MARTIAL ART PROGRAMS
S.M.A. Karate CANADA offers training in three distinct martial arts disciplines: Shotokan, Gōjū-ryū, and Wing Chun Kung Fu. Shotokan and Gōjū-ryū are traditional Japanese karate styles and rank among the most widely practiced forms of karate around the world.
Wing Chun Kung Fu, a Chinese martial art, is renowned for its close-range combat techniques and gained global recognition through Bruce Lee.
Explore our Program Schedules to find classes for all age groups and experience levels.
SHOTOKAN
Shotokan Karate – Power, Precision, and Discipline
Shotokan Karate is a dynamic and widely practiced traditional martial art, renowned for its powerful linear techniques and emphasis on form and discipline. Ideal for combat in open spaces, Shotokan emphasizes strong stances, explosive straight-line attacks, and devastating kicks and punches.
Founded by Gichin Funakoshi Sensei (1868–1957) in Okinawa, Japan, Shotokan blends deep-rooted philosophy with structured training to build both physical and mental strength.
The Three Pillars of Shotokan:
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Kihon (Basics): The foundation of Shotokan, where students develop speed, precision, and power in core techniques like punches, kicks, and blocks.
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Kata (Forms): A series of choreographed patterns that simulate combat scenarios, kata hones rhythm, focus, and application of technique in a disciplined format.
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Kumite (Sparring): Controlled, supervised sparring allows students to test their skills in a safe environment, using protective gear and emphasizing respect, timing, and strategy.
Shotokan is not only one of the most practiced styles globally but also one of the most influential, shaping modern karate as we know it today. Progress in Shotokan is marked by a belt ranking system, starting with the white belt and advancing through various levels to the coveted black belt (1st Dan) and beyond.
Many dedicated practitioners continue their journey through advanced ranks, with the highest honors reserved for those reaching 8th Dan and above. At S.M.A. Karate CANADA, our Shotokan program is led by Shihan Robert Patry, a 7th Dan Black Belt his decades of experience and dedication to teaching ensure every student receives top-level instruction, whether training recreationally or preparing for elite competition.
GO-JU RYU
Gōjū-Ryū Karate – Strength Through Flexibility
Gōjū-Ryū, meaning “hard-soft style,” is a highly disciplined form of traditional karate that blends powerful techniques with fluid, internal energy. Especially effective in close-quarter combat—such as narrow hallways or alleyways—this style emphasizes stability, breathing, and tactical control over one’s opponent.
The system was formalized by Chōjun Miyagi in the early 1930s, and it continues to be celebrated for its balance of physical strength and inner calm.
The Gōjū-Ryū Philosophy:
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Hard (Gō): Direct, forceful strikes, blocks, and throws.
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Soft (Jū): Yielding, absorbing, and redirecting an opponent’s energy using circular, flowing movements.
Gōjū-Ryū practitioners focus deeply on proper breathing techniques, maintaining a grounded stance, and executing controlled, precise movements. Training develops not only physical skill but also mental resilience and character, making it a martial art for life—both inside and outside the dojo.
Key concepts include:
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Close-Range Combat: Emphasis on striking, grappling, and throwing from close proximity.
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'Stickiness': The ability to follow and control an opponent’s movement, using their force against them.
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Distancing and Timing: Mastery of spacing and rhythm to gain tactical advantage.
As with other traditional systems, students begin their journey with a white belt, progressing through the ranks toward the black belt (Dan levels), which signifies increasing levels of mastery.
At S.M.A. Karate CANADA, Gōjū-Ryū is taught at the highest level by Shihan Robert Patry, a 5th Dan Black Belt, and one of the most accomplished Gōjū-Ryū instructors in Kingston and the surrounding region. Under his guidance, our students receive top-quality instruction that blends tradition, technique, and personal growth.
WUNG CHUN
The Legend of Ving Tsun – The Origins of Wing Chun Kung Fu
Over 400 years ago, in a small village under the jurisdiction of Foshan (Fatshan) in southern China, lived a modest family who earned their living making and selling bean curd. The family name was Yim, and their only child was a bright young girl named Ving Tsun—a name that would one day become synonymous with one of the world’s most efficient martial arts.
Concerned by the growing unrest and lawlessness in the region, her father sent Ving Tsun to train in Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple, where she was mentored by Ng Mui, a revered Buddhist nun and martial artist.
As Ving Tsun matured into a strikingly beautiful woman, she attracted unwanted attention, including that of a powerful warlord. After she bravely rejected his advances, the warlord retaliated by attacking her family. Unable to defend himself, her father was gravely injured, and Ving Tsun was also hurt in the attempt to protect him. This humbling experience forced her to confront the limitations of the techniques she had learned.
During a period of deep meditation and self-reflection, Ving Tsun witnessed a crane and a snake locked in a fluid yet fierce battle. From this encounter, she realized that speed, structure, and redirection could overcome brute strength. With this insight, she began developing a new, more efficient combat system.
She refined her training into a powerful and adaptable martial art emphasizing:
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Directness and economy of motion
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Close-range techniques
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Simultaneous defense and attack
Her reconstructed system included the now-famous forms:
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Siu Nim Tao – "Little Idea," the foundation of structure and energy control
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Chum Kiu – "Seeking the Bridge," techniques for managing distance and engagement
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Biu Jee – "Thrusting Fingers," emergency responses and advanced techniques
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Mook Yan Jong – Wooden dummy training for flow, precision, and reflex development
Reclaiming her confidence, Ving Tsun confronted the warlord again and defeated him with ease. Her revolutionary system quickly gained followers, who named the art Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) in her honor.
Wing Chun at S.M.A. Karate CANADA
Today, the legacy of Ving Tsun lives on through dedicated martial arts schools like S.M.A. Karate CANADA in Kingston, Ontario. Our Wing Chun program preserves this legendary art's practical self-defense principles, emphasizing precision, speed, and real-world effectiveness.
Under expert instruction, students of all ages and experience levels learn not just techniques, but the philosophy behind Wing Chun—how to remain calm under pressure, move efficiently, and use an opponent’s energy to their advantage.At S.M.A. Karate CANADA, Wing Chun is taught as both a powerful self-defense system and a means of personal growth, discipline, and lifelong learning—just as Ving Tsun envisioned centuries ago.
WEAPONS
Bōjutsu – The Art of Staff Fighting
Traditional Weapons Training at S.M.A. Karate CANADA
At S.M.A. Karate CANADA, students have the opportunity to explore Bōjutsu—the classical martial art of staff fighting. Using the bō, a long wooden staff typically around six feet in length, practitioners learn how to channel full-body movement into powerful and precise techniques.
The bō is one of the oldest and most versatile weapons in martial arts history, with origins tracing back thousands of years across Eastern Asia. Initially a simple walking stick or farming tool, it evolved into a formidable self-defense weapon.
In our Bōjutsu program, students are trained in:
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Striking techniques – including swinging, slashing, and thrusting motions
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Defensive applications – such as blocks, parries, and redirection
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Mobility drills – using the staff to assist with balance, agility, and even vaulting
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Integrated combat skills – blending the bō with close-range hand-to-hand tactics
Training in Bōjutsu enhances coordination, timing, and spatial awareness—skills that complement empty-hand martial arts like Shotokan, Gōjū-Ryū, and Wing Chun, all taught at S.M.A. Karate CANADA.
Whether you're a beginner discovering traditional weapons for the first time or an advanced martial artist looking to deepen your skill set, our Bōjutsu curriculum offers a unique and disciplined way to connect with the roots of martial combat.