In karate training we wear a traditional, usually white, cotton top and pants known in Japanese as a “gi”. It is a simple, loose-fitting outfit that allows one to move freely. The outfit is tied at the waist with a belt, known in Japanese as an “obi”. For students of karate, the obi sometimes becomes the focus more than the practice of the martial art.

I was asked by someone recently what level of black belt that I am. My response to him was, “It doesn’t matter as much what level of black belt you are as it does who grades you for your level.” It matters who your teachers are and what lineage you come from in your martial arts practice. In karate and in kobudo (traditional weapons training), there are 10 levels of black belt. These are called degrees or, in Japanese, “dan” levels. All levels have strict and rigourous requirements. I have two black belts  since I practice two martial arts – one in karate and one in kobudo – and I am working on the requirements for my next levels in both.

I received my last levels from two of the masters in karate and kobudo – two of the most respected martial artists in the world. Morio Higaonna Sensei is my karate sensei. He is a 10th degree black belt. His training lineage goes directly back to the beginnings of karate in Okinawa, Japan. He has a dojo in Naha, Okinawa, and his sensei was a student of the founder of our style of karate, Goju ryu. This direct lineage ensures the highest quality of teaching and practice and it ensures that the expectations of students is high. Tamayose Hidemi Sensei is my sensei in kobdo. He is also a 10th degree black belt and has his dojo in Okinawa. The lineage of his teachers and their practice goes back several hundred years in Okinawa.

Before karate and kobudo were brought to western countries, there were only two belt colours – white and black. This meant that students were white belts for many years, doing very rigourous training without the reward of achieving belt levels. When the sensei felt the student was ready, he would grade him for a black belt. When martial arts was brought to the western countries as a recreational activity, however, it was thought that grading for several belt levels would keep students motivated. Karate now has about 10 levels of coloured belts for a student to grade for before grading for black belt.

Students of martial arts should choose their sensei (teacher) carefully. The person teaching and grading them through their levels should be someone who is still learning from his own teachers, still improving and still practicing through his own levels of black belt. Even for white belts, yellow belts, blue belts … it matters not as much what belt level you are but who is teaching you and who is grading you for those belts.

Sensei Mac Newton

The first two weeks of classes for all new students is free of charge. This allows students and the parents of students the chance to see whether they enjoy karate classes before registering.

Adults can start anytime. We are currently making an interest list for chidren’s classes.

Pronounced “toe –oo – shee – kan” means “House of Indomitable Spirit”. I chose this name for my karate school because it describes the essence of karate.

Karate training is all about developing the whole person. The building where a karate school holds its classes is known as a dojo. Dojo means “the place of the way”. Therefore, Toshikan means the place of the way of building indomitable spirit within ourselves.

Karate and other forms of martial arts were developed, of course, for battles, for warfare and for self-defense. Through the daily rigorous and organized practice of martial arts, self-discipline and strength of character also developed. But, before karate became a recreational activity – before it was brought from Japan to other parts of the world, it was seen as the development of survival skills. One’s practice of karate could mean the difference between life and death. Therefore, “indomitable” would have referred to being unbeatable in battle as well as in spirit.

Karate remains true to its martial roots, of course, and is still a practice of self-defense, and many students join karate classes and participate because of the physicality of the practice. It’s the initial reason that I, myself, first joined a class many years ago.

In every class at the dojo, we repeat the dojo kun, which are the sayings that guide our practice of karate and the way we conduct ourselves in life. One of the sayings is “Futo fukutsu no seishin o yashinau koto”, roughly translated as “Never give up”. Always doing your best is what indomitable spirit is all about.

Many students, both children and adults, have found that if they participate in the dojo with this attitude of never giving up and doing one’s best, especially when the activities are challenging for the mind and the body, they develop indomitable spirit. This spirit and attitude helps them to have a positive outlook and an ability to face and succeed in challenging situations in other parts of their lives.

Not every activity in karate will be easy for everyone. In fact, much of karate is challenging to learn. In my own practice and learning, I am challenged all the time. I am inspired by my own sensei, who is 72, and is stronger and faster and more flexible, and, of course, more skilled than I am. Despite being a very busy man, who is the head of the International Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Federation, he practices daily. I am also continually inspired by my own students. In particular, I have taught many students who have disabilities. I remember James, for instance, a 30 year-old man with Down’s Syndrome who trained with me until he moved back to Vancouver, where his family lives. His enthusiasm and effort in the dojo inspired all of us. He is one of the people I think of often when I consider the meaning of indomitable spirit. – toshikan.