Traditional Karate North Central Region

Regional Representative of the AAKF for clubs in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Author: Art

2022 October Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

2022 NCR October Shiai Highlights

Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) held a shiai at the Shotokan Karate MN (SKM) dojo on October 15, 2022. SKM did a great job hosting the event at the dojo. The kids, teens, and adults all had a good time doing their katas and demonstrating their kumite skills. Click here to see photos from the shiai event.

Sensei Trung Le and his students from the Traditional Karate-do Academy U of M club will be hosting a tournament November 5, see details below.

Give to the Max Day – 2022 November 17!

Are you looking for a worthy cause for that year-end tax deduction? We’ve got one! The Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) sponsors events and activities that support our general membership, athletes, judges and clubs. Our young students and adult students truly enjoy these challenging activities and fun events. Participation helps strengthen their self-esteem and build a strong community spirit. We rely entirely on volunteers and the Leadership Tteam works hard to keep event costs affordable for individuals and families. But costs such as insurance, utilities, and rental space have risen significantly over the past few years.

The Traditional Karate North Central Region is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and your contribution is fully tax deductible. Many companies offer a corporate match to encourage employee giving. Check with your organization to find out if you can double your impact!

Two easy ways to give!

1.     Send a check directly to the NCR!

Make your check payable to Traditional Karate NCR and mail it to Midwest Karate, St. Paul, 762 East 7th Street, St. Paul,MN 55106

2.     Online contribution at GiveMN.org.    Click here to go directly to the “Traditional Karate North Central Region” online donation webpage.

Help us keep our organization financially healthy so we can continue our excellent work on behalf of our membership! 

Reminder: University of MN Tournament 2022 November 5

Hosted by Traditional Karate-do Academy UofMN club. Sensei Trung Le is holding his annual, traditional karate tournment on Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 11:30am – 5pm. Location: Van Cleve Community Center Gym in Minneapolis. Come and participate at this fun event. See flyer for more details.

New Shotokan Books Available

Two of our AAKF senior instructors have recently released books highlighting the artful side of traditional martial arts with an exploration of budo in daily life. Learn more about these books below. Both are available from Amazon.

The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts builds a vision of practice that elevates physical performance, awareness, decisiveness, and strength of spirit

Through the practice of martial arts, a person can realize their full potential–not only in body, but in mind and spirit. The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts shows readers how. Author, sensei, and biomedical scientist Alex W. Tong delves into the physical, mental, and spiritual components of martial arts and integrates contemporary sports psychology, kinesiology, and neuroscience into a nuanced and illuminating understanding of what martial arts practice can be.

Structured into three sections, Tong discusses:

  • The Mind: The dao of martial arts, mental tranquility, contemporary neuroscience, and warming up the brain
  • The Body: Posture and stance, breathing in martial arts, and the physics of mastery and effort 
  • The Spirit: Soul, spirit, and moving zen; nature and manifestations of the spirit
  • Blending traditional and contemporary approaches, ,each section includes observations on martial arts origins, physiology, and tangible results on martial arts training.

Karate-do: the Art Beyond Techniques offers a unique insight into the history, culture, and philosophy of martial arts, and in particular how karate-do training applies to daily life. In this modern era of karate-do training, students of the art are more engaged in perfecting their technical skills and forgetting the philosophical principles that seeks to perfect the character of the person. In this thought-provoking book, Albert Cheah engages newcomers to the art as well as advance karate-do students to explore and understand the deeper meaning behind the art. Beyond the cliché of learning martial arts for fighting, self-defense, or competition, “Karate-do: the Art Beyond Techniques” takes the reader into understanding the etymology of budo, karate, and the significance of how training can be applied in daily routine.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2022 July Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Get well Anita Bendickson

Anita Bendickson Sensei suffered severe injuries during a biking accident while on vacation with Joel Ertl Sensei in Custer, SD. Anita is now back home recovering. The following is a Caring Bridge link on her accident and her current status – https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/anitabendickson/journal. 

Even though Anitia’s medical care has been great and she is slowly recovering, her medical expenses are astronomical. Her injuries and long recovery time have severely impacted her income as well.  Vince O’Connor and Meghan Wilson, Joel Ertl and Anita Bendickson’s daughter, have put together a Go Fund Me page to help Anita with her growing medical expenses. Go to this link and contribute to this effort https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-anita-b-recover.

AAKF 59TH National Championship – Highlights/Results

The 59th AAKF National Championships were held in Dallas, TX July 21-25, 2022. Congratulations to Cassie Le! Cassie placed 2nd in kata and kumite events.  Also, congratulations to Camila Cedeno (1st place) and Mateo Cedeno (2nd place) on their performance in their individual youth divisions.

