Vancouver Karate School in Kitsilano, Vancouver. For Kids and Adults in Vancouver.

As we celebrate 2 years since the opening of Hayabusa Karate, let’s look at our accomplishments:

BC TEAM FINAL SELECTION TOURNAMENT AND TRAINING @ RICHMOND OLYMPIC OVAL– JANUARY 19TH AND 20TH, 2013

Three athletes from Hayabusa Karate officially became members of the 2013 BC Team on January 20th at the Richmond Olympic Oval and will compete at the National Karate Championships in Toronto, March 16-18th. After only 2 years since opening and with only 4 athletes competing for a spot on the BC Team, Hayabusa Karate Club came 3rd by Medal Count at the BC Team Final Selection Tournament on January 19th. Congratulations to Nathan Dong, Sarah Perez and Valentyna Zolotarova. Alex Andruzzi also competed for a spot on the team and faced several national champions in his division. We are very proud of Alex’s performance and his dedication to Karate as well as his studies at UBC.

Above: Hayabusa Karate-Kas at BC Team Training: Nathan, Alex, Valentyna, Sarah.

Below: Hayabusa Karate-ka, Gwyndoline Tingey holds up her BC Team T-shirt  gives us a big smile after winning Gold in both Kata and Kumite and being selected by the Talent Identification Program to train with the BC Team for the rest of the season!

Gwyndoline Tingey was among the few young competitors selected by Karate BC’s the newly launched Talent Identification Program. Although Gwyn is too young to be a BC Team member, she has been selected to train with the BC Team in both KATA and KUMITE for the rest of the season. Hayabusa Karate is among the few clubs in British Columbia and Canada that teach traditional Shotokan basics as well as competitive WKF Kumite (fighting) training and competitive WKF Kata (form) training. We are very proud to have athletes competing in both KATA and KUMITE at a National Level. Sarah Perez will represent BC in KUMITE (fighting: -55 kg Women’s ), Nathan Dong in KATA (14/15 boys kata) (form) and Valentyna Zolotarova in both KATA and KUMITE. She will participate at the Nationals in Women’s Kata, -55 kg Women’s Kumite and Women’s Open Weight Kumite and as an Official.

Below: Talent Identification Program Participants and BC Team Coaches:From left to right, Mike Ditson, Pam Ross, Brendan Wise, Levi Thomas, Cassia Kitaoka, Gwyndoline Tingey, Zahnil Lal, and I don't remember the names of the two boys after and the two girls, Peter Stoddart, Nicole Poirier, Jason Farquarson.

NEW DOJO ADDRESS AND BETTER HOURS – 1407 LABURNUM STREET (BY KITSILANO BEACH)

Due to our recent move to 1407 Laburnum Street (only a 5 minute walk from our previous location), we have been able to schedule practice at more convenient times. Currently we have 4 practices per week and will be adding a 5th practice on Thursdays starting in February! (Time to be announced shortly.)

Mon: 6-7pm Wed: 3:30-5:30pm Thurs:Coming Soon Fri: 6-7 pm Sat: 1-3 pm

HAYABUSA FOCUS AWARD

Alex Bezvocov wins the Hayabusa Focus award in December 2012!

BELT TEST RESULTS – OCTOBER 2012

Agon, Donika, Breanna, Brett, Emma, Ethan, Tai, Casey and Rachel tested and passed their yellow belt test. Mehar, Peter and Maria passed their blue belt test. Well done!

BC PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BCIT – NOVEMBER 17TH & 18TH, 2012

Hayabusa did very well at the Provincial Championships. Our accomplishment include: Breanna:Gold in Kumite; Emma:Bronze in Kumite; Gwyn: Gold in Kata; Nathan: Gold in Kata; Sarah: Silver in Kumite; Alex: Bronze in Kumite; Sydney and Ethan: competed at their first Provincials; Maria: Silver in Kata; Valentyna: Gold in Kumite (-55kg) Gold in Kumite (Open Weight), Bronze in Kata, Senior Female Grand Champion, Referee of the Tournament Award. Congratulations everyone!

ZONE 5 SELECTION TOURNAMENT – OCTOBER 14TH @ HOLLYBURN COUNTRY CLUB

Hayabusa students worked as a team to help set up for the Zone 5 selection tournament and performed very well on the day of the competition. The results are: Emma: Gold in Kumite; Breanna: Gold in Kata & Bronze in Kumite; Gwyndoline:n Gold in Kata, Bronze in Kumite; Nathan: Gold in Kata; Peter: Gold in Kata, Bronze in Kumite; Sam: Bronze in Kumite, Sydney: Bronze in Kata and Silver in Kumite: Alex: Bronze (automatic qualification for Provincials); Thomas: 5th in Kata (Thomas had a very close bout and lost the medal round by one flag); Sarah – automatic qualification for BC Provincials, Armaan: competed in Kata for the first time and was the youngest competitor in his division; Mehar: 5th in Kumite ( Mehar versed a very strong competitor in her first round); Ethan - survived a kick to the head and performed Heian Shodan for the first time in competition; Maria: Bronze in Kata and Kumite; Valentyna: automatic qualification for BC Provincials

Above: 8/9 year old Fighting Medallists: All Hayabusa Girls:  Breanna, Sydney and Emma!

Above: Hayabusa Karate-Kas help set up for the Zone 5 Tournament.

ISKF NATIONAL CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS @ RICHMOND OLYMPIC OVAL – MAY 12th and 13th, 2012

(organized by the International Shotokan Karate Federation of BC)

Thomas Dong, Nathan Dong and Gwyndoline Tingey won silver at the ISKF Shotokan National Championships in May 2012. Congratulations!

NKA NATIONAL CANADIAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT TEH RICHMOND OLYMPIC OVAL - MARCH 16TH - 18TH, 2012

Hayabusa Karate instructor, Valentyna Zolotarova, returned to competitive karate and participated in the Women’s Kata division only 6 weeks after giving birth to her second baby. She was very happy to represent BC once again at the National Championships in Vancouver.