree) black belt in Miyake Karate-Do Shuko-Kai.
Ben Vang
Ni Dan (2nd) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
Standard First Aid, CPR-C/AED Red Cross Certified
Sensei Ben began his karate training in 2014 at Conestoga Karate.
Ben achieved his first black belt level in 2017. He currently holds a 2nd degree black belt since 2022.
He competed in many tournaments, and earned a spot on the Ontario Provincial Team and competed at the National level. He then was invited to become a member of the Canadian Junior Team and competed in many tournaments around the world.
Ben has since retired from competition and is now focusing on education and teaching in the dojo.
Elissa France
Ni Dan (2nd) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
Standard First Aid, CPR-C/AED Red Cross Certified
Elissa began her karate journey in 2008 at a Shotokan dojo in her hometown of Brampton, ON. As Elissa progressed through this curriculum she was also able to learn foundations in various other martial arts such as traditional weapons, taekwondo, and boxing sparring techniques. Earning her Shodan in 2013, she continued advancing her karate knowledge and was also able to learn judo, jiu-jitsu, and arnis basics in preparation for her next test. In 2015 Elissa received her Nidan in Shotokan. Following this, she began spending more time involved with her community by increasing her teaching responsibilities as well as participating in specific performance training for demonstrations and tournaments. In 2018 Elissa earned the rank of Sandan as well as the honour of being gifted a black gi signifying her accomplishments and leadership abilities, as was tradition at this dojo.
Shortly after this, Elissa graduated high school and moved to Waterloo where she attended Wilfred Laurier University, putting her martial arts training on pause. In 2022 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree double majoring in Archeology and Anthropology. She moved to Kitchener and began working in the Cultural Resource Management industry as an archeological field technician where she continues to enjoy her work today.
At the end of 2023, Elissa found Conestoga Karate and immediately adored its culture and community. Jumping right back into training, Elissa worked hard to adapt her previous knowledge with Shito-Ryu techniques and learn its rich history. In 2024 Elissa received an honorary Nidan with Shuko Kai for her progress. Today, Elissa loves that karate is back in her life and hopes to honour that through her teaching efforts.
Shahram Teymori
Sho Dan (1st) - Miyake Karate-Do Shuko-Kai
Shahram started martial arts with Kung Fu at age of 12 and practiced for 2 years. During his grad studies he practiced Kendo at the University of Waterloo for 1 year, then he joined Brazilian jujitsu at Waterloo at age of 41. He practiced for two years and received his orange belt. At age of 46 he started training under Sensei Mike Wilson in Shuko-Kai Karate. He received his Shodan-ho in 2018. He currently holds a Shodan in Miyake Karate-Do.
Ray Durham
Ni Dan (2nd) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
Ray began his life in Karate in 2002 at the Bridgeport Community Centre with his son Dalton
Noor Morrah
Sho Dan Ho (1st) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu Instructor at Kitchener Masjid Karate
Samer Morrah
Sho Dan Ho (1st) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
Instructor at Kitchener Masjid Karate
Sho Dan (1st) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
I trained in Kung Fu as a child into my teens under Sigung Bob Schneider at the Waterloo Kung Fu Academy.
Amina Hassan
Sho Dan Ho (1st) - Miyake Karate-Do Shito-Ryu
Instructor at Kitchener Masjid Karate