The Edmonton Gojukai Karate Club was established in 1977, under the name Karatedo Gojukai Edmonton, by Yoshio Yamashita.  Sensei Yamashita was appointed as shibucho (director) for Canada by Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi of Tokyo.  One of the earliest students from the club, John Priegert, has continued the tradition of teaching Yamaguchi style gojuryu. The club is a long term member of the International Karatedo Gojukai Association Canada and is licensed by Master Goshi Yamaguchi to teach Yamaguchi style gojuryu karate. 

The club also belongs to the Karate Alberta Association, the governing body for karate in the province, having met and maintained the traditional and technical requirements. This association provides sport insurance to its members, conducts competition with certified officials, and provides training under the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).  As a member of the National Karate Association, Karate Alberta in general provides for the orderly conduct of traditional karate within the province.

The club is licensed by the City of Edmonton.

Because of more than two decades of co-operation between our club and the Edmonton Japanese Community, we are allowed training time at the Japanese Community Association Centre.  Regulation floor mats, wall mirrors, and training aids are available for all club members to use.

• The club and all its members are covered by sport insurance.
• The Instructor is one of Canada’s most qualified.
• The fees are modest.
• The club members have a lot of fun while learning.
• The atmosphere is authentic.

The quality that makes traditional Japanese karate unique among the martial arts is the emphasis on perfecting both movement and behaviour. This dual emphasis is often talked about, but seldom achieved.  The teaching methods used at the Edmonton Gojukai Karate Club ensure that the students achieve a sense of self worth by being successful in correcting their movements and behaviour.  One of the first rules is observance of etiquette, for without etiquette, karate is just punching and kicking.  Shoes are lined up, clothing is hung up properly, students and instructors are not allowed to talk rudely or roughly, and common forms of politeness are required. 

The instructors at the club use a method of guiding people towards better attitudes by instruction and example, never by threats or compulsion.  This difference in attitude shows astonishing results.

There is no legislation at any level in Canada to govern the teaching of karate.  This has led to a lot of confusion in the public eye about different claims made about karate styles and organizations.

In Canada, genuine karate is voluntarily governed by style organizations accepted as traditional by the National Karate Association of Canada, the national sport federation recognized by Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.  The Edmonton Gojukai Karate Club is a member of the International Karatedo Gojukai Association (IKGA), which is a style organization approved by the National Karate Association of Canada.

Internationally, each style of karate is governed by a style association or other group led by a verifiable master with provable ties to one of the founding families of Japanese or Okinawan karate.  Our club is authorized as a member of the IKGA by a certificate signed by Master Goshi Yamaguchi.

The Chief Instructor of the club is John Priegert, 5th degree black belt, who has been teaching since 1981. He has earned the traditional teaching rank of shihan renshi from Master Goshi Yamaguchi.  He is also certified as a karate coach by the National Coaching Certification Program, and is a Master Course Conductor for the National Karate Association of Canada.  Shihan Priegert is concurrently the Chief Instructor of the U of A Gojukai Karate Club, where he has been teaching since 1985.

Shihan Priegert continues to train under the personal instruction of Master Goshi Yamaguchi of Tokyo, Japan.

Besides teaching karate, he is an avid gardener.

Assistant Instructors are certified black belts invited from the U of A Gojukai Karate Club.  They are undergoing instructor training, and work under the direct supervision of the Chief Instructor.  Special Guest Instructors are invited from time to time to offer broader experience to the students.

The Edmonton Gojukai Karate Club practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays (except holidays), at the following times:

Children, 7-12 years of age: 6:00-7:00 PM

Youths, 13-17 years of age: 7:00-8:15 PM

The club operates on a trimester system, with terms from January through April, May through August, and September through December.  The last two weeks of each trimester is a semester break.  The May through August trimester may be given as a Summer Break.

Signups are done in the first week of each trimester, but visitors can drop in at any time and students may join part way through a term.

The Edmonton Gojukai Karate Club meets at the Edmonton Japanese Community Centre, 6750 - 88 Street, Edmonton.  This is in Argyll Community on the south side, just off Argyll Road.

The Edmonton Gojukai Karate Club has a many year history of assistance to the Japanese Community in Edmonton, and it provides low rental fees for the use of their facility.  The club therefore has very low fees for a karate program of the highest quality.  We operate on the basis of a trimester (3 terms per year).

Costs per person for 2006 are:

League membership             $15.00

January entry (full year)        $35.00 or

September entry (part year)  $20.00

(These fees are mandatory, and cover memberships and insurance.)

Child  $85 for one class/week

           $125 for two classes/week

Youth $105 for one class/week

           $145 for two classes/week

Examination fee        $25.00*

Karate gi, belt, crest    Varies

Safety equipment        Varies

       *Only when student is ready for promotion. Includes national certification.

Call John Priegert at 780-436-0977, or email priegert@telus.net.