Category Archives: Instructors

Chris Walker – Sandan

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Sensei Chris Walker, sandan (3rd dan), is the chief instructor for the Association of Shotokan Karate and ASK member club Banzai Karate. Sensei Walker has over 30 years of experience in training, competing and coaching. He was a member of the Karate Alberta Association Provincial Team from 1985 to 2004, representing the Province of Alberta in national karate championships for approximately 19 years. During the same period he represented Canada in international competitions and competed for his own club across North and Central America, Asia, Europe and Russia.

Sensei Walker has been retired from active competition since 2004. He holds a certificate from the National Coaching Certification Program and is an assistant coach with the Karate Alberta Association. In addition to time spent teaching classes at each dojo, Sensei Walker spends hundreds of hours each year supporting athletes from his dojo at Karate Alberta Association team training sessions, regional, provincial, national and international tournaments and training camps offered to Association of Shotokan Karate members only.

Kristie Schafer – Sandan

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Kristie Schafer is a Sandan (2nd dan) and assistant instructor for the ASK.  Senpai Kristie has been training in karate since 1998 and has competed at the provincial, national and international levels since 2000.  She has competed at 14 Canadian National Championships and was the 2013 Canadian Heavyweight Kumite Champion.  Kristie became a provincial coach in 2013 and is currently working to become a Certified Coach with the National Coaching Certification Program.  Senpai Kristie is planning to open her own club in southwest Calgary in early 2016.

Denys Bedard – Shodan

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Denys Bedard has had a lifelong interest in martial arts beginning with his first discipline of judo in the early 70’s and then later seeking out many notable karate teachers in the gosoku-ryu and traditional Shotokan styles.  Senpai Denys began his training in the ASK member club Banzai Karate with Sensei Chris Walker in 2002 and earned his shodan (1st dan) in 2008.  He founded Pine Waves Dojo, an ASK member club in north Calgary in 2011, but reluctantly had to close the club when he relocated to British Columbia in 2015.