WAKO Canada

Innovative ideas are creative.
Those that become reality are game changers.

The inaugural Youth Muay Thai and Kickboxing Expo was exactly that.

More than 200 young athletes attended this groundbreaking event, spending a full day learning from some of Canada’s top coaches with technical seminars, cooperative games, team-building activities, and educational sessions for athletes, parents, and coaches alike.

Participant from ages 6 to 18 from across Ontario in what was truly a first-of-its-kind event. With athletes and coaches from Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, MMA and other martial arts, the Expo created an environment where collaboration replaced competition and diversity became a strength.

The opening ceremonies recognized the WAKO Canada Junior National Team in the final stages of preparation for the WAKO World Junior Championships this September in Italy. WAKO Canada President Muzammal Nawaz delivered an inspiring keynote, reminding athletes of the true measures of success.

The Expo was organized through the outstanding collaboration of four of WAKO Canada’s most active clubs—Elevation, KALSAMRIT, Muay Thai Whitby, and SAGA. Their leadership, teamwork, and meticulous planning resulted in THE event that established a new benchmark for grassroots athlete development.
WAKO Canada was proud to support the Expo as a sponsor but and an organization that believes deeply in investing in children and youth and fostering cooperation across clubs and martial arts.

WAKO Canada congratulates every coach, volunteer, parent, and athlete who contributed to making this vision a reality. Special recognition goes to the event’s organizers for demonstrating that true leadership is measured not simply by what we achieve for our own clubs, but by what we build together for the benefit of the entire community.

At a time when it is easy to focus on what separates us, events like the Youth Expo remind us of something far more powerful: when we unite around a shared purpose, we create opportunities that inspire the next generation and strengthen the future of our sport.

A Spectacular Night in Markham

RISE Promotion hosted the 9th edition of Rise of the Warriors at the Markham Sports Complex, delivering another outstanding evening of kickboxing action.

This marked only the second PROAM event promoted by Michael Fitzpatrick, yet he is already making a significant impact on the Canadian combat sports landscape.

Michael was the first promoter to host a professional kickboxing event under the Ontario Athletic Commission’s newly introduced professional kickboxing regulations. Building on the success of his previous WAKO Canada RISE events, he has successfully established a regular PROAM circuit that provides valuable competitive opportunities for developing athletes while creating a clear pathway for those aspiring to enter the professional ranks.

The Markham event was nothing short of spectacular. The venue was transformed into a Las Vegas-style arena, complete with stunning digital displays, professional lighting, outstanding sound production, and two energetic emcees who kept the capacity crowd engaged in each fight.

A special thank you goes to the WAKO Canada officials’ team, who efficiently managed 25 amateur bouts with exceptional professionalism and in record time.

Special recognition is also extended to Matthew Kendall and Roger Lumyoung, who were selected by the Ontario Athletic Commission to referee the evening’s final two professional bouts. Both officials performed with excellence and demonstrated the high standard of officiating that continues to strengthen professional kickboxing in Ontario.

Congratulations to Michael Fitzpatrick and the entire RISE Promotion team on another first-class event. The continued growth of the RISE series is helping create exciting opportunities for the next generation of amateur and professional athletes.

We have hit 200 registered athletes!

WAKO Canada is excited to promote the 2nd Annual North American Century Cup. Following the tremendous success of the inaugural event in 2025, this year’s tournament is set to be even bigger and more exciting.

The first edition welcomed international teams from Brazil, Portugal, Turkey, and Mexico, alongside 22 teams from the United States and 54 clubs from across Canada. It marked a historic milestone as the first internationally sanctioned WAKO tournament ever held in North America.

The event provided Canadian athletes and coaches with an outstanding opportunity to compete against athletes from across the United States and around the world. More importantly, it brought world-class international competition directly to Canada, giving our athletes a unique and invaluable experience without having to travel overseas.

With both Novice and Open divisions offered in every discipline, competitors of all experience levels were able to enjoy the excitement and challenge of international competition. For our more advanced athletes, the opportunity to test themselves against international-calibre opponents was exceptional. There is no better preparation for future international events and the pathway toward representing Team Canada.
The 2026 North American Century Cup is shaping up to be even more impressive.

Turkey, Mexico, and Brazil will send larger teams this year, while new delegations from Australia, Puerto Rico, South Africa, and England have already confirmed their participation.

The United States has also confirmed its entire National Team, along with club teams from across the country—from New York to Hawaii.

This will be one of the premier competitive opportunities of the year for Canadian athletes and an event that no serious competitor should miss.

