This is where everyone starts out. We are proud members of the Rooke School of Karate. This is where an athlete starts as a white belt & begins the learning path to Black Belt. Our school trains kata 2x a week & kumite 1x a week, there is a Kobudo class as well. This is your learning, your class, your work to achieve the next rank towards that black belt.

We pay a monthly fee, along with the cost of a new Gi, as they out grow the old one. There is a 1x yearly fee to be a Karate Alberta member & that is paid through our local dojo.

Being present in your local dojo can open opportunities for regional training and/or tournaments.  Usually this means another dojo/club is bringing in a guest instructor & for a fee you can attend. Tournaments as well. There is usually a registration fee & you provide your own transportation to/from the event.  Our dojo allows athletes to borrow kumite gear. But you may want to look into that investment if kumite is part of the learning your athlete enjoys. (scroll down for gear & equipment)

Being Karate Alberta (KA) Members through our local dojo allows us to attend training camps, tournaments & be involved in activities sponsored by Karate Alberta. This is a great stepping stone into the competition side of Karate & could lead to being a team member to compete Nationally &/or internationally. These extra trainings are also great at just working with your individual goals of earning that next rank. All training will help you get to your goal. Whether that be a new belt color or a medal to hang around your neck.

Every KA member is a potential KA Team member. Working with your Sensei will help develop the technical skills along with the physical & mental skills that will prepare you for the path to competition.

Have those conversations with your Sensei with your goals.

Once decided to take that next step – be ready. It moves FAST.

Each year your athlete wants to be on the Provincial team you must sign up as a prospect.  You will receive lots of emails from the Team Managers – create a folder to keep those handy & pay attention to dead lines & timelines. There will be forms to be filled out, the emails are detailed with that info as they come. There will be mandatory team practices through out the coming months that lead up to the Provincial Selection Tournament.  In the past our province’s trainings have been held in Calgary, (we are north of Edmonton). This means transportation to & from, fuel, meals and accommodations are 100% paid by us, the parent.  In past years there have been 3-4 mandatory training events to attend as a prospect. And each training session has a fee associated with it. One fee for Kata & a separate fee for Kumite. 

The athlete agreement will outline what is expected of the athlete in regards to behavior, exemptions & expectations.  Always go over this with your Sensei for questions that you will have.

As a potential team member it is expected that your athlete have at minimum 10 hours of volunteer work before Nationals. This does not include set up & tear down of training events. When at a training event your athlete is expected to help set up, train & tear down. It will be a long day, we usually hit the road home around 5pm on the day of the training.

Each training event, the athlete is expected to be in full gear & equipment (scroll down for what gear you may need).

There will be a Provincial Selection Tournament. This is the event where the team members are chosen from. This tournament is mandatory if a spot on the Provincial team is your goal. In the past this has been a weekend event. There is usually training & meetings the day prior, set up the night before then the tournament.  This is a great time to get some of those mandatory volunteer hours in too. You are responsible for the tournament fees, Gi’s, gear, transportation to/from, accommodations,  meals & any fees associated with the weekend’s activities. Follow the instructions in all the emails sent out to sign up in the proper category.

This selection tournament puts athletes on the Provincial Team to represent our province at the National Canadian Karate Championship Tournament. (see the tab for NATIONALS)

Usually within a week of this tournament, an email is sent out with the names of athletes who made the provincial team. Each province is granted space for 3 kumite athletes per weight division & 4 athlete for kata per age division.

There is usually 2-3 mandatory training days in the month leading up to Nationals. Again you are responsible for all fees, transportation, accommodation & meals for each training day. 

