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Wado Karate Coalition

Wado Karate Coalition

TECHNICAL PRESERVATION – ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT – BUSINESS

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Wado Karate Coalition

Who We Are and what we do

We are a non-partisan group of Wado Karate students from diverse backgrounds and affiliations, united by our shared passion for the art. Our mission is to preserve the core principles of Wado Karate that exist in all authentic Wado Federations while building a bright new future in the digital age, where the philosophy of Wado can reach a broader audience. Committed to improving the lives and well-being of all our individual, Dojo and Federation members, we place harmony and growth above all differences. By collaborating with other organizations, we aim to offer services that strengthen the Wado community and create opportunities for deeper connections between Federations, learning, and practice. Together, we honour tradition while embracing the future of Wado Karate.

“We place harmony and growth above all differences.”

Join the Wado Karate Coalition: A Unified Platform for All Wado Practitioners

If you believe that the similarities between mainstream Wado groups far outweigh the differences, the Wado Karate Coalition (WKC) is the perfect platform to expand your reach and make meaningful connections across the global Wado community.

Now a fully operational, legally registered non-profit organization, WKC is dedicated to fostering unity, collaboration, and growth within Wado Karate. We provide a unique and inclusive space where practitioners, dojos, and federations can come together to preserve the legacy of Wado while embracing its future.


Development & Growth

WKC educational programs will bring together students and teachers from all Wado Federations and give members a chance to experience the depth of knowledge within mainstream Wado Federations. Courses will cover the traditional core Wado techniques shared by all Wado groups and will respect the technical legacy of mainstream Wado teachers.

  • Summer/Winter Courses
  • Student development
  • Optional Dan Grading

Legacy of Wado Karate Masters

Online and offline training programs will showcase the top teachers of Wado, and give practitioners a chance to experience the depth of knowledge within mainstream Wado organizations.

The WKC will respect the technical legacy of mainstream Wado teachers and their respective Federations in all aspects of the organization.

  • Online/offline classes
  • Coaching & mentorship
  • Instructor networking

Digital Business

The WKC website will list member organizations and dojos, providing authentication and validation to prospective students needing clarification on the current state of disarray.

The WKC will direct web traffic to member Federation websites and social media, helping grow your Federation’s membership.

  • Dojo business listing
  • Student referrals
  • Syllabus Guidance
  • Online resources

Who Are We For?

  • Supporting growth of member Federations
  • Support and guidance for individual Wado Dojos
  • Technical development for advanced Wado practitioners
  • Student referrals and networking
  • Third-party recognition and authentication

WKC Governance Structure

The Wado Karate Coalition (WKC) has successfully transitioned from its founding phase into a fully operational organization. Our governance structure is designed to ensure the effective management and growth of the WKC, while preserving the principles and traditions of Wado Karate.

Three dedicated governing councils guide the organization:

  • Advisory Council
  • Organizational Council
  • Wado Preservation Council

Advisory Council

The Wado Karate Coalition is proud to introduce its esteemed Advisory Council. These accomplished senior-rank black belts, representing diverse backgrounds and lineages within the Wado Karate community, bring a wealth of experience and wisdom to guide the Coalition’s mission. Their dedication to preserving the core principles of Wado Karate while embracing the future of our art will be invaluable as we strive to build a stronger and more connected Wado community.


Yoshihiko Iwasaki Sensei

10th Dan, Soke

Yoshihiko Iwasaki Sensei, founder and Head Master of Karate-Do Wado-Juku, was born in Yokohama, Japan, on October 21, 1947. He began practicing Karate-Do at 18 while attending university, drawn to its depth and discipline. His dedication led him to train intensively, seven days a week. Since arriving in Ireland on September 10, 1971, Iwasaki Shihan has taught and promoted authentic Wado-Ryu Karate across Ireland and Europe. In 1995, he was awarded 7th Dan Kyoshi Shihan by Hironori Ohtsuka II, the Grand Master of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do. His students have excelled in international competitions, securing multiple European Wado Cup titles in Kata and Kumite. Today, Iwasaki Shihan continues to develop top-level practitioners and remains a key figure in European Wado-Ryu Karate. He currently holds the rank of 10th Dan and serves as the Head Master of Wado Juku Karate-Do.

    Alex Waith Sensei

    8th Dan

    Alex Waith Sensei is a founding member of the WKC. He began training in 1963 under Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei and Masafumi Shiomitsu Sensei. He is a Founding Member of the Guyana Karate Federation (1972) and the Canadian Wado Ryu Karate Federation (1977), where he currently serves as Chief Instructor. He is also the Instructor of CWKF and a Founding Member of the Wado Karate Coalition. Waith Sensei is an affiliate of the Wado Ryu Karate-Do Renmei of Japan and has served on the Technical Committee of Karate Ontario since 1992. He has experience as an NKA tournament official.

      George Grimes Sensei

      8th Dan Kyoshi

      George Grimes Sensei’s influence in the world of Wado Ryu Karate extends beyond his teaching. He began his practice in 1966 under Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi 8th Dan, and in 1976 under both Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki and Masafumi Shiomitsu Hanshi 9th Dan.  In 1989, he was a founding member of Sensei Masafumi Shiomitsu’s Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy. He was the first non-Japanese student to join the Wado Academy Dan grading panel. In 2011, he left the Wado Academy to become the Chief Instructor of the Wado Karate Federation, a role that reflects his leadership and influence in the martial arts community. The Hombu Dojo of the Wado Karate Federation is in Bristol, England, U.K., where he is known for frequently teaching and hosting joint courses in Great Britain and abroad.