Photos of the championships can be found by clicking here. These photos were taken by professional photographer Michael Shay of the Northwestern Region ©2022 Michael Shay Polara Studio

Videos of the championships can be found by clicking here. The videos were taken by Mark Abeln, SKM dojo.

Soolmaz Abooali and Cassie Le. ©2022 Michael Shay Polara Studio
Group photo of athletes and judges. ©2022 Michael Shay Polara Studio
North Central Region judges and other AAKF judges at the 2022 Nataional Championships

New Yondan in our region

Tom Meagher achieved the rank of yondan at the 59th AAKF National Seminar in Dallas, TX on June 23, 2022 in front of the AAKF Technical Committee under Tabassi Sensei. Tom had a very good test resulting in achieving the rank of yondan. This is not an easy achievement. Tom spent many years of training and teaching to achieve this goal. Congratulations to Tom!

Continue Growing our Ranks

Congratulations to Chris Anderson, Jim Harrell, Megan McMann, and Kara Winter for passing their Nidan exam. Also, congratulations to Jethro Harding for passing his Shodan exam on July 23, 2022 at the St. Paul dojo as well.  They all worked very hard to achieve their new rank. The COVID pandemic made it even harder to prepare and then wait for exam date. They all focused their efforts to push on in their training to accomplish their new dan rank.  The day of the test was hot and humid. Taking the exam was physically and mentally exhausting. Their many hours of training, strong stamina, and mental discipline helped them to overcome the obstacle and achieve their goal. Again, congratulations! to Chris, Kara, Meghan, Jim, and Jethro for passing their dan examination!

Jethro Harding (Shodan); Kara Winter, Megan McMann, Jim Harrell, and Chris Anderson (Nidans)

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2022 May Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

AAKF 2022 Spring Seminar – Highlights

AAKF held their 2022 spring seminar in Madison, WI. in April. The AAKF community members came together to train and get reacquainted with each other after a long COVID hiatus.   In this year of rebuilding the karate community, many new students attended their first AAKF seminar taught by Sensei Tong and Sensei Kageyama. The Senseis introduced new ideas and worked on new training drills for the new karatekas while reinforcing key principles and strategies for the senior karatekas. Everyone had a good time during the seminar and an opportunity to relax and reflect during the the evenings. Click here for photos and click here for videos highlights from the 2022 spring AAKF seminar. Click here for additional photos posted by the Traditional Karate-do Academy at UMN club.

AAKF 59TH National Championship – June 21-25, 2022

The 2022 AAKF 59th National Championship is just around the corner – June 21-25, 2022 in Dallas, TX.  The athletes, adult black belts, youth levels, and adult kyu levels, are excited about participating at the championships and representing our region. NCR will be sending numerous certified kata and kumite judges to assess the athletes’ performance during the championship. The AAKF championship event will also host an international camp and judging seminar, and hold dan rank tests and certification examinations.  Best wishes to the NCR athletes participating at the championships.  Click here for more details.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2022 April Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Having Fun while testing ones skill – kata shiai results

Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) held a kata shiai at the Shotokan Karate MN (SKM) dojo on Saturday March 26, 2022. All the competitors had a great time at the kata shiai and received feedback from the judges on their performance. Trung Le brought a large group of students from the UofMN Traditional Karate-do Academy club.  The SKM club and the Midwest Karate Association (MKA) club were both well represented. Also, the judges were able to sharpen their kata judging skill in preparation for the June 2022 AAKF Championships in Dallas, TX.

Click here to see photos from the shiai event. Additional photos were contributed by the UofMN club and can be viewed here as well.

AAKF Spring Seminar reminder – April 22-24, 2022 Madison, WI

The annual 2022 AAKF Spring Seminar will be held in Madison, WI on April 22-24, 2022. This is your opportunity to expand your understanding of karate as you see and participate in the drills from the AAKF Technical committee senseis.  The seminar will also include dan examinations and certification examinations.  This is your chance to make new friends and get reacquainted with past karatekas. Click here to register online. Click here for seminar schedule, participation fees and registration, and waiver form.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2022 March Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Kata Shiai SKM Dojo – March 26, 2022

Start the spring season by joining us for our annual kata shiai at the Shotokan Karate MN dojo on March 26, 2022 from noon-2:00pm. Parents and friends come and support the athletes. Senior black belts come and help judge the athletes and provide feedback to the students. We will need help at the registration table and event table. For registration form click here. For SKM’s online registration click here.

