NCR Fall Shiai – October 14, 2023

NCR is holding its annual fall shiai hosted at the SKM dojo on October 14, 2023 from noon-3pm

This is your opportunity test your skills with fellow karatekas form our region.  Use the fall shiai as a precursor to testing for your next kyu rank or dan rank.  You will get feedback, assess your skills, and it will help develop your karate way of life roadmap.

NCR judges will use the fall shiai event to help test and hone their judging skills for future regional, national and international tournaments.

Come and participate at the fall shiai and have fun cheering on your fellow karatekas.

WTKF 2023 PanAm Tournament

The WTKF 2023 Pan American Tournament which covers North America, South America and Central America will be held in Buenos Airess, Argentina on October 4 to 7, 2023.  NCR will sending three judges from our region – Al Kotula, Laurie, Elliott, and Mark Abeln will represent USA as one of the certified international judges. The event will include an international camp, judging seminar, youth competition and adult black belt PanAm championships.  Help support our fellow karatekas by donating to NCR to help offset their travel expenses. Click here for more details on the 2023 Pan-Am tournament.

Highlights from the Japanese Obon Festival at St. Paul

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Sensei Trung Le and his Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN Club gave two demonstrations at the Sunday Obon Festival on August 20, 2023.

Click here for more photos from the UofMn club Facebook site.  Click here for the Star Tribune article and photos.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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

2023 60th Annual AAKF National Championships – Highlights

The 2023 60th Annual American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) National Championships was held in Washington, DC June 21-24, 2023. NCR athletes that attended the championships were: Jason Briscoe, Jethro Harding, Jasmine Beldin, Kara Winter, Eve Wandering, Joseph Harding, and Emil Perez-Lauterbach. NCR judges who attended were: Al Kotula, Art Wong, Trung Le, Laurie Elliott, Mark Abeln, and Michael Ching. NCR athletes were very successful. The NCR judges used their skills in assessing the athlete’s performance doing kata and kumite. The weather in DC was cooler than normal with an occasional rain. The karate seminar, conducted by the AAKF senior technical council members, was held prior to the championships. The seminar helped sharpen everyone’s skills and knowledge in kata, kumite and judging.

The NCR group had a good time in the evening eating at numerous local restaurants. Many of us did a lot of sightseeing around the Washington DC mall area, Air and space museum, International Spy museum, botanical garden, etc.

Congratulations to all the athletes who attended the championships and their placement in their group.

Click here for additional NCR Facebook posting of the 2023 AAKF National Championships’ photos.

WTKF Dan Certificates Arrived

The World Traditional karate-do Federation (WTKF) dan rank certificates have arrived. The WTKF dan certificates were handed out at the recent 2023 June AAKF National Championships to the AAKF regional directors. If you registered your dan rank with WTKF in the last few years, contact your club’s sensei to see if your WTKF dan rank certificates arrived.

2023 Pan Am Tournament

The 2023 WTKF Pan Am tournment is scheduled for October 4-7, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Click here for more details. Contact Art Wong if you are interested in representing AAKF/NCR as a judge or as a competitor.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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 Newsletter

2023 AAKF Spring Seminar – Highlights.

The AAKF organization held their 2023 Spring Seminar at the Van Cleve Recreation Center in Minneapolis, MN from April 21-23, 2023.  Over 60 participants attended this fantastic seminar conducted by Tabassi Sensei (Mid-Atlantic region) and Cheah Sensei (Western region). The students learned new concepts and training drills and how to apply kata basics with their kumite and self-defense situations. The seminar brought together a community interested in learning and elevating the art of Shotokan karate.  The student’s new found knowledge and drills they performed helped raise their karate skills. The local club instructors learned new information and training drills and developed a deeper understanding of karate.

The next seminar will be an International Training Camp as part of the 2023 AAKF Nationals (June 21-24) in Herndon, Virginia.

Click the following photo and video links from the seminar (more photos/videos are still coming in):

• NCR Facebook photos
• NCR Facebook videos
• Traditional Karate-do Academy at UMN

Thank you to Mark Abeln, Mike Ching, Trung Le for the photos and videos.

Successful Dan Examination April 22, 2023

On April 22, 2023, the AAKF Technical board members (Tabassi Sensei and Cheah Sensei) conducted a dan examinations during the 2023 AAKF Spring seminar at the Van Cleve Rec Center in Mpls.  The people testing all did very well during their dan examination. The Traditional Karate North Central Region now has two new elevated black belts:  Al Kotula SKM dojo – Rokudan (6^th dan) and Trung Le UofMn club –  Godan (5^th dan), and a new black belt Jason Briscoe – UofMn club – Shodan (1^st dan).  Also, a Madison club student (Alex Ulate ) tested for 2^nd kyu and passed as well.

