WTKO Canada

WTKO CANADA SPOTLIGHT DAVE OGREN - PART #1 MIDDLETON Which line of the Dojo Kun is the most significant to you personally?... OGREN The line that resonates most with me personally is Endeavour to Excel. Karate does not come naturally to me and it took, and takes, a great deal of thought and effort for me to learn and perform. Prior to my first attempt at Shodan, I spent a year attending every class I could, and usually trained seven days a week. It still took me a couple tries to attain Shodan. None of that is why the line is important to me; it’s background. For a long time after I earned my Shodan, I got through many difficult things by reminding myself that I had endeavored and persevered and was successful in obtaining this important Karate goal. If I could do that then I could complete papers, pass tests, succeed at presentations, complete university degrees, get jobs, and complete marathons. Endeavour to Excel taught me that what is required for success in most things in life is to try your best. To persevere, and not give up when things are difficult. To Endeavour to Excel. MIDDLETON Physically and mentally the technique you feel the most comfortable / confident with? OGREN This question is an interesting one and I think the answer has changed over time for me. When I was younger and competing regularly, Mawashi-geri was a technique I relied on most because of its diversity. I could use it in a traditional sense, or I could start it as a Mae-geri and, when my opponent reacted, I finished with Mawashi-geri. The comfort in knowing I had a reliable weapon further built my confidence. Later, I started to really enjoy Mae-geri and felt confident kicking with it at a variety of distances, though I especially liked to use it at long range because I felt I could cover an unexpected amount of distance with it. At shorter ranges, I felt like it could be hidden well under a punching arm, and I liked the practical thought of front kicking low to a leg and following up with a throw or a punch higher up. This all changed when I unfortunately dislocated my knee while competing at a National tournament. Even after the knee healed, I've never had the psychological ability to really commit to a front kick. Most recently, I think I like Gyaku-zuki the best. It feels solid and strong and fast to me, and I really like the feeling I get of going from an open Hanmi (Half Body) position into reverse punch. I feel like Gyaku-zuki is one technique where, every so often, I blissfully taste the way a Karate technique is supposed to feel with everything connected and the body controlling the technique. What inspires me now is to replicate this feeling of bliss each time I perform Gyaku-zuki!

Very proud of all that Sensei Bruce Hutton & Catherine Hutton have done to promote Karate in the Inglis area! Honoured to be a part of their journey!

INGLIS KARATE CLUB Wonderful to see a write up on Karate is a way of life for many that features our very own Sensei Bruce Hutton! PM Sensei Scott Middleton if interested in reading the full article!

WTKO WINTER CAMP 2021

Advert for the 2017 WTKO Canada Invitational Summer Seminar.

Advert for the 2020 WTKO Canada Invitational Fall Seminar.

Advert for the 2016 WTKO Canada Invitational Summer Seminar.