Shihan Suenori Tominaga began his training in karate at the University of Fukuoka in Kyushu, Japan over four decades ago. While there, he distinguished himself as a successful competitor in both kata and kumite at the All Japan Championships. His 8th degree black belt is one only a few conferred by Karate Canada, the national body responsible for ensuring the highest standards of karate in the nation.

Shihan Tominaga is the founder of one of this country’s most highly respected karate associations, Jinbukai Canada. He has been the Chief Instructor at the honbu dojo, University of Toronto, since 1970. He is also a regular instructor at Goulding Karate Club, one of Jinbukai Canada’s member dojos established over 20 years ago.

For many years, Shihan Tominaga was a national and international referee, having earned official’s licenses with the international body known today as the Panamerican Karate Federation (PKF). For decades, he was also a member and Chair of Karate Ontario’s Technical Committee. As well, he is the nationally recognized Shotokan expert and, as such, is a long-standing and sole Shotokan practitioner on Karate Canada’s Technical Committee. He is a winner of the prestigious Russ Rumble award, presented to him by Karate Canada in recognition of his lifelong dedication to karate in Canada.

Sensei Joy Ang, 4th dan, started training karate in 1982 at the University of Toronto under Shihan Tominaga. She was Ontario’s kata champion for many years as well as a former two-time national open weight champion. She also earned medals at national competitions in women’s’ individual kata, team kata, middle weight kumite and team kumite. Joy was a member of the Canadian national team competing in individual and team kumite at the Pan-American Senior Championships.

Sensei Ang has broken much ground for women in karate as the first female to win the prestigious Masuko Cup (awarded to athletes who combine sportsmanship with successful elite-level competition), first female Assistant Coach for Ontario’s provincial team and first female member of the province’s Referee Committee. Over the years, Sensei Ang has been actively involved in administrative matters through her past positions as Vice-President of Karate Ontario’s Board of Directors, Chair of Karate Ontario’s Summer Games Committee, Secretary for Karate Ontario’s Referee Committee and most recently as 1st Vice-President of Karate Canada. Today, she is Commissionaire for Ontario’s Long-Term Officials Development Program and is a referee at the provincial, national and international levels. Joy holds a Pan-American Karate Federation (PKF) license for both Kata and Kumite and is only one of two women in Canada to hold such an international license.