About Kenzen Karate

Kenzen is a beginner friendly karate club and we welcome newcomers to try a free trial class anytime.
‍
Our club is a warm dojo community with both male and female instructors, where members get stronger and more focused through practical karate and fitness training. To enhance everyone’s karate experiences, the club hosts numerous karate events and tournaments, plus regularly receives guest instructors from around Canada and Japan.
‍
To provide the best karate instruction by age and skill level, our karate programs are “Samurai Kids 4-6yrs”, “Juniors 7-11yrs”, "Teen 12-15yrs" and “Adults 16yrs+”, plus Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the optional Team Kenzen program and after school karate program.
‍
Kenzen is a member of the Suzuki-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do Association of Canada as part of the famous Seikokai Karate-do Association in Japan. Through this, we are also attached to the prestigious Kingsway Odokan Dojo in Vancouver led by Kaz Hashimoto Sensei. This affiliation means Kenzen members are training in one of the highest technical systems of Japanese karate in Canada.

We are also a fully participating member of Karate BC, giving our students access to provincial-level community and opportunities, including seminars, tournaments, and pathways to provincial and national team qualification.

Richard Mosdell | Chief Instructor

Like a tennis or golf pro, Richard Sensei is a career karate instructor who leads the club with a unique passion to share the joy of karate with everyone.
Richard Sensei has over 30 years of experience coaching, training and competing at the provincial, national and international levels. He is a 6th degree black belt in the Suzuki-ha Shito-ryu Seikokai karate system, while already holding high level black belts in other styles including a 3rd degree Japan Karate Federation black belt.
‍
During his 10 years learning karate in Japan, his full-time job was being the head karate coach at Seiritsu Gakuen High School's famous karate club, the oldest in Tokyo. This opportunity allowed him to see the highest levels of the karate world, better understanding the best parts to teach to Kenzen students.
‍
Richard Sensei is a former BC Team coach, provincial athlete, Canadian Sport Institute student and karate instructor for Gordon Head, Cedar Hill and Pearkes recreation centres. He teaches karate each week at local elementary schools, authored a Japanese manga in English on karate in Japan (Sonny Leads) and completed his Masters at the Sophia University Graduate School of Global Studies in Tokyo, with his thesis on the globalization of karate.

Peter Williams | Full Time Instructor

With over 25 years of Karate experience, much of it in Japan, Pete Sensei both trained with Richard Sensei in Japan and designed the Kenzen logo! He holds a 4th degree black belt in Suzuki-ha Shito-ryu Seikokai karate and has trained to black belt level in several other karate styles, as well as an all-style 1st degree black belt from the Japan Karate Federation. He is also a provincial level referee with Karate BC. Originally from the UK, he warmly loves to share his vast karate training, competing and teaching experience.
‍
While in Japan from 2010 to 2019, Pete Sensei was a high-performance coach, assisting Richard Sensei at Seiritsu Gakuen High School karate club in Tokyo, and also as a full time instructor at the highly successful Shiramizu Karate dojo under Takamasa Arakawa Sensei. Pete Sensei has competed and medalled from regional to international level in Japan and around the world. His deep dive into learning karate led to his providing translation for several key kata instruction guidebooks from Japanese to English.

Steve Naeth | Part Time Instructor

Steve Sensei has been with the club since our 2nd year, and he has gone on to compete at the National Championships as a member of the BC Team.

He is also a competition official and works many of the local and provincials level events in British Columbia.

Faith Davison| Assistant Instructor

Faith Sempai one of our home-grown instructors, having joined Kenzen in its very first month!

A BC Team member and National gold and silver medalist in Team Kata and Kumite, Faith is a dedicated member who brings her experience of training and excelling in our system to all her classes.

Emily Gao | Part Time Instructor

"Emily Sempai" is 1st degree black belt, a BC Team member & Canadian National champion. Her upbeat enthusiasm always energizes her coaching!

She was a Team Canada member at the 2022 Junior Pan-American Championships for Team Kata.

Owen Brady

Kraig Sensei has been a Canadian National Team coach for 7 years and running. He holds a diploma in high-performance coaching from the Canadian Sport Institute and he has used this knowledge to co-author Karate Canada’s long term athlete development model for all ages.

Kraig Sensei is also a 20 year veteran of the Saanich Fire Department and he has accumulated 30 years experience competing, coaching and winning in karate tournaments worldwide. A former BC Team head coach, member of Karate Canada’s high-performance committee and a long-time local instructor, he is uniquely aware of how to train beginners successfully to achieve their competitive and noncompetitive goals.

About Kenzen Karate

Now that you've met us online, come meet the real deal!