Congratulations to everyone on a very successful test.

2023 AAKF National Championships

June 21-24 Washington, DC

The 2023 AAKF National Championships will be held in Washington, DC June 21-24, 2023. Whether you are a black belt or kyu level, you will be able to compete in either the adult or youth division. You must be an AAKF member to compete. Senior black belts wanting to judge at the National Championships must be an AAKF qualified judge. AAKF registration will be due May 30, 2023 with more details to follow.

• Click here for detail information packet on travel, lodging, costs, schedule, youth rules
• Click here for detail athletes registration form and seminar registration form

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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 Newsletter

NCR 2023 Winter Shiai Highlights

The Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) recently held a shiai on March 25, 2023 at the SKM dojo in Mpls, MN. There were 30 participants at the event. The athletes had a good time and received feedback from the judges. The judges were able to tune-up on their kata and kumite judging skills. For some of the athletes and judges, the shiai gave them the opportunity to prepare for the June 2023 AAKF Nationals in Washington, DC.

Click here to view the NCR Facebook photos from the shiai event. Click here for the UofMN Facebook photos.

AAKF 2023 Spring Seminar (reminder)

April 21-23, 2023 – Mpls, MN

The 2023 American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) seminar will be held at the Van Cleve Recreation Center in Minneapolis Friday April 21 to Sunday April 23. There will be a dan and certification examinations Saturday afternoon. Click here for the online seminar registration link, schedule information, and hotel recommendation. Early registration discount by midnight April 14, 2023. Click here for the flyer. QR code to the registration link:

2023 AAKF National Championships

June 21-24 Washington, DC

The 2023 AAKF National Championships will be held in Washington, DC June 21-24, 2023. Whether you are a black belt or kyu level, you will be able to compete in either the adult or youth division. You must be an AAKF member to compete. Senior black belts wanting to judge at the National Championships must be an AAKF qualified judge. AAKF registration will be due May 30, 2023 with more details to follow.

• Click here for detail information packet on travel, lodging, costs, schedule, youth rules
• Click here for detail athletes registration form and seminar registration form

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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 Newsletter

NCR Winter Shiai

March 25, 2023

The Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) is having a winter shiai on Saturday March 25, 2023 from noon-3:00pm hosted at the SKM dojo. This is your opportunity to test your kumite and kata skills with fellow katatekas and get feedback from the NCR judges.  Come to the winter shiai for fun and excitement, and support your fellow karatekas as they test their skills against their fellow athletes. Athletes and certified AAKF judges who are going to the 2023 AAKF National Championships in Washington, DC can use this shiai in preparation for the 2023 AAKF Nationals. Click here for more details on the shiai.

AAKF 2023 Seminar

April 21-23, 2023 – Mpls, MN

The 2023 American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) seminar will be held at the Van Cleve Recreation Center in Minneapolis Friday April 21 to Sunday April 23. There will be a dan and certifcation examinations Saturday afternoon. Click here for the online seminar registration link, schedule information, and hotel recommendation. Click here for the flyer. QR code to the registration link:

AAKF Annual Membership Renewal – March 31 Deadline

Final Reminder

The annual AAKF Membership Renewal deadline has been extended to March 31, 2023. Individual AAKF memberships expire March 31. If you renew your current membership before March 31, the cost is only $25. After March 31, 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 to access the AAKF registration form. Write a check following the instructions from your club’s sensei. Deliver your payment and registration form to your club’s sensei – he/she will then mail the documents to the AAKF organization. For club registration form, click here.

2023 AAKF National Championships

June 21-24 Washington, DC

The 2023 AAKF National Championships will be held in Washington, DC June 21-24, 2023. Whether you are a black belt or kyu level, you will be able to compete in either the adult or youth division. You must be an AAKF member to compete. Senior black belts wanting to judge at the National Championships must be an AAKF qualified judge. AAKF registration will be due May 30, 2023 with more details to follow. Click here for more details on the AAKF National Championships.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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

NCR Dojos – Winter Storm Warning Feb 22-23, 2023 (new)

The Midwest Karate Association, St. Paul, will be closed Wednesday February 22, 2023 and Thursday February 23, 2023 due to the upcoming winter storm warning.

