Author: GH

December Update

by GH

The first half of our 2025/2026 season is almost over and we’ve had a great year so far, with lots of learning all around. Our returning members continue to grow and improve, and our newer members are starting to get the hang of basic movements and working on learning new kata and techniques.

Training for December will run until next Thursday, December 18th which will be our last official session; however, we will also have an optional training opportunity at our normal time on Monday December 22nd for anyone interested and available to join in.

We will be resuming training sessions on Monday, January 5, 2026 and look forward to seeing everyone back after the holiday break.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Promotions

by GH

Congratulations to Travis, Laurie, and Gillian for receiving promotion to their next level Black belts this past week!

Travis – Nidan

Laurie – Sandan

Gillian – Sandan

It takes a lot of determination and hard work to get to the first level of Black belt, and even more to continue on after receiving it. Then the hard work begins in continuing to learn, develop, grow, and to share that knowledge with others.

In honor of Sensei Robert, these three black belts received their next level promotion from the Sankaku Karate Association, of which the Vulcan Tekka Karate, High River Karate Club, and Strathcona Community Association Karate Clubs are a part.

Congratulations, and many more years of learning and teaching yet to come!

Karate Alberta Registration

by GH

Those of you who have been with the High River Karate Club in the past know that we are a member of Karate Alberta, and pay an annual fee for each member via our club to the association for membership benefits, including participation in KA tournaments and insurance. In the past, our club Sensei has entered information online for each member and collected fees to pay to the association as a group.

This year, Karate Alberta has updated their process to ensure that each club member (or their parent/guardian) completes the online waiver required personally.

If you are a current club member, please complete the registration and waiver by accessing the following link:

https://martialmember.com/MemberRegister/Index/?clubId=1483a1de-1d3c-47b7-a212-4819625a949f

The fees required will still be paid directly to the High River Karate Club, and the club will forward this payment to Karate Alberta, the same as previously.

Karate Alberta fees for the 2025/2026 season are:

  • Ages 11 & under:  $38/year
  • Ages 12 & up:   $43/year

Thank you for your understanding as we work through this new process together!

Thanksgiving Holiday

by GH

We will be taking a break on Monday, October 13th for the Thanksgiving holiday, and returning to training on Thursday, October 16th.

We have been excited to see returning students and to welcome some new faces to the club this season!

We always welcome new members. Training is Monday and Thursday nights, with white/yellow/orange belts training from 7-8PM, and green-black belts training 7-8:30PM.

Expect an update post re: Karate Alberta 2025/26 season membership fees and waivers in the near future. There will be an online waiver for each member to complete individually, while membership fees will still go through the club for payment. Details will be posted here, and reviewed in class, next week.

2025/26 Training Begins

by GH

We’re back!

Our first training session for the 2025/26 season begins on Monday, September 8th, at 7PM upstairs at High River Fitness.

Fees are $60 per month per person (cash, check or e-transfer only).

We will be welcoming all new and returning members, ages 8 years and older.

Classes:

7PM – 8PM: White/Yellow/Orange, ages 8-12 years

7PM – 8:30PM: Green and above, 13 years and above

We are changing things up a little bit this year, with classes running from 7-8PM for White/Yellow/Orange belts and 8-12 year-olds, and 7-8:30PM for everyone else. By making this change, we are hoping to:

  • help keep our younger members more engaged through the full class time, and
  • give our more senior belts more of a chance to practice their kata and kumite skills

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. As always, we will be evaluating how this change is working out for everyone, and we are open to feedback on what is or isn’t working well.

Contact:

Sensei Gillian Hurst – 403-336-0909 – hurst.gillian@gmail.com

Sensei Travis Gauvreau – 403-336-9974 – travis_gauvreau@hotmail.com

Summer Break, Tournament, and Gradings

by GH

Congratulations to all of the High River Karate Club athletes who participated in the Karate Alberta Spring 2025 Tournament in Calgary on May 31st!

For full results from the tournament, please visit the Kihapp website here and click on the High River Karate Club: https://www.kihapp.com/tournaments/19351-karate-alberta-provincial-tournament-spring-2025/results

We are so proud of all of you for a tremendous effort at the tournament – you all did amazing!

Congratulations to all of our Karate students who successfully graded for their next belt through the last 2 months!

