Karate Canucks Conversation 018 - Senseis Theresa and David Griffin (Recorded Oct 24, 2021)

Описание: Sensei David Griffin began his martial arts journey in 1972 when he started training in Chito-Ryu Karate under several kyu belts in the Halifax, Nova Scotia area. Three years later he earned his 1st degree black belt (Sho-dan) from Sensei Shane Higashi and a spot on the Nova Scotia provincial team that competed at the National Karate Association Canadian Championships in 1975.

In 1981, as a 2nd degree black belt (Ni-Dan) he founded the Windsor Karate Club in Windsor, Nova Scotia which he is still running today. Now a 6th degree black Belt (Roku-Dan) in Shito-Ryu Karate – over the years Sensei Griffin has competed, coached and officiated provincially, nationally and internationally while amassing several awards and titles including: national champion; head coach; Provincial Technical Director; Provincial Chief Referee; World Karate Federation A-level judge; and “Sportsman of the Year”, “Coach of the year” and “Official of the Year” from National Karate Association – now known as Karate Canada.

Sensei Theresa Griffin started her karate career in 1981 when she began training in Shotokan Karate by joining the Sochin Karate Club in Dartmouth, NS under Sensei Ron Fagan. Fast forward to 1986 she competed at the National Karate Championships for the first time as a Blue Belt, and a year later (as a brown belt) she would win the silver medal in the kumite event at the National Championships. 1988 was a capstone year for Theresa Sensei as she would earn her 1st Degree black belt (Sho-Dan) in Chito-Ryu from Sensei Shane Higashi, take home the gold medal at the Canadian National Championships and earn a spot on Canadian national team which competed at the World Karate Championships in Cairo, Egypt. In doing so she became the first woman from Nova Scotia to compete at the world Karate championships.

Like Sensei David Griffin, over the years she would earn several awards and titles including: the first female coach in the National Karate Association; World Chito-Ryu Soke Cup Champion; National Karate Association “Sportsman of the Year”; 3rd degree black belt (San-Dan) in Shito Ryu Karate; and “mom” three times over in 1989, 1991 and 1994.

Senseis David and Theresa first met in 1982 at a karate training camp and since then their personal and martial arts paths have been inter-twined and are now co-instructors at the Windsor Karate Club in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley.

http://windsorkarateclub.ca/