The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts

by Sensei Alex Tong

Available on Amazon, click here
During training, we typically center our thoughts on improving posture, breathing and connection—essential elements for kata and kumite.  In Sensei Alex Tong’s new book, The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts, we are guided to also develop our Mind and Spirit! Sensei Tong accesses his biomedical and neuroscience background as he discusses the nature and manifestations of the spirit as well as mental tranquility and “warming up the brain”.  Reading this book will help us develop awareness, decisiveness, and strength of spirit in addition to physical performance.
Review by B. Young

2022 AAKF National Tournament

Let’s get summer started with a big event. The 2022 American Amatuer Karate Federation (AAKF) National Tournament is scheduled for June 21-25, 2022 in Dallas, TX. The AAKF National brings the best karatekas in United States to compete in kata and kumite. The event is open to qualified NCR athletes — the best athletes from NCR eliminations and/or athletes selected by the North Central Regional director and senior council members. The event will include a 3 day seminar, dan test, rank examiner and judging test, plus a kyu level competition for kids and adults. More details will be posted by March 15, 2022. Click here http://aakf-nationals-2022.com.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2022 February Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Karate in the Community

Strength group, a Minneapolis non-profit organization, is concerned about personal safety for women in North Minneapolis.  Gina Wood, a 2nd degree black belt instructor from Shotokan Karate MN in Minneapolis, MN, is working with Strength Group by providing free self-defense classes for women.  Click here to see a short video [2:08] and article on the self-defense program.

Or visit WWW.WCCO.com  for more details

Annual AAKF Membership Renewal – March 1, 2022

Your individual AAKF membership expires on March 1, 2022. If you renew your current membership before March 1, the cost is only $25. After March 1,  your AAKF individual membership renewal is $35. For club renewal, the cost is $170.00. Check this out ->  Benefits of an AAKF membership.

Click here and fill out the AAKF registration form. Write a check following the instructions from your club’s sensei. Deliver your payment/form to your club’s sensei – he/she will then mail the documents to the AAKF organization.

2022 January kata Seminar Highlights

NCR held a local kata seminar recently. The seminar provided one-on-one feedback to each student. The valuable feedback gave the students a roadmap to improve their kata for their next exam. Click here to see more photos.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2022 January Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Kata Seminar – January 29, 2022 at SKM Mpls

Come join us at the 2022 NCR kata seminar at the SKM dojo in Mpls. Get feedback on your kata to help with your next test and enjoy the first seminar of the New Year with your fellow karatekas.

Annual AAKF Membership Renewal – March 1, 2022

Your individual AAKF membership expires on March 1, 2022. If you renew your current membership before March 1, the cost is only $25. After March 1,  your AAKF individual membership renewal is $35. For club renewal, the cost is $170.00. Check this out ->  Benefits of an AAKF membership.

Click here and fill out the AAKF registration form. Write a check following the instructions from your club’s sensei. Deliver your payment/form to your club’s sensei – he/she will then mail the documents to the AAKF organization.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2021 December Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Results from the Traditional Karate-do Academy at University of Minnesota Tournament

The Traditional Karate-do Academy at University of Minnesota held a tournament on November 6, 2021. This was Sensei Le’s first tournament for his club. It was great seeing University of Minnesota and the Wisconsin University clubs once again restart their karate tournaments. The COVID-19 pandemic put many events on hold. Restarting the tournaments and future in-person seminars will reinvigorate the enthusiasm for karate for our students and instructors.

The following are links to videos and photos from the tournament;

  •                TKA@UMN club website – click here
  •                TKA@UMN Facebook site – click here
  •                Additional (16) videos from Mark Abeln – click here

In 2022, we expect more tournaments, shias, seminars from Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR), the American Armature Karate Federation, and the World Traditional Karate-do Federation (WTKF). Go to the NCR events calendar to see upcoming events in 2022.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2021 November Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Reminder

UofM Fall 2021 Traditional Karate-do Tournament

Saturday November 6, 2021 11:30am

More information:

Click here for more detail and online registration

Click here for kyu level tournament rules.

Click here for the latest flyer.

Highlights from the 2021 Fall Madison Tournament

The Madison Japanese Karate Club, which is part of the UW-Madison Recreational Sports program, recently held their 38th Annual Tournament on October 23, 2021. The competitors and judges had a good time at the event. The students received great feedback from the judges to help improve their karate.  Sensei Vassil Peytchev and the club officers did a great job organizing the event. Click here to see photos and videos from the tournament.

Final AAKF Summer Instructor Program

November 13, 2021

The final Zoom AAKF Technical Committee instructor course session is scheduled for November 13, 2021 11:00am to 1:00pm Central Time. The program is only open to instructors and assistant instructors in your club. The teaching topic for this session will be How to Correct Students Part 2: Kata and Kumite.

The following is an email excerpt from Sensei Alex Tong, President of AAKF:

…The Technical Committee will host an online instructor course open to chief instructors and assistant instructors of member-clubs.  The sessions are intended to be interactive in nature.  We look forward to inputs from participating member instructors.  …2-hour Zoom sessions will be held on November 13 at no costs to participants.    

