Blog

2nd Annual Sensei Robert Robinson Memorial Tournament

by GH

It’s been just over a year since we lost Sensei Robert and had our 1st Annual Memorial Tournament to honor him by carrying on the tradition that he started for our club.

Our tournament this year will be held on Sunday, March 1st, 2026 starting at 10AM at the 187 Foothills Air Cadet hanger at the Foothills Regional Airport (formerly High River Regional Airport).

Everyone is welcome to attend, and we encourage all of our students to participate. This tournament is an excellent opportunity for students to conquer their nerves and have a great time showing off the skills they’ve been working so hard on in class to family and friends.

We attend a few tournaments each year as a club, and this tournament is a good opportunity to practice performing kata in preparation for both future tournaments, and for our annual gradings which will be coming up this spring for those who are ready to progress to their next belt level.

Tournament Details:

  • Sunday March 1, 2026
  • 9:30AM Sign In for Competitors
  • 10AM Tournament Start
  • Competitors bring or wear your Gi, bring a water bottle, and a snack – we usually go a bit over lunch, so you may want a snack for the morning (we will be providing some treats as well)
  • Fees – None – this tournament is free for all competitors!
  • Participants will be from the High River and Vulcan Tekka karate clubs
  • Draws will be divided into age and belt level categories (ex. K-12y, 13-18y, 18y+, White, Yellow, Blue, etc)
  • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will receive a medal in each draw category
  • Kata only

As always, please feel free to contact either Sensei Gillian or Sensei Travis if you have any questions or concerns!

Family Day Week & Resource Update

by GH

Family Day Week Class Schedule

Our training schedule for February includes the following dates to note:

Monday, February 16, 2026 – Family Day

  • We will be having this as an optional training day for anyone who wants to join Travis at the gym
  • Thursday, February 19th, 2026 – Regular Training Day

Resources for Students:

We have added a new video links page to the website with links to some of the YouTube videos we reference for the kata we train with for each belt level grading.

Kata Video Links

Upcoming Events

Also see our recent post for upcoming tournament and event dates in March and April – it’s going to be a busy spring season!

Upcoming Event Dates

Upcoming Event Dates

by GH

Here are some upcoming dates for the High River Karate Club that you will want to add to your calendar for March and April 2026!

Sensei Robert Robinson Memorial Tournament – 2nd Annual

  • Sunday, March 1, 2026
  • 10AM Start
  • 187 Foothills Air Cadets Hanger at the High River Airport
  • No Cost – KATA ONLY – Invitation Only (Sankaku Association Members)

seIwa kai tournament

  • Sunday, March 22, 2026
  • 9:30AM registration, 10AM start
  • Kata Only
  • Calgary – location TBC

Rob robinson memorial team roping event

  • Saturday, April 11, 2026
  • 2PM
  • High River Agricultural Society Grounds 64137 HWY-543 E, Foothills County, AB

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!