North Island Karate and Kobudo

We are two weeks away from the Canada August 2026 Shimbukan and Mukenkai seminar.

We look forward to welcoming Akamine Hiroshi, Kaicho, of Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan, and all the Canadian and International Kyoshi, Shihan, Sensei, students and participants to Campbell River, BC, Canada.

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable journey to Campbell River and we look forward to sharing this beautiful corner of the world with you.

We respectfully acknowledge we are on the traditional territories of the Lidgwitda’xw people ; the We Wai Kai, the Wei Wai K*m, the Kwiakah First Nations, and the traditional keepers of the land.

Ginoza, Okinawa, 1997 with my sensei, Shimabukuro Eizo, Hanshi, Shorin Ryu Karate Do Rendokan.

This year will be the 30th anniversary of leaving my heart in Okinawa.

A trip to the Powell River dojo to teach and train with Alan Hernandez and Hugo Sloos as they prepare for the August 2026 Canada seminar in Campbell River, BC with Akamine Hiroshi, Kaicho, Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan and Mukenkai Shorinryu dojo.

We were able to present Alan Hernandez with his Sandan certificate in Mukenkai Shorinryu from Akamine Hiroshi, Kaicho, as well.

Congratulations, Alan, on this well deserved promotion. 🎊👏

We would like to congratulate Alan Hernandez on his recent promotion Sandan in Mukenkai Karate.
Well done, Alan!

The Sisiyutl is part of our dojo logo and combined with the hidari gomon of Okinawa it represents the two traditions we honour - those of the place we live and culture that created karate and kobudo. Our dojo emblem was created by renowned Kwakwaka’wakw Greg Henderson from the Wei Wai K*m First Nation of Campbell River.

Have you heard of the sisiyutł??
( see see yulth )

The Sisiutl stands as a force of balance and power. 2 heads watching both directions, a human face at the center anchoring what lies between. It is a being of thresholds, where opposing forces meet. protection and danger, creation and destruction, the seen and unseen. In this form, the symmetry holds tension, each side mirroring the other while the central face confronts the viewer directly. unflinching, aware.

In kwakwaka’wakw tradition, the Sisiutl is more than an image… it is a source of strength. To carry it is to carry protection, to stand guarded in both directions at once. But that power comes with weight. It demands respect, awareness, and the understanding that true strength lives in balance.

It is believed to shape shift into a self propelled canoe, that’s energy is created by being fed seals!

This piece holds that line, clean, deliberate, and steady.

inviting you to face it, and in doing so, to consider what it means to stand at the center of opposing forces without breaking 🙂

Today I’m offering a sale on the remaining prints in this edition

Regularly 280$
On today only for 160$
Save 120$
Sale ends when the ollllllllll clock strikes midnight 😊

I only have a couple left !!!! So don’t wait !

The Ottawa Dokukai hosted our spring training camp with participants from Kingston and Newmarket, ON, Qualicum, BC, and Campbell River, BC.

Five days of training, sharing food and drink, telling stories and visiting some of the many historical sites in Ottawa and Kingston, On.

We congratulate everyone on their hard work and dedication and we’re proud to announce sankyu promotions to Pat Couperus (Ottawa), James Van Kessel (Newmarket) and shodan to Zach Yuen (Kingston). Congratulations on your promotions. Excellent work ethics and dedication by all.

We look forward to seeing some of the folks this summer at the Campbell River Shimbukan and Mukenkai seminar with Akamine Hiroshi, Kaicho, in August and the rest next year after our annual trip to Okinawa.

Congratulations and a huge thanks to the Ottawa dokukai for making this such a great time together.