For Shotokan Karate of Mn- Mpls MN (SKM), and Traditional Karate-do Academy at UMN, contact the club Sensei for their updated training schedule plan for this week regarding the upcoming winter storm warning.

NCR Winter Shiai March 25, 2023 (new)

The Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) is having a winter shiai on Saturday March 25, 2023 from noon-3:00pm hosted at the SKM dojo. This is your opportunity to test your kumite and kata skills with fellow katatekas and get feedback from the NCR judges.  Come to the winter shiai for fun and excitement, and support your fellow karatekas as they test their skills against their fellow athletes. Click here for more details.

January 2023 Kata Seminar Highlights

The 2023 Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) kata seminar was held Saturday January 28, 2023. The 25 students who attended the seminar had a great time learning new katas such as unsu, gojushihosho, and kankusho as well as indepth instructions on heian katas and tekki. Thank you to SKM for hosting the event. Also, thank you to the instructors for sharing their indepth knowledge of the katas and demonstrating some of the kata’s bunkai: Al Kotula, Darren Marr, Jon Hodapp, Dave Pinske, Laurie Elliott, Mike Ching, Gerry Ramacher, and Art Wong. Advanced katas challenged students to apply new principles to the kata that would be part of their next exam.

Click here for NCR Facebook photo album on the NCR kata seminar and click here for additional posts.

Click here for photos from Mike Ching

AAKF 2023 Seminar – April 21-23, 2023 – Mpls (update)

The 2023 American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) seminar will be held at the Van Cleve Recreation Center in Minneapolis Friday April 21 to Sunday April 23. There will be a dan and certifcation examinations Saturday afternoon. Click here for the online seminar registration link, schedule information, and hotel recommendation. Click here for the flyer. QR code to the registration link:

AAKF Annual Membership Renewal – March 31 Deadline

The annual AAKF Membership Renewal deadline has been extended to March 31, 2023. Individual AAKF memberships expire March 31. If you renew your current membership before March 31, the cost is only $25. After March 31, 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 to access the AAKF registration form. Write a check following the instructions from your club’s sensei. Deliver your payment and registration form to your club’s sensei – he/she will then mail the documents to the AAKF organization. For club registration form, click here.

2023 AAKF National Championships – June 21-24 Washington, DC

The 2023 AAKF National Championships will be held in Washington, DC June 21-24, 2023. Whether you are a black belt or kyu level, you will be able to compete in either the adult or youth division. You must be an AAKF member to compete. Senior black belts wanting to judge at the National Championships must be an AAKF qualified judge. AAKF registration will be due May 30, 2023 with more details to follow. Click here for more details on the AAKF National Championships.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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

CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Are you ready to give aid?

Karate is a fun and exciting activity. But, as in all sports, there are risks that may require emergency aid.  If a person is not breathing and there is no pulse detected, administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) may be required. It is important to know the CPR procedure.  There are many CPR classes an instructors and adult students can attend to get familiar with the CPR procedure.  Besides attending a CPR class, access to the CPR protocol information is available online.  Click on the following American Red Cross links:

• 1-page CPR outline procedure
• Video on CPR procedure [2:13]

If the person is in cardiac arrest and you have access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), use the AED as part of your CPR protocol. Click on the following American Red Cross links:

• 1-page AED outline procedure
• Video on how to use an AED [4:47]

Consider laminating the 1-page CPR and AED documents back-to-back as a quick reference for the dojo and at home. Remember, always call 911 immediately to help save a life.

Kata Seminar January 28, 2023 Noon-2:00pm – SKM Dojo

Let’s get 2023 jumping with a kata seminar to help strengthen your foundation in karate. We will be conducting a kata seminar on January 28, 2023 from noon to 2:00 pm. at Shotokan Karate of MN in Mpls. The kata seminar will broaden your understanding and refine your knowledge of karate fundamentals while strengthening your skills in the art. The poster below provides the kata seminar details. Get in-depth instructions from different Senseis while having fun with your fellow karatekas.

Reminder: AAKF Annual Membership Renewal – March 1 Deadline

Individual AAKF membership expire March 1. 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 to access the AAKF registration form. Write a check following the instructions from your club’s sensei. Deliver your payment and registration form to your club’s sensei – he/she will then mail the documents to the AAKF organization. For club registration form, click here.

