VANCOUVER SEIYU KARATE
Black Belt
Learn strategies, movements, and concepts from different instructors to broaden your perspective!
Shihan Tats began training Kyokushin Karate in 1983 under the instruction provided by his uncle, Shihan Makoto Nakamura. In 1992, he moved to Vancouver from Japan and immediately opened his first dojo in Canada. While he operated the dojo, He extensively fought in international tournaments including two World Tournaments. Shihan Tats currently teaches regular classes locally at Vancouver Seiyu dojos, and frequently makes international trips to hold seminars to help expand IKO Nakamura worldwide.
Sempai Jerry has trained in Karate for 15 years and has competed in numerous regional Kumite and Kata tournaments. Currently, he is teaching classes at the Killarney Dojo with Shihan Tats and other instructors. Outside of the Dojo, Sempai Jerry is a certified personal trainer with over 5 years of experience in fitness and nutrition. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge and workouts with the camp participants.
The head instructor of the Calgary Dojo is joining the summer camp! When he joined our club in 1999, Sensei Michi Nagase began pursuing two goals. One was to establish himself as a professional airline pilot and the other one being to fight in the world tournament. The 10-year road trip to reach them was rather a rough ride but this uncompromising fighter persevered. The participants will be treated to his excellent instruction and be exposed to his passion and spirit in Seiyu Karate.
Sensei Mark has trained in Karate for nearly 24 years. He competed internationally and placed 1st in North American Championships three times. He was selected to represent Canada in 2011 & 2015 World Tournament, 2013 World Weight Category Tournament. Sempai Mark taught Seiyu fighters in Fight class for 6 years. He currently teaches the adult New Westminster class. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge and training with the camp participants.
During his fighting career Sempai Kris participated in over 25 tournaments culminating in being selected to compete in the 10th World Tournament in 2011. Outside of the dojo, Sempai Kris works as a Paramedic in a clinical leadership role and as an instructor at the Justice Institute of BC in their Advanced Paramedic Program. He enjoys passing on some of the knowledge under Shihan Tats and with many high level competitors that Seiyu Karate has produced over the years.
Sempai Sasha has been training in karate since he was only 6 years old. Since then, he has competed for over 20 years in competitive Kumite ranging from local, national, and international levels. When he was 19 years old, he was able to train under Sosui Nakamura as an uchi-deshi (home school student) for almost 4 months. That event changed his life and since then he has devoted himself to the martial way. He was selected to compete in the 2024 World Tournament. Currently running the New West Dojo branch, Sempai Sasha is excited to teach some of his many skills to summer camp participants.
Sempai Keegan has been training 20+ years and has competed in kata both regionally and internationally throughout his tournament years – placing top 3 in each event. He currently guides the club's Kata Officiating Committee. This kata specialist looks forward to sharing his knowledge and deepening everyone’s understanding of karate this summer.
Sempai Melchor has been an active member of Vancouver Seiyu Karate for 18 years; having trained under Shihan Tats since he was 9 years old. Over his many years of training, Sempai Melchor has competed both locally and internationally in kata tournaments, and in 2019 and 2024, brought home the silver medal from the IKO Nakamura International Friendship Kata Tournament. Currently, he teaches the children’s classes at Killarney Dojo and is a member of Seiyu’s Kata Officiating Committee. Sempai Melchor is very excited to be teaching for the second time at a karate camp and cannot wait to share his knowledge with this year’s camp participants
Sempai Chi has a daughter and has been practicing in various martial arts for over 27 years. She started training with Shihan Tats when she was 13. She was a children's instructor at Killarney dojo for 1 year before moving to Langley. Locally, she competed in Kumite tournaments in her teens and 20s in the women's heavyweight division. At the International Friendship Karate Championships, she placed 2nd in Taiwan 2025 and 3rd in Japan 2024 in the women's Kata division. She is excited to share her knowledge and train hard with everyone.
Sempai Mike has trained in Karate for a total of 15 years, including competing in kumite and kata tournaments. He has attended the European Summer Camp in Poland and also the Mitsumine Camp in Japan. He currently trains and helps teach at the New West dojo, while supporting Seiyu Karate at all events. Sempai Mike is very excited to train with everyone at Summer Camp and looks forward to sharing and learning with the team.
Sempai Simone is currently our youngest black belt and the only female fighter representing our club in the open division at national and international tournaments. Her most recent success was capturing the IKON 2024 North American Women's Open Championship, held in Quebec. Sempai Simone specializes in a technical style of fighting designed for smaller, lighter fighters — one that emphasizes efficiency of body mechanics, fluidity, and strong defense. She brings valuable insight into adapting techniques and strategies specifically for women fighters, focusing on leveraging timing, positioning, and precision over brute strength. This is her fourth time teaching at this camp, and she’s thrilled to build upon her anticipated lesson plans on effective approaches for competition. Outside of karate, she specializes in mathematics and hopes to continue advancing in both by blending their complementary traits of creativity and strategic analysis.
Sempai Joanne is the newest black belt member of the club. She has been training under Shihan Tats since the early 2000s, with a long break in between, and has over 12 years of karate experience. Throughout her training, she has competed in kata tournaments both locally and internationally, earning 2nd place at the 2024 IKO Nakamura North American Championship and 3rd place at the 2023 IKO Nakamura International Friendship Karate Championship. Sempai Joanne currently assists with teaching the Karate Light class at the Killarney Dojo and is a member of the Kata Officiating Committee and the Vancouver Cup Organizing Committee. She is excited to be teaching at the summer camp for the first time and looks forward to sharing her experience and passion for kata with everyone.