**This is the divisions used at the 2024 National Competition

FEMALE & MALE INDIVIDUAL KATA 

• Youth (12-13 years old) 
• Cadet (14-15 years old*)
•  Junior (16-17 years old*) 
• U21 (18-20 years old*) 
• Senior (16+ years old*)

FEMALE INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

• Youth (12-13 years old*): -42 kg, -47 kg, -52 kg, +52 kg
• Cadet (14-15 years old*): -47 kg, -54 kg, -61 kg, +61 kg
• Junior (16-17 years old*): -48 kg, -53 kg, -59 kg, -66 kg, +66 kg
• U21 (18-20 years old*): -50 kg, -55 kg, -61 kg, -68 kg, +68 kg
• Senior (18+*): -50 kg, -55 kg, -61 kg, -68 kg, +68 kg

MALE INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

• Youth (12-13 years old*): -40 kg, -45 kg, -50 kg, -55kg, +55 kg
• Cadet (14-15 years old*): -52 kg, -57 kg, -63 kg, -70 kg, +70 kg
• Junior (16-17 years old*): -55 kg, -61 kg, -68 kg, -76 kg, +76 kg
• U21 (18-20 years old*): -60 kg, -67 kg, -75 kg, -84 kg, +84 kg
• Senior (18+*): -60 kg, -67 kg, -75 kg, -84 kg, +84 kg

FIRST & FOREMOST your athlete must hold a valid Canadian Passport for Canadian Citizenship in order to compete.

Heading to Nationals is a fast paced, whirlwind of info coming at you in every direction.  Emails will come fast. There will be forms to be filled out, medical info as well, sizes for Team wear, invoices for fees & training.  I would highly recommend responding to those emails as they arrive. The weeks leading up to Nationals can be very overwhelming.

Location is a different province each year. ( 2022 was New Foundland, 2023 & 2024 Laval Quebec, 2025 Richmond BC)

Provincial Team Wear will be provided by the team. The fee’s will be included in your invoice. This is usually a team jacket & short sleeve workout shirt. This past year the team had an online store where supporters & spectators could purchase team wear to show their support from the stands.

KA will send the athlete an invoice for fees & a due date. This amount can be shocking so be prepared. The due date is usually with 20 days of invoice date. What it will include is:

• 💰Hotel for athlete as they must stay in the designated team hotel. You the parent may ask to stay at that hotel as well and this amount due will include YOUR hotel fee.
• 💰 Shuttle from hotel to venue for athlete only
• 💰 Tournament/ registration fees & accreditations
• 💰Celebration banquet fees for athlete & you if you want one ( this has been close to $100/person)
• 💰 Team dinner (1),
• 💰Team t-shirts, coaching and managerial support,
• 💰light grazing/snack items during competition days

Expenses not included but are the responsibility of each athlete are:

• ✔️All travel expenses (flight, hotel, meals, medical insurance, Ubers etc). Chaperone included
• ✔️Spectator tickets to watch at the venue
• ✔️All Gi’s & gear
• ✔️All meals for athlete & chaperone
• ✔️Chaperone hotel if you are not staying at the team location.

In the past Athletes must arrive at the designated team hotel in advance of the competition (typically Tuesday is a travel day, Wednesday/Thursday are team training, Fri-Sat-Sun are competition, Monday travel day home). This can change but be prepared for a whole week.

Athletes are expected to be present for the entire day of competition each day. The day(s) they will compete are handled differently. These days can be long. Typically arrival is 8am & there have been days where the last event is after 8pm. 

In the off time, athletes may be with you for sightseeing, meals and other. You just use the WHATSAP Chat to let the team managers know. And there is always an athlete curfew every night.

Karate Canada will put out a BULLETIN that outlines everything from hotels, to equipment, to divisions, time tables & more. READ it entirely and keep an eye out for updates. Know your WKF rules so on competition day you aren’t surprised with what double elimination or repechage is. This bulletin can always be found on the Karate Canada Website. 

Sportdata.org will become your friend. They have a great app.  This is where EVERYTHING is posted – draws, timetable, bulletins, results, who is in what category & more. 

Bring your cow bells, whistles & drums. It is expected as a spectator for you to lose your voice cheering on our team. It is loud & excited!!

4 medals are awarded per category. Gold, Silver & 2 Bronze. When the medals are awarded your athlete will be met with a Karate Canada official to take a photo & provide preliminary information for the PANAMERICAN CONTENTIAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT.  You will be expected to say yes or no that day for your athlete’s attendance. This tournament is most likely always held in South America at the end of August.  SAY YES!  Saying yes gives you time, usually a week to crunch your budget as this will be an expensive tournament. Veronica competed in 2024 and for her & a chaperone the entire trip was $8500 CAD.