Registration Deadline: August 24, 2026

Register early before fees go up.

To registration and event details, visit:

https://wakocanada.ca/event/north-american-champion/

We look forward to seeing your club!

SAVE THE DATE – 2027 NATIONALS

WAKO Canada is excited to announce that our 2027 Competition Calendar is almost ready for release—and it’s shaping up to be one of our biggest seasons yet!
The year will feature an outstanding lineup of:

·       More Development Tournaments
·       More Club Shows
·       Coaching & Officials Certification Courses
·       More Tatami Tournaments
·       National Team Training Camps

And the pinnacle of the Canadian kickboxing season...

The National Championships

The 2027 Nationals will mark the 23rd edition of Canada’s premier kickboxing championship—one of the longest-running and most prestigious combative sport tournaments in the country.

Each year, WAKO Canada raises the standard, and 2027 will be no exception. Athletes can expect:

·       Open computer scoring for transparency
·       Standardized international competition equipment
·       A spectacular championship venue
·       Early match scheduling to help athletes prepare
·       More divisions across all age groups
·       Canada’s top clubs under one roof

 And then... there are the BELTS!

The WAKO Canada belts have become legendary. Every year they set a new benchmark for excellence, and in 2027 we’ll unveil our most spectacular championship belt ever.

The 2027 National Championships will also serve as the official selection event for the Senior & Veteran World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan—the first time this prestigious event will be hosted there.

The road to Team Canada begins at the 2027 National Championships.

Save the date. Chase greatness.

Legacy Consulting hosted its annual School Owners Summit this past weekend, bringing together some of the most respected and professional martial arts and combat sports club owners from across Canada and the United States. The three-day event provided an incredible opportunity for networking and professional development, with industry experts delivering presentations on topics critical to the long-term success of martial arts businesses.

From exploring the transformative impact of artificial intelligence to enhancing student grading systems and improving business operations, attendees left with practical strategies and innovative ideas.

For the first time in Legacy Consulting’s history, the School Owners Summit sold out completely, demonstrating the growing commitment of club owners to continuous learning and organizational excellence.

WAKO Canada was proud to serve as a sponsor of the event and remains committed to supporting the outstanding work of Nick Castiglia and the Legacy Consulting team in strengthening the martial arts industry.

The summit concluded with an inspiring keynote presentation by WAKO Canada President Muzammal Nawaz, who spoke on the importance of building a leadership culture within martial arts clubs. Drawing on decades of experience in leadership development—including his work with the International Red Cross and his doctoral research in sport psychology—Muzammal shared practical strategies for developing leaders at every level of an organization. His presentation challenged club owners to intentionally cultivate leadership among coaches, instructors, staff, and students.

WAKO Canada congratulates Nick Castiglia and the entire Legacy Consulting team on another exceptional and impactful summit. Their continued commitment to education, innovation, and leadership development is helping to strengthen the future of martial arts clubs across North America.

Clubs interested in enhancing their leadership, operations, and long-term success are encouraged to connect with Legacy Consulting to learn more about its programs and services.

Deepest sympathy for the Magbitang family

It is with heavy hearts that we learn of the passing of Tyrone Magbitang. He was in a car accident that caused this tragic death. He was travelling to training at the Ontario Police College as part of his CIT (Constable in Training) when the accident happened.

He was only 27 years old.

Both Tyrone and his brother and dad were active members of WAKO Canada for many years in the early days of our association. Both brothers fought at numerous Provincials, Nationals and the Ontario Winter Games.

‘I had so many conversations with Tyler and Tyrone over many years. Both boys were incredibly respectful and such hard workers. Their dad lived for the boys and took them everywhere. Gary was the perfect role model of a great father. My deepest condolences go out to the whole family.’ Muzammal Nawaz

We will inform members if we learn anymore about funeral arrangements or if there is any way of supporting the family.

Prestige Fight Series 7

The team of and .king.g_ put on another incredible edition of Prestige Fight Series .

This 7th edition of PFS had incredible talent from BC, Quebec and top clubs from across Ontario.

The matchmaking was outstanding with many fights having closely scored results - and many that could have been the fight of the night.

Both Gerald and Eric are staples of the Canadian Combative community as former fighters, club owners, coaches and now - promoters.

‘Their dedication to uplifting the sport across the country is inspiring to everyone they work with.

Congratulations to all the coaches and fighters that participated, your heart and skills were the center piece of PFS7.

And the Gerald and Eric - thank you for always setting a standard for everyone to follow.‘

Muzammal Nawaz, President WAKO Canada