IFK Canada Kyokushin Organization 1st Committee Meeting

Sunday December 4, 2016 was a monumental day for Kyokushin in Canada. It marked the first official committee meeting of IFK Canada Kyokushin Organization. There hasn’t been representation for the International Federation of Karate (Kyokushin) in Canada for many years, until Sensei Steve Fogarasi moved to Canada from Romania, and in 2010, with the recommendation of Hanshi Steve Arneil, the founder of the IFK, Sensei Fogarasi would become the country representative.

Since that time Sensei Fogarasi has been building his own dojo, Contact Kicks Martial Arts, and building the infrastructure for IFK Canada. IFK has been laying its roots in Ontario and later with dojos from Quebec.

Due to the growth of the IFK in Canada it became time to form an official committee, with individuals taking on the various tasks required to run a growing organization. Which brings us to this first official committee meeting.

Joined by Sensei Steve Fogarasi, Senseï Jonathan C. Hemond, Senseï Mikhail Zimerman, Sempai Baker El-Hoseiny, Sempai Dezideriu Muzsi, Sempai Pascal Hemond, Sempai Mici Fogarasi, Mihai Cotop, Oleg Vainshtein, Scott Heaney and Natália Aragao, the team met in Toronto (Vaughan) to elect board members and create a calendar of events moving into 2017.

The first order of business was electing the board, beginning with the President and Vice-president, for the new Non-Profit Organization. Sensei Steve Fogarasi was voted in as the President and Senseï Jonathan Hemond as the Vice-President, respectively.

The other positions voted in for the Executive Board included:

Secretary General - Sempai Mici Fogarasi

Treasurers - Mihai Cotop and Sempai Pascal Hemond Team Coach - Sensei Steve Fogarasi Chief Referee - Senseï Mikhail Zimerman

Communications Officer (Media and PR) – Scott Heaney

Official Photographer and Videographer - Oleg Vainshtein

International Planning and Organization in the Americas - Sempai Pascal Hemond

As well, the beginning foundation of the Under Committees was considered, with the first order of business the Technical and Grading Committee. This will be led by Senseï Jonathan Hemond and Sempai Mici Fogarasi for Kata, Kihon and Syllabus and Senseï Mikhail Zimerman for Kumite.

This will mean a grading standardization for testing and ranking under IFK Canada and creating policy for other IFK Canada Kyokushin Dojos to follow. Another meeting will be set up, to go into more detail.

The IFK World Tournament and participation was discussed as well as IFK Canada Kyokushin events for 2017. This includes a summer camp, to be held at a central location between Quebec and Toronto, with representation from IFK USA. Date to be determined for August.

All in all it was a very successful first meeting. Everyone is very excited about the future and path of this new Kyokushin organization in Canada. More details of events to come!

Osu!

Short bio of attendees:

Sensei Steve Fogarasi 4th Dan

Black belt 4th dan in Kyokushin Karate (International Karate Federation - IFK)
IFK Canada Team Coach
Owner, Manager and Head Coach Contact Kicks Martial Arts
Canadian National Representative IFK Canada
30 years experience in Kyokushin karate and 10 years of competitive combat experience in full contact karate, as well as 15 years experience in competitive refereeing.
15 years experience in kickboxing

Senseï Jonathan Hémond 3rd Dan

Black belt 3rd dan in Kyokushin Karate (International Karate Federation - IFK)
IFK Canada Technical and Grading Committee (Kata, Kihon and Syllabus)
Started in 1995 with IFK
Owner and Manager of Karate Laval
Professor at Loisirs St-Elzéar in Laval
25 years experience in Kyokushin karate, including 22 years of experience in national and international competition in Kata and Kumite
Long sales experience at Desjardins Assurance

Senseï Mikhail Zimerman 3rd Dan

3rd Degree Black Belt in Kyokushin
IFK Canada Technical and Grading Committee (Kumite)
Started in 1993 with IFK
6 years teaching Physical Education, currently with John Abbott College - CEGEP located in St Anne De Bellevue, Quebec
International level competitor for many years
Very active referee in Quebec

Sempai Baker El-Hoseiny

2nd Degree Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate
Electrical Engineering background
Currently Communications Officer in the Canadian Military

Senpai Pascal Hémond

2nd Degree Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate in 2014, training since 1989 (started in 1995 with IFK)
Hockey Coach (NCCP 1-3 International certified)
Supervisor in IT (managing 60 people, including oversees teams)