ABOUT THE  HALIFAX  ISKF

The International Shotokan Karate Federation ("ISKF") of Nova Scotia is one of the largest Shotokan karate organization in Atlantic Canada. Sensei Tony Tam is Chief Instructor and Sensei Danny Tam, is president and Vice Chief Instructor of ISKF Nova Scotia, both are 7th dans and certified instructors, examiners and judges under the ISKF.

There are clubs in the Halifax Regional Municipality at Dalhousie University/King's College under Senseis Tony

Sensei Tony Tam (left), Master Woon-A-Tai (centre) and Sensei Danny Tam (right)

and Danny Tam, the Dartmouth Sportsplex (Paul Gareau, 5th dan and Fraser Kennedy, 5th dan), Saint Mary’s University (Craig Finney, 4th dan), Tantallon ( Alex Day, 3rd dan), and Akerley Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College (Ron Robichaud, 2nd dan). Other dojos are located in Truro (Charles Surrette, 5th dan), Yarmouth (Keith Miller, 4th dan), North Sydney (Don MacNamara, 2nd dan) and Cape Breton University (Gerard D'Orsay, 2nd dan). We are proud to announce that a recognized high school credit course in karate is currently being taught at the C.P. Allen High School, Bedford under Andy Allen, 5th dan and at Lockview High School, Fall River by Jake Crawford, 4th dan. This is the first of its kind in the Halifax Regional School Board system.

Many of the dojos in Nova Scotia offer a full-range of classes, for children and adults at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. In Halifax, new students can register for beginner classes at our dojos in January and September of each year. Please refer to our affiliated clubs page for contact information.

We practice non-contact traditional karate emphasizing mental and physical discipline and development. While we offer the opportunity to participate in tournaments, competition is not required.

The clubs are governed by the rules and regulations of the ISKF. So, when you join our clubs, you’re also joining the ISKF under the auspices of Master T. Okazaki, 10th dan, Chief Instructor, who is located in Philadelphia and regularly visits our region and also under Master Frank Woon-a-tai, 8th dan, who is located in Toronto. It’s a huge international community. We are affiliated with more than 80 clubs in Canada and 300 in the United States. The ISKF has more than 50,000 members in North America and member countries in South America, Europe, the Caribbean, South East Asia and the Middle East.

What is Karate?

Karate is a form of physical self-defense using the all parts of the body as weapons. But we’re also hoping to teach our students psychological self-defense techniques and ways to solve conflicts peacefully.

We practise Shotokan karate—the oldest and most traditional form of the Japanese martial arts, which was founded by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Originally developed in China under various forms of martial arts, modern day karate is attributed to Master Funakoshi in Japan where it was first introduced in 1921.