Overview
The UBC Shotokan Karate dojo is run as a martial arts program by UBC Recreation (https://recreation.ubc.ca/). Registered participants can also join the AMS Shotokan Karate Club (https://amscampusbase.ubc.ca/shotokankarate/home/), which may hold classes in the Nest or other events from time to time.
Dojo History
The UBC Karate Club was formed in the late 1960s, and joined Canada Shotokan Karate when the organization formed in 1972. In the 1970s the dojo was led by Don Gee and Don Jurchuk. Don Gee continued to lead until the mid-1990s, after which his student Joel Nitikman led until 2012. Ryan Hill took over leadership in 2012, and he and Ian Gan are the current instructors. For many years practices were held in Gym E at the Osborne Centre, but moved after construction of the Student Recreation Centre in the 1990s. Given its long history, UBC has produced many of Canada’s top ranked karate-ka, some of whom have gone on to start other dojos in the lower mainland and elsewhere. The UBC dojo has a long-standing relationship with the University of Washington dojo, and the two dojos have faced each other in a team kumite (sparring) competition almost every year since 1987. For more information on the lineage of Canada Shotokan karate, follow this link to the lineage page on the Canada Shotokan Karate web site.