Sensei Avi Rokah 8th Dan
Sensei Avi Rokah is an 8th Dan with the World Budo Karate Association and it’s technical director. Sensei Rokah is also the head coach of the US National Traditional Karate Team, as well as Senior Coach to the national teams of Germany, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Canada, Israel, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. In 1967, Sensei Rokah came to the United States to train with Master Hidetaka Nishiyama. He spent 27 years training directly with Master Nishiyama and was one of his top students. In 1982, he opened his own dojo. He has promoted more than 100 students to black belt.
As an athlete Sensei Rokah was the World Champion (1994), and five time US champion (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2000). He was also the champion of the International Goodwill, and California State tournaments for more than 10 years each.
Sensei Rokah continues the work of Master Nishiyama, travelling the world teaching traditional karate seminars. His unique approach to karate combines the traditions of Japanese Karate and Kendo with the modern sciences of physiology and kinesiology. Sensei Rokah is the chief instructor at Rokah Karate, in Los Angeles, CA.
Sensei Mark Minarik 6th Dan
Sensei Mark Minarik is a 6th Dan with the World Budo Karate Association. He is an International Class A kata judge, an International Class B kumite judge, the Technical Director for the Traditional Karate-Do Institute Canada, and the Technical Director for the National Traditional Karate Federation Canada.
As an athlete, Sensei Minarik has been involved in the art of Traditional Karate since 1978. Provincially he has held the title of kumite champion for 10 consecutive years, 1990 -1999, as well as kata champion for numerous years. Nationally, he has been kata and kumite champion for multiple years. Has been a National Team member from 1986 to 2004. Internationally, he has received gold medals in Pan American and silver medals in the World Championships. Provincial and National team coach. Selected as a World Cup Athlete. Provincial, National, and International seminar Instructor.
Sensei Minarik is also a well established Registered Massage Therapist. This background gives him an innate understanding of the human body, how it works, how to create power and energy, and how to minimize the chance of injury through correct movement and proper core stabilization. Sensei Minarik is the chief instructor at Midwest Karate Saskatoon. As technical director for the TKIC, he travels to Newfoundland bi-annually to conduct seminars and gradings. If you wish to contact Sensei Minarik, you can do so at Sensei Mark Minarik.
Sensei Michelle Critch 4th dan
Sensei Michelle Critch is a 4th Dan with the World Budo Karate Association. She received all of her dan certifications from the late Master Nishiyama. She is a Class B kata and kumite judge under the NTKF. She is the Technical Director and Head Coach for Newfoundland. She was the acting coach for the Canadian Team at the world championships in Geneva 2014.
As an athlete, Sensei Critch began karate in 1985 and started competing in 1986. She received her shodan in 1991 and started competing at the Nationals in the same year. In 1994 she won her first National Kata title. In that same year she competed in the first world’s tournament in Traviso, Italy. She remained the national kata champion for 11 years. In 2003, 2005, and 2007 she competed in World Cup in Poland (only 8 men and 8 women chosen in the world to compete in this special event in Poland). In 2007 she won 2nd place. In 2004 she was the first Canadian to win an individual event at the World’s in Davos, Switzerland ( event: Fuku Go). In 1998 and 2001, she won Provincial female athlete of the year. In 2006, Canada hosted the Worlds in Saskatoon and she won a bronze in kata. Overall, Sensei Critch competed in 18 international tournaments. In 2008, she competed at the worlds in Lithuania where she won a silver in kata. She retired from competition after this event.
Sensei Critch is a certified Hatha yoga instructor and a certified personal trainer with National Canfit pro. Sensei Critch operates the The Art of Movement Institute where she teaches karate, yoga, fitness, and does personal training. She travels to St. John’s regularly to conduct karate training clinics and gradings. If you wish to contact Sensei Critch, you can do so at Sensei Michelle Critch.
