Kancho
Earl Robertson

The Yoshukan Karate Association is lead by Kancho (System Chief Instructor and Founder) Earl Robertson.  The association is the cumulation of over 35 years of study by Kancho Robertson. 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.

At all times, the Association board is subject to the direction of Kancho Robertson.  The Association board serves as the implementers of Yoshukan Board vision and policy.

The Board of Directors is comprised of the: Kan-Cho (System Chief Instructor); Association President; Treasurer; Secretary and Technical Director; (appointed by Kancho Robertson). There are also four Director/Advisor elected positions on the Board of Directors.

In all cases, Kancho Robertson is the final authority on Yoshukan technical interpretations and association direction.

Yoshukan Karate Association

Led by Kancho Earl Robertson. Yoshukan karate is an amalgamation of the Yoshukai International and Chito Ryu systems. Yoshukan means ‘House of continuous development’ and reflects our philosophy of constant growth, learning and development. The Yoshukan Karate Association is led by the Board of Directors comprised of:

Kancho (Director): - Earl Robertson

President: - James Ashley

Secretary/Treasurer: - Elizabeth Gormley

Technical Advisor: - Louise Provencher

Advisor/Marketing Manager: - Annalisa Larocca

Advisor: - Bill Crowther

Advisor: - Robert Kalinowicz

Advisor: - Stephen Dreschel

Ryu Kyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai

The Yoshukan Karate Association is pleased to be associated with the Ryu Kyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai (Okinawan Kobudo – Weapons Association) under the direction of Kyoshi Devorah Dometrich. Sensei Dometrich is a former student of Hanshi (Grand Master Eisuke Akamine – 10th) and holds an 8th Dan in Ryu Kyu Kobudo. Sensei Dometrich provides weapons instruction to Yoshukan students on a regular basis.

Rengo Kai Karate Association

Masaru Inomoto – 9th Dan Karate-do, 8th Dan Kobudo, 7th Dan Iaido, 5th Dan Jukendo provides advanced karate instruction to Kancho Robertson and Yoshukan students on Chito Ryu karate and kobudo/iaido waza. Hanshi Inomoto was the ‘right-hand’ man to O-Sensei Tsuyoshi Chitose for over 4 decades and lives in Kumamoto, Japan.

Karate Association of Ontario (KO)

Karate Ontario is the provincial wing of the National Karate Association (NKA) of Canada. The NKA and KO are the only sport karate organizations recognized by Sports Canada and the government of Canada. Kancho Robertson is 1st Vice President of Karate Ontario and Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Technical Committee.

Yoshukan Karate has roots in both the Chito Ryu and Yoshukai International systems. As such, students from any of the following association dojos are welcome at any time at any of our Yoshukan Karate Association Dojo:

Canada Chito Ryu – Kyoshi Shane Higashi