A unified teaching framework on kata, kumite, and kihon will be formulated from these sessions, and made available to all participants.  There will also be a review of Japanese terminologies that are used in international championships.  These specified foundation concepts will stand as guidelines for good karate-do practice, also serving as reference information for candidates for Coach’s and/or Examiner certifications.  As usual, teaching instructors are free to add their personal insights when holding class…

If you are an instructor at your club and interested in attending, please contact Art Wong immediately so we can get you registered.

The St. Paul dojo will be projecting the seminar on a large screen. All NCR instructors are welcome to attend.

Minnesota’s Give to the Max

Interested in participating in Minnesota’s Give to the Max?

Check this out:  http://givemn.org/      Then Four Easy Steps!

Traditional Karate North Central Region:  Our dojos encourage youth and adults to excel.

They are encouraged to excel in discipline, focus, healthy exercise, and in competition. Please help sponsor our competitors! Help send our excellent athletes to tournaments, where a financial situation should not hold an excellent athlete back for lack of equipment or an entry fee. Your donation can help send a very hardworking kid to tournament, and make a big difference in his or her life.

Thank you for helping!

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan

2021 October Traditional Karate North Central Region



Traditional Karate North Central Region Newsletter

Reminder

UofM Fall 2021 Traditional Karate-do Tournament

November 6, 2021

More information:

Click here for more detail and online registration

Click here for kyu level tournament rules. (new)

Click here for the latest flyer.

AAKF Summer Instructor Program

October 16, 2021 (rescheduled)

The next Zoom AAKF Technical Committee instructor course session is reschuled to October 16, 2021 at 11:00am Central Time. The program is only open to instructors and assistant instructors in your club. The session will cover: How to Correct “Students”.

The following is an email excerpt from Sensei Alex Tong, President of AAKF:

…The Technical Committee will host an online instructor course open to chief instructors and assistant instructors of member-clubs.  The sessions are intended to be interactive in nature.  We look forward to inputs from participating member instructors.  …2-hour Zoom sessions will be held on October 16 and November 13 at no costs to participants.    

A unified teaching framework on kata, kumite, and kihon will be formulated from these sessions, and made available to all participants.  There will also be a review of Japanese terminologies that are used in international championships.  These specified foundation concepts will stand as guidelines for good karate-do practice, also serving as reference information for candidates for Coach’s and/or Examiner certifications.  As usual, teaching instructors are free to add their personal insights when holding class…

If you are an instructor at your club and interested in attending, please contact Art Wong immediately so we can get you registered.

The St. Paul dojo will be projecting the seminar on a large screen. All NCR instructors are welcome to attend.

World Traditional Karate-do Federation Highlights

Staying in touch with World Traditional Karate-do Federation (WTKF) organization is important for maintaining our link with traditional karate-do worldwide. The following are highlights/links to WTKF’s events held this fall:

On September 11, 2021 in Zielona Góra, – Polish Children’s Traditional Karate Championships. Click here

On September 12, 2021 in Zielona Góra, there was a training camp with sensei Włodzimierz Kwieciński 9th Dan, President of the World Traditional Karate-Do Federation. Click here.

September 17 to 19, 2021 – for the second time this year – WTKF hosted sensei Justo Gomez 7th Dan at a traditional karate training camp in Poland. More than 200 people took part in the trainings at the Dojo Stara Wieś and in Lublin. Click here

October 2 in Wrocław, the 14th Master’s Cup will be held in memory of Hidetaka Nishiyama. Click here.

The above links were translated from Polish to English using Google translate. If for some reason it is still in Polish, use Google translate and insert the URL, click here on how to use Google translate.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

  • Upcoming events
    • tbd
  • NCR 2024 plans
    • 2024 January 27 – Kumite Seminar noon-2pm. SKM dojo
    • 2024 March 23 – (tentative). NCR Shiai. Noon. SKM dojo. More details to follow
    • 2024 May 18 noon-2pm Preparation for 2024 AAKF National Champioships – NCR judging seminar and competitor feedback. St. Paul dojo. More details to follow
  • AAKF upcoming events:
    • 2024 April 12-14 (tentative) – AAKF Spring seminar – Madison, WI – More details to follow.
    • 2024 June 19-22 – (tentative). AAKF National Championships – Bloomington, MN – Hosted by Traditional Karate North Central Region. More details to follow.
  • WTKF Events
    • WTKF calendar  – Click here for more upcoming WTKF events.

Click here to see past event videos and click here for past event photos from the NCR video and photo Library.  Click here for additional photos from the U of Mn club photo library.

Dan Examination Schedule

  • NCR and AAKF dan exam schedule
    • TBD
  • Dan examination testing requirements shodan-sandan – click here
  • Dan rank registration required when you pass your dan exam – click here

Traditional Karate North Central Region Subscription

Art Wong – Traditional Karate North Central Region Director, Godan




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director@ncr-aakf.org