History of Karate | History of Wado | Sensei Shintani
Sensei Dave

Sensei Dave Blanchet

I started training in karate in Wawa, Ontario in my late teenage years and received my Shodan rank in 1994. 7th Dan Rick Levielle has been my instructor since, and is currently one of the members of the senate. That year I moved to Lindsay, Ontario, where myself, along with Darren Marshall and Sanford DeWitt started the Lindsay Wado Kai, which is now headed by my first karate student Kris Reynolds. After completing college I moved out west to find work. I did not train regularly for a few years, but finally in 2005 settled down in Grande Prairie, AB. I then began teaching in GP, but found it difficult to secure training space. In 2006 the Peace Region Wado Kai Karate School was formed, and found a home in the 1st Apostolic Church of Grande Prairie, where we currently reside. My current rank is Sandan (third level black belt). I have held a lifetime instructor’s certification since 1995, which was presented to me in Welland, Ontario by Sensei Denis Labbe.