Yellow Belt – Owen, Rawson, and Lena

Green Belt – Scarlet, Mark, and Jaden

Blue Belt – JoAnna, Zach L, Trey, Ivy, and Zach P

We finished our last training session for the 2024/25 season on Thursday, June 26th, and we will be off for a well-earned break until September – stay tuned for a start date announcement later in August.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER HOLIDAY!!

Karate Alberta Tournament

by GH

The Spring 2025 Karate Alberta Tournament is coming up on Saturday, May 31st 2025.

Who: Any interested High River Karate Club members (Yellow belts and above only)

What: Karate Alberta Spring 2025 Tournament

When: Saturday, May 31, 2025 – 9AM Start

Where: Joseph Kryczka Arena (Southland Leisure Centre)

2000 Southland Dr SW, Calgary, AB

Cost:

$50.00/person Single Event – Kata or Kumite

$20.00/person, For Second Events Kata or Kumite

$21.00 per Team, Team Kata

Ex. If you wish to compete in both kata and kumite, you would pay $70.00. If just kata, or just kumite, it would be only $50.

Please make all checks payable to the High River Karate Club directly, or e-transfer to hurst.gillian@gmail.com, or bring cash to class
PLEASE CONFIRM DESIRE TO COMPETE BY THURSDAY, MAY 22nd AT THE LATEST

Training Update:

We will be training on Monday, May 19th for anyone available to come to class over the long weekend

Have a great long weekend, and see you all next week!

Tournament Recap and Easter

by GH

Congratulations to all of the karate ka (students) who participated in the Seiwa Kai invitational Robert Robinson Memorial tournament on April 13th, 2025!

You all did amazing, and Sensei Robert would have been very proud of each and every one of you, whether you performed your kata once, or placed in your division. The important thing is, you came and participated, and performed your kata in front of an audience, and as Sensei Doug said, this is preparing you for grading, and the Karate Alberta tournament at the end of May.

Thank you also to all of the family and friends who came out to support our athletes!

Below are a few photos from the tournament. If anyone has additional photos they would like to add, please feel free to forward to hurst.gillian@gmail.com.

EASTER HOLIDAY

We will be taking a break for Easter – NO CLASS on Monday, April 21st. We will resume training on Thursday, April 24th.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Seiwa Kai Karate Tournament

by GH

On Sunday, April 13th, we will be attending the Sensei Rob Robinson Memorial Tournament hosted by the Calgary Seiwa Kai Goju Ryu Karate Club at the Guardian Angel School in South West Calgary.

Please see link to the tournament here for details!

This tournament is a chance for students to demonstrate their kata in front of an audience and practice for grading (if applicable) and the Karate Alberta tournament later this spring. There is no kumite (sparring) at this event. It is all in good fun and great practice, and a chance to see another style of karate from our own Shotokan style.

UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who brought their forms in! We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, April 13th at the Guardian Angel School, 20 Aspen Hills Drive S W, Calgary, AB.

NOTES FOR COMPETITORS

  • Bring a water bottle and snacks
  • Plan to arrive by 9:30AM – competition will begin at 10AM
  • Plan to stay until early afternoon – bring a lunch, or plan to take a short lunch break:
    • Team Kata event has been after lunch at past events
    • If you win your individual kata division, you will be asked to stay for the finals after lunch, where winners from each division compete for the tournament trophy
  • Remember to have fun!

Tournament Recap

by GH

Thank you to all of the competitors, spectators, judges and special guests who came to support the High River and Vulcan Tekka Karate Clubs at our first annual Sensei Robert Robinson Memorial Tournament!

At the tournament on March 2, 2025 – 20 competitors from the Vulcan Tekka and High River Karate clubs competed in individual and team kata. All of our participants demonstrated great physical ability, spirit (kime) and supportiveness for each other.

Thank you to Sensei Roberts family for attending as our special guests – it was wonderful to have you with us for the event.

Thank you Sensei Sue and Senpai Travis for the dedication to Sensei Robert which opened our event. Thank you to all of our black belt judges, including Senpai Serge and Sensei’s Lyle, Dot, and Sensei Blaine, who managed the tournament draws and supported our judges with competition protocol. It was an honor to present awards in recognition for dedication to the sport of Karate on behalf of Sensei Robert to Senpai Serge, Sensei Lyle, and Sensei Dorothy, for their many years of service in the High River Karate Club.

Thank you to all of our spectators who cheered on our competitors. We have collected a few photos from the event below. Please forward any you would like to add to Senpai Gillian at hurst.gillian@gmail.com