Come and see some of the pics from our trip to Japan in August of 2005. 

We went to compete in the World Wado Cup in Tokyo.  It was the experience of a lifetime! 

In 2008 the World Wado Cup was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Bushido Karate sent a large team to this event.  The World Wado Cup will return to Japan in 2010, and we will be sending another team to Japan at that time.

Why is it important?

When you decide to travel to Japan to do Karate it can be for many different reasons.  Some people will go to experience the culture, the history, and the home of Karate.  Some people will go to improve their Karate skills by training under some of the greatest Karate minds in the world.  Others will go to compete in a World Championship that tests their abilities compared to other champions from other countries.  Whatever the reason is that gets you there, it is an amazing experience - and one that every serious Karate Student should make at least once. 

Can I go?

In 2005, two club members along with our Chief Instructor Howard Crocker, along with about 20 other participants from across Canada went to the World Wado Cup.  Flying from Toronto we estimated the trip at around $3000-$3500.  They each had a different story about how they each got to Japan.  Crocker's trip was not his first, and he was going to compete in the World Wado Cup.  He was also going, because of the many technical seminars that take place around an event like this. 

Marc Talbot traveled to Japan with one thing in mind:  test his Kumite skills against the best in the world.  He did not win at the tournament, and that did not matter.  He fought an opponent 1 foot taller than he was, who was several degrees higher ranked, and who was 20 years his younger.  You see, Marc was 47 years old.  What mattered most was that while preparing and training for this event, his Kumite skills increased considerably.  Even though he went to compete, he came away from the trip appreciating the technical seminars the most.  With the full support of the club behind him, Marc began fundraising in earnest.  Without this financial support Marc would not have been able to go.  In the end Marc was supported with over $2000 in moneys raised - mostly by himself personally, but also by every member of the club.

Andrew Smedley is a different story.  Andrew had only started Karate about a year before (yes - even beginners are welcome!), and didn't have quite the fundraising support or time as Marc did.  In the end he went with over $500 in financial support.  Andrew paid for the rest of the trip out of his own pocket.  In addition, Andrew paid attention to the costs while in Japan and was able to find hotels to stay at for around $40 Canadian a night.  This kept his costs down under $2500.  Andrew went to Japan to see the culture.

View some pictures from the event.