The Yoshukan Karate Association is lead by Kancho Earl Robertson (Founder & Director). Kancho Robertson has over 40 years of teaching experience and has studied in Japan under Hanshi Tsuyoshi Chitose and Soke Yasuhiro Chitose (Grand Masters of Chito Ryu Karate-do), Hanshi Shane Higashi (Chief Instructor of Canadian Chito Ryu), Sensei Mike Litwinczuk, the original RCMP self-defence instructor, Sensei Don Niiya (Kodokan Judo), Kaicho Mike Foster (Founder of the Yoshukai International Karate Association), Kyoshi Devorah Dometrich (Ryu Kyu Kobudo Hosoin Shinkokai), Hanshi Masaru Inomoto (Founder of Rengo-kai) and Kyoshi Yukio (Fred) Okimura (Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido).
Kancho Robertson holds a 6th Dan (Degree) Black Belt and Shihan (Master Instructor) in Yoshukai International Karate under Hanshi Mike Foster, a 6th Dan and Renshi Licence (Senior Expert Teacher) in Jikkishin Ryu under Hanshi Masaru Inomoto, 5th Dan from the National Karate Association under Hanshi Masami Tsuruoka, 4th Dan, Shidoin (Senior Instructor) in Chito Ryu karate under Soke Tsuyoshi Chitose and holds ranks in Kodokan Judo and Ryu Kyu Kobudo and Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido (Art of the Sword). Kancho was also 1st Vice President of Karate Association of Ontario (KO) and Vice-Chairman of the Karate Ontario Technical Committee.
Kancho has studied Boxing; Greco-Roman Wrestling; Aikido; Kali; and various systems of karate over his 40+ years of martial arts study. A former top competitor (Kumite & Kata), Kancho believes the true goal of martial arts training is the pursuit of character development.
Yoshukan Crest.
The Yoshukan Crest symbolizes the historical roots of both the Chito-Ryu and Yoshukai systems in Yoshukan Karate and incorporates both symbols into a new and unique Yoshukan Crest. The association has further created a two-tier crest (Red for Mudansha and Gold for Yudansha) that identifies students as members of our association dedicated to the practice of Yoshukan karate.
The Association
The direction for the Yoshukan Karate Association (YKA) is provided by Kancho Robertson and the Association.
The Association Board is comprised of all 3rd Dan level instructors. Examinations for 1st Kyu (Brown Belt level) are conducted by Board members at the annual summer camp (Natsu Keiko) in Picton, Ontario or by Kancho Robertson when he visits his dojo locations.
The Yoshukan Karate Association also has sub-committees responsible for setting standards in a variety of disciplines. These committees are: Administration; Kata/Technique Standardization; and Kumite/Competition.
Each committee is responsible for working under the direction of the Association Board and Kancho Robertson and defining standards for instruction and testing for all Yoshukan dojo.
