Welcome!  "Proudly teaching karate in Kamloops for 26 years"

The Western Karate Academy is in the business of teaching karate. We do not do "quick" promotions, and you won't see anyone under 16 with a black belt.

We believe that black belts should be worn by those who are mature, show strength of character and are capable of protecting themselves and others.

We encourage discipline, good health, and are concerned with character development.

Black Belt Members

1. Tim Frazer- shodan 2001*

2. Allan Fedorak - shodan 2004*

3. Lauren Hayden- shodan 2005*

4. Laura Doan- shodan  2006*

5. Emile Scheffel- shodan  2007*

6. Richard Marken- shodan  2007*

7. Nick Gagliano- shodan  2007*

8. Allyson Hirtle- shodan  2007*

9. Brad Wood- shodan  2008*

10. Shawn Grooms- shodan  2010*

11. Rob Neutelings- shodan  2010*

12. Terrie Collins- nidan 2014*

13. Pierre Desjardins- shodan  2011*

14. Dean Wichmann- shodan  2014

15. Richard Wilbur- shodan  2015*

16. DeNara Levin- shodan  2015

17. Talon Bomac- shodan  2015*

18. Brian Vlodder- shodan  2015*

19. River Williams-More- shodan  2015*

20. Marcus Marasco- shodan  2016

21. Dorian Sibbelee- shodan  2016*

22. Natalee Rempel- nidan 2020

23. Ethan Wenger- shodan  2017*

24. Damon Marken- shodan  2017*

25. Christo Vutev- shodan  2018* 

26. Dwight Burgher- shodan  2020

27. Caitlyn Neufeld- shodan  2020

*-Retired



More about Black belts 

Shokaido has ten degrees of black belt. The following are some of the requirements for each level of black belt at our academy, based on the requirements of the (click) Japan Karate Association (JKA).

Black belt 1st Dan (shodan)

• Has completed four hundred classes and a minimum of four years of martial arts training.

• Has held a Brown belt rank for at least one year

• Is at least sixteen years of age

Black belt 2nd Dan (nidan)

• Has held a 1st Dan for a minimum of two years.
• Is at least twenty years old

Black belt 3rd Dan - (sandan)

• Is at least twenty five years of age

• Has held a 2nd Dan for a minimum of three years

Black belt 4th Dan (yondan)

• Is at least thirty years of age

• Has held a 3rd Dan for a minimum of four years.

Black belt, 5th Dan (godan)

• Is at least thirty years of age

• Has held a 4th Dan for a minimum of five years

  Black belt, 6th Dan (rokudan)

• Is at least forty years of age

• Has held a 5th Dan for a minimum of six years

 Black belt, 7th Dan (shichidan)

• Is at least forty five years of age

• Has held a 6th Dan for a minimum of seven years

 Black belt, 8th Dan (hachidan)

• Is at least fifty years of age

• Has held a 7th Dan for a minimum of eight years

 Black belt, 9th Dan (kudan)

• Is at least sixty years of age

• Has held a 8th Dan for a minimum of nine years

 Black belt, 10th Dan (judan)

• Is at least seventy years of age

• Has held a 9th Dan for a minimum of ten years

     Yellow belt (8^th kyu)     30-37 classes

     Orange belt (7^th kyu)   60-75 classes

     Red belt (6^th kyu)         95-118 classes

     Blue belt (5^th kyu)       135-168 classes

     Purple belt (4^th kyu)   190-237 classes

     Green belt (3^rd kyu)    246-307 classes

     Brown belt (2^nd kyu)   314 classes (Min. 14 years old)

     Black belt candidate (1^st kyu)   

     Black belt (shodan)    400 classes  (Min. 16 years old)