This tournament is by invite only, you must medal at Nationals BUT Karate Canada can only take 2 athletes per division. Earning a bronze doesn’t always mean you get to attend.  See the tab below on Continental Championship for more info)

This is where the expenses add up fast. Take into account that shipping can cause delays & if your athlete does not have the proper gear they may not compete. This is our extensive guide to what Veronica requires for all her competitions at Provincials, Nationals, Continental & Worlds. Again the bulletins for each competition will outline in detail what is required for that tournament. 

For Nationals, Continental Championship & Worlds all gear must be WKF approved & say that on the item somewhere.

**It’s also important that your athlete does not TRAIN in their competition Gear.  Rips, tears, stains & more will happen during training and you don’t want any of that to happen to your Gi’s AND gear you require for competition.

KATA:

🥋 A competition Gi & a Back up (training) Gi. You want a KATA Gi.  Kata gi’s are a thick cotton material. A back up is required in case of whatever happening during competition – blood, a tear, body fluids. You will need to change.

Provincials & Nationals (up to this point) have not required the colored embroidery on the shoulders. Continental & Worlds do require it.  You should have 2 of each color with you at the competition venue.

• 🥋 1 red & 1 blue belt. We bought the specific KATA belts as they tend to sit flatter & not flap so much during.
• 🥋A solid white, high support Bra – no logos or colors anywhere. 
• 🥋Underwear should be skin/flesh or neutral color as you do not want to see them through your pants
• 🥋A solid white tank or tshirt that comes up to the collar bone. No logos, no colors. Most Kata’s have you bow and you don’t want the judges to see down your top at that moment.
• 🥋 Wear no jewelry or polish, make should be non existent or very minimal
• 🥋Hair – you are limited to 2 elastics. No metal, and should be the same color as your hair. We put Veronica’s hair into 2 tight French braids & put the remainder into a low bun. To see the elastics we use to keep her thick waist length hair up can be found at this link. We use gel to keep the fly aways away, hair wax and a ton of the stickest, firmest hold hair spray we can find.

• 🥋Nails should be shorter then short. Both finger & toes. If the judge can feel the nail at the end of the finger/toe they are too long.
• 🥋If a crest is required that will be provided in advance & we sew it on directly to the gi. 

KUMITE:

Provincials & Nationals (up to this point) have not required the colored embroidery on the shoulders. Continental & Worlds do require it.  You should have 2 of each color with you at the competition venue.

• 🥋2 Gi’s are required – Kumite Gi is usually made of a Acrylic fabric that is light and breathable. If you are going for the red/blue you will require 2 of each. Just like in kata – competition & back up.
• 🥋CHEST/BODY PROTECTOR The use of approved body protectors is mandatory for all kumite participants. The use of approved female chest protectors is mandatory for all female kumite participants. For females this is the chest protector vest & hard breast shell/bra. In U14 the chest protector is different & hard to get. So order early.
• 🥋GROIN CUP / PROTECTOR Mandatory for all male kumite athletes. 
• 🥋MASK Face masks are not permitted in any category
• 🥋HELMET The use of WKF approved Helmet is compulsory for U14 divisions only. All athletes 14 years & up require a mouth guard. 
• 🥋MOUTH GUARD Mandatory for all kumite athletes, this is the only piece of equipment that we have that does not say WKF and we have had no issues with. Veronica actually has 2. It will amaze you how often they go flying from the athletes mouth into the outer rim of space, so a back up comes in handy.
• 🥋GLOVES Participants must have both a blue and a red pair of WKF-approved gloves/ hand protectors. It’s handy to order from the same company for the belts & colored gi’s that way the reds/blue all match up in tone. And we have 2 pairs of each color, again for the reason 1 gets ripped or worse during a match you have a back up.
• 🥋FOOT AND SHIN PROTECTORS Participants must have both a blue and a red pair of WKF-approved foot and shin protectors. It’s handy to order from the same company for the belts & colored gi’s that way the reds/blue all match up in tone. And we have 2 pairs of each color, again for the reason 1 gets ripped or worse during a match you have a back up
• 🥋 1 red & 1 blue belt. 
• 🥋A solid white, high support Bra – no logos or colors anywhere. 
• 🥋Underwear should be skin/flesh or neutral color as you do not want to see them through your pants & they should not give you a wedgie.
• 🥋A solid white tank or tshirt that comes up to the collar bone. No logos, no colors. Gi tops do come undone, or get pulled & you don’t want your body exposed. So make sure you can move around in it & it does not restrict your movements over the chest protector but under the gi.
• 🥋 Wear no jewelry or polish, make should be non existent or very minimal
• 🥋Hair – you are limited to 2 elastics. No metal, and should be the same color as your hair. For Veronica we do 2 french braids into one braided pony tail down her back.
• 🥋Nails should be shorter then short. Both finger & toes. If the judge can feel the nail at the end of the finger/toe they are too long.
• 🥋If a crest is required that will be provided in advance & we sew it on directly to the gi. 

