Canadian Shorinjiryu Kudaka Karate-Do Federation

 

Hanshi Rick Black

 

Sensei Black excelled quickly under the Shorinjiryu system and in the spring of 1983 was recommended for his black belt exam. He was then promoted by Masayuki Hisataka himself. Before long Sensei Black developed a reputation of being an above average fighter, and although he never had the chance of representing Canada at the World Championships due to personal commitments, he competed in many local tournaments defeating various team members.

 

In late 1983, Hanshi Black relocated to Toronto where he assisted Hanshi Doug Roberts (who also had relocated from Montreal to Toronto) in running the Butsudokan dojo which became the Hombu dojo of the Shorinjiryu Kudaka Federation. In 1992 Hanshi Roberts passed the dojo on to Hanshi Black who was the head instructor until 2004. At that time he relocated the dojo closer to his home and work in Mississauga a suburb of Toronto. The Sakura dojo in Mississauga has been open now for over a decade with Hanshi Rick Black promoting many students to black belt and above since. He still actively teaches and runs the dojo with the help of Sensei Roger Carrabetta.

 

The four people that have inspired him the most through his years of training are Hanshi Doug Roberts, Hanshi Wayne Donovon, Shihan Norman Wener and Hanshi Watanabe.