        Massimo Conti Sensei

        8th Dan Kyoshi

        He began practicing Wado Ryu Karate in 1974 under Yutaka Toyama Sensei until 1984 until his teacher returned to Japan. In 1984 he began training under Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki and later joined Shiomitsu Sensei in the Wado Ryu Karate Do Academy. In 2005, he earned his 6th Dan from the International Karate Wado Federation Ren Mei and a PhD/M.S. in Martial Arts Sciences 2009. He competed internationally with the Italian team (1995–2010) and organized the 2010 European Wado Championships in Rome. He received his 7th Dan in 2010 and his 8th Dan in 2019. Founder and President of AIKAM (2012), he published his book Karate Wado Ryu Kaizen (2015) and represents Wado Ryu internationally with TKAW’s Shihan Kai (2018).

          Doug Jepperson Sensei

          7th Dan

          Karate pioneer, Sensei Jepperson founded the USA Wado Organization, uniting diverse Wado groups. He served on the boards of the WIKF-USA, USA Wado, and the USANKF Technical Committee. A highly respected figure, he’s a USANKF National Referee and Certified Coach, having trained with legendary masters like Hironori Otsuka and Tatsuo Suzuki. Jepperson began his martial arts journey under Ed Parker and transitioned to Wado Ryu under the esteemed Toshio Osaka Sensei. He’s a seasoned competitor, having won a Bronze medal at the 1995 WIKF Pan Am Championships. He also coached the USA Wado Team at the 1992 WIKF World Championships in Tokyo. With over 35 years of teaching experience, he’s instructed the US Army Special Forces, the Tennessee Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Salt Lake City Police Academy.


            Sensei Tyrone Pardue

            6th Dan Shidoin

            Sensei Pardue is a Founding Member of the Wado Karate Coalition. Sensei Pardue has been practicing Wado-Ryu since 1974, when he began training at the All-Ireland Karate-Do Wado-Kai under Yoshihiko Iwasaki Sensei and Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei in Dublin, Ireland, where he became Assistant Chief Instructor in 1982. He has held national and international competition titles, including the Federation of European Wado-Kai, All-Ireland Karate-Do Wado-Kai, and US Eastern Karate Masters. He became the Chief Instructor of the American Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy under Masafumi Shiomitsu Sensei in 2003. In 2005, Masafumi Shiomitsu and Hironori Otsuka II recognized Tyrone as a fully qualified and certified Wado-Ryu (Shidoin) instructor, acknowledging his technical ability and granting him permission and authority to teach Wado-Ryu internationally. He established the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy in Florida, Massachusetts, and Los Angeles during this period. He is an advertising consultant and lives in Co. Kildare, Ireland.


              Organisational Council


              The Wado Karate Coalition is fortunate to have a dedicated Organizational Council comprised of passionate practitioners committed to supporting the organization’s mission. Under the guidance of the Advisory Council, this team will oversee the day-to-day operations of the WKC, ensuring efficient and effective administration in support of our shared goals.


              Henrique Madeira

              4th Dan – Administrative Coordinator for the Advisory Council

              Besides holding a licentiate degree in Economics and a postgraduate degree in Risk Management and Derivatives, Henrique is a professional in the capital markets area of credit and finance. Henrique started Wado Ryu in Portugal in 1981 and continued in Canada in 2009 with Sensei Alex Waith. He is a 4th Dan.


                Robyn Hamilton

                Athletic Development

                Robyn Hamilton started practicing Wado Ryu in 2001 with Sensei Alex Waith, and hasn’t stopped since, proceeding through the ranks to her current status of 3rd Dan. In 2015 she started refereeing with Karate Ontario, and in 2019 she went national. She has twice been awarded as the Ontario female referee of the year. With a passionate interest in how the human body moves, she is always looking for new strength and flexibility possibilities.


                  Ramy Taraboulsi

                  Business Development & Finance

                  ​Ramy is a Professional Engineer who holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science, MBA and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Ramy has been practicing different forms of martial arts for the past 40 years in including Taekwondo, Judo and TaiChi. Ramy actively practices Wado Ryu Karate and successfully challenged the 1st Dan.


                    John Bronga

                    Facilitation & Mediation

                    John is a 1st Dan, and has been in the insurance industry since 1985 handling Major Case Construction Defect. John earned a J.D. in Law at Stetson, and soon after passed the Florida bar exam. He is a licensed Circuit Court Mediator and Attorney in the State of Florida. John Bronga started practicing Wado Ryu in 1981 with Sensei Kaufman and Flowers at University of South Florida. He started training with Sensei Tyrone Pardue in 2003, and received his 1st Dan from Shiomitsu Sensei.


                      Nathaniel Wondwosen

                      Schools & Colleges Liaison

                      Natineal Wondwosen is a 1st Dan and began his Wado journey since 2010 under Greg Rubinson. He teaches Wado in Los Angeles, California, and also works as a fitness coach for both the youth and adults. In 2020, he committed to teaching children Wado-Ryu during the pandemic lockdown and is working towards growing the presence of Wado in California under the guidance of Sensei Pardue.  

                        Black belts and white belts are the same. White belt is the beginning of technique, black belt is the beginning of understanding. Both are beginners.

                        GRANDMASTER HIRONORI OTSUKA

                        Join in the Discussion!

                        If you are interested in learning more about us: our goals; how we’re different from traditional federations, and would like to join in on discussions, complete the below form and we’ll be in touch with you within 48 hours and will let you know when our next organizational meeting is. Meetings are held via Zoom and happen bi-monthly.


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                        Wado Karate Coalition

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                        © Wado Karate Coalition. A non-profit organization registered in Canada.

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