2023 AAKF National Championships – June 21-24 Washington, DC

The 2023 AAKF National Championships will be held in Washington, DC on June 21-24, 2023. Whether you are a black belt or kyu level, you will be able to compete in either the adult or youth division. You must be an AAKF member to compete. Senior black belts wanting to judge at the National Championships must be an AAKF qualified judge. AAKF registration will be due May 30, 2023 with more details to follow. NCR will hold a regional eliminations for athletes to qualify and represent our region at the 2023 AAKF National Championships. More details to follow on date and time of the regional eliminations.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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

Madison Tournament Highlights

On Saturday November 19, 2022, the Madison Japanese Karate Club held a karate tournament at West High School in Madison WI.  With help from his club officers, chief instructor Sensei Vassil Peytchev, did a fantastic job in running the tournament.  The tournament was well attended, (see photo below).  The judges insured the proper tournament procedures and rules were followed to minimize injuries while maintaining a budo spirit (fightung techniques and intention) throughout the tournament.  The students were enthusiastic and developed strong comradery throughout the tournament.

Congratulations to Jethro Harding from the SKM dojo in Mpls, MN for taking first place in both Men’s kata and Team kata.  The North Central Region (NCR) provided six certified AAKF judges to help with the Madison tournament, see photo below.  Congratulations to all the participants that medaled in their event.  A special thank you to the hosting club, students, and judges for putting on a successful and well attended tournament.

Click here to see more photos and videos.

AAKF Annual Membership Renewal – March 1 Deadline

Individual AAKF membership expire March 1. 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 to access the AAKF registration form. Write a check following the instructions from your club’s sensei. Deliver your payment and registration form to your club’s sensei – he/she will then mail the documents to the AAKF organization. For club registration form, click here.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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

2022 October 17-22 WTKF World Championships – Highlights

The World Traditional Karate-do Federation held the 2022 World Championships in Natal, Brazil on October 17-22, 2022. A two-day refresher course seminar for the judges and coaches was held to review rules and procedures, and conduct model matches in preparation for the championships.

The 1st WITOLD KWIECINSKI International Open Individual Cup was held on Thursday 20 October. This event gave judges and contestants an opportunity to sharpen their skills for the World Championships before the eliminations and finals on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Thank you to Mark Abeln for photos from the 2022 WTKF World Championships. Due to his judging commitments, Mark could only take a few photos and videos. Click here to see Mark’s photos and videos on the NCR Facebook (FB) site. A few of Mark’s photos are also posted below.

Additional photos and videos can be found on the Polish Team Facebook site. Click here for photos. Click here for video of the Polish team training on a beach in Brazil.

For Natal, Brazil city and club photos and videos, click here. More photos/videos from the 2022 WTKF championships may be available in the near future.

Traditional Karate-Do Academy U of Mn Club Tournament – Highlights

The Traditional Karate-do Academy U of Mn Club recently held their annual karate tournament at the Van Cleve Recreation Center near the U of Mn campus. Sensei Trung Le’s club did a fantastic job hosting the event. His students put in long hours and considerable effort to make the event run smoothly. There were 41 competitors from the U of Mn club, Shotokan Karate of Mn, Madison Japanese Karate Club, Midwest Karate St. Paul, Macalester College, and the Hudson WI clubs. And, ten judges helped manage the ring events. Click here for tournament results list.

Click here to see photos from the event.

In Memory – Charlie Gohmert

Charlie was an avid karateka under Sensei Fursaro. He competed in many local and national events. He taught many classes for Sensei Fusaro. He will be truly missed.

Published on November 6, 2022

“Gohmert, Charles L. 72, beloved brother, family member and friend died Oct. 28th after a short illness. Charlie was born in Minneapolis and lived most of his life on the North Side. He graduated from North High School in 1967. He was a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve. Charlie became active in Shotokan Karate in 1968, in which he continued training and teaching for most of the rest of his life. He achieved a fifth degree black belt. Charlie was an avid reader and enjoyed watching movies and especially The Game of Thrones. He loved having many dogs and cats throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents Marjorie and Frederick and brother David. He is survived by sisters Susan, Kathryn, and Martha, nieces and nephews and many cousins and friends. An informal celebration of his life will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 11:00am at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Ave. S., Edina. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Arthritis Foundation at arthritis.org. “

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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

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.

Upcoming Calendar of Events and Registration

• NCR upcoming events
  • 2023 October 14 noon – NCR Fall Shiai – kata and kumite. SKM dojo. Click here for more details.
  • 2023 November 4 – UofW Madision Karate tournament 11am-5pm
  • 2023 November 18 – Traditional Karate-Do Academy at UMN shia – Kata and Kumite – More details to follow.
  • 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
  • Oct 4-7 Pan-Am tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2023 – Click here for more details.
  • 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