Our Team
Sensei Shane Higashi
National Leader & Supreme Instructor for CanadaSensei Shane Higashi is the technical adviser for Karate Canada (the karate governing body of Canada) a 10th degree black belt (Hanshi) and former karate champion. Not only has Sensei Higashi excelled in practicing martial arts but has also been teaching martial arts for almost 60 years. His accomplishments don’t stop there; Sensei Higashi has been the chief instructor for over 80 Chito-Ryu karate schools across North America and Europe. Higashi is also the National Chief Instructor for the Canadian Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association. In 2007 Sensei Higashi was also inducted into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame.
Sensei Robert McInnes
Provincial Leader & Technical Director for NB Chito-Ryu and the Provincial Director for Ryukyu Kobujutsu.Sensei Robert McInnes has been involved in Chito-Ryu Karate since he first came in contact with Sensei Higashi in 1971. and with his continued guidance and support Chito-Ryu in New Brunswick has matured into a well established and vibrant association. He is currently a 8th Dan Kyoshi, a member of the National Technical Committee for The Canadian Chito-Ryu Association, the Technical Director of Chito-Ryu in New Brunswick, and is on the Technical Committee for Karate New Brunswick. In addition to his Chito-Ryu rank, Mr. McInnes also holds the rank of Ni-dan in Ryukyu Kobujutsu, the art of ancient weapons of Okinawa and is the Provincial Director for the Canadian Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association.
He is the most senior ranked instructor for Chito-Ryu Karate in the Province. He introduced karate to the Saint John area in 1968, and in 1972 established the Hampton Karate Club. In the late 1970’s, he was the KNB Provincial Coach and successfully led KNB team members to the medal podium on a number of occasions. In 1995 he established KV Karate in Gondola Point which later relocated to Rothesay. In 2010, he established Apohoqui Karate Club and in 2014 started a new location in Saint John North. Mr. McInnes is one of the founders of Karate New Brunswick (Provincial Karate Association) of which he holds an honorary lifetime membership for his achievements in karate.
Provincial Executives
President: Neil Pond
Treasurer: Linda Corbett
Secretary: Mike Quinn
Coach Randy Rix
Atlantic Canada Regional Kumite coach for Karate Canada
Karate New Brunswick - Head Coach
Officials
Brent Donovan: National A Judge Kata, National A Judge Kumite
Donald Mazerolle: Pan Am A Referee Kumite, Pan Am A Judge Kata
Robert McInnes: National Judge
Katherine Douglass: National A Referee Kumite, National A Judge Kata
Glen Savoie: Provincial A Referee
Neil Pond: National A Referee Kumite, National A Judge Kata