If your athlete requires glasses to see, you may have to use contacts instead so talk to your team managers.

If your athlete does medal, podium attire is required. This is usually your team jacket and either gi pants or solid black track pants with neutral sport shoes.  Come prepared.

This is not required, but sure comes in handy. A self built first aid kit. There is always first aid kits at tournaments & medics. BUT for all trainings, tournaments We have a small bag tucked away inside Veronica’s main bag that includes : tape, assortment of sizes of band aids, chemical ice packs, heat pads, tensor bandaids & scissors..etc.

Also a training journal, writing pen/pencil. Some athletes like head phones to warm up to music, training clothing – shirts & shorts. Running shoes.

Whether you are travelling by car, train or airplane there are a few tips we have learned along the way.

• 🧳never ever pack your karate gear in checked bags. your bag goes missing your athlete may not compete. ALWAYS in carry on.
• 🧳Athletes & chaperones wear team apparel. this seems to help with customs as to why you are traveling
• 🧳Medical insurance – if you are leaving your province get MEDICAL INSURANCE!
• 🧳Pack protein bars, electrolytes. We traveled to Brazil & could not find these items anywhere.
• 🧳Currency, we like cash for most items – most banks do not deal with all currency’s so you will need to hit up exchanges
• 🧳Imodium, pepto bismal, gravel for traveling. Take advil/tylenol as other places may not have access to what we are used to
• 🧳Travel adaptors for locations outside of North America
• 🧳 Know your Security rules going though at airports & train stations for liquids & electronics
• 🧳If traveling to South America do NOT go through Florida, and any lay overs make sure they are 4+ hours as customs & security can and will take up time. 
• 🧳VISAs/Immunizations may be required

In 2024 we were gone 10 days. that was just travel & competition days. 

For us in Canada – this is the PanAmerican Championship Tournament, also referred to as the Continental Championship Tournament. 

Each Nation can only take 2 athletes per division.  This is where medaling at nationals is important. 

Athlete must compete in the category medaled at nationals, this is where your weight must not change for kumite athletes between Nationals & the PanAm’s. and this must be for the duration of the time you are in that division. 2 years. Cadet, Junior, U18 or Senior. This is where the rankings come from. 

Karate Canada will invoice you for hotel and fees. But as the athlete & chaperone you are responsible for everything. Everything that is outlined for Provincials & nationals for costs – applies here. To have Veronica compete in this tournament in 2024 in Sao Paulo Brazil cost $8500 CAD. That was just her & 1 Chaperone. 

In 2025 Nationals is in April & the PANAM’s are in August, so you have some time to fundraise. in 2024 we had 6 weeks to come come up with the funds, 8 days to say yes with the deposit.  She did miss the first 2 days of school.  We were gone 10 days in total. 

• **2025 is in Paraguay
• **2026 is in Peru

The Karate World Championships, also known as the World Karate Championships, are the highest level of competition for karate organized by the World Karate Federation (WKF). The competition is held in a different city every two years. (taken from Wikipedia)

Each Nation can only take 1 athlete per division. This in Canada is the top athlete from both Nationals & the PanAms. Veronica was in the 2nd spot for this invite in 2024. 

Everything that was required for the Continental  Championship would also be required for this one. 

It’s rumored that in 2026 this tournament will be in Morocco.