Karate athletes claiming titles at championships are not necessarily the best in the sport, said Dan Wallis, executive director at Karate BC.
In Vancouver, across the provinceand what may well be the countrythere are a variety of karate clubs that are operating independently from Karate BC, a recognized provincial body of Karate Canada.
"The athletes from across Canada think they're the best there is, but there are these other groups that have terrific athletes," Wallis said. "In order to be the best they have to compete against everybody."
Athletes seeking to be eligible for credibly recognized competitions and tournaments must have their belts and certification from a club recognized by Karate BC.
But many clubs aren't doing that.
"The ones that arent serious are going to stay away from Karate BC."
Clubs need to meet a certain set of rules and standards to be officially recognized. Those standards include national coaching certification, a set location, and criminal background checks. The instruction offered must also be actual karate, as oppose to a similar form of martial arts.
The issue has increasingly grown in importance with the International Olympic Committee's July announcement of karate as one of eight new sports vying for a spot at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Karate instructor Mario McKenna, who teaches karate at Kowakan Karatedo, which are Karate BC approved classes at Riley Park Community Centre, said he's walked past independent clubs in his neighborhood, looked inside, and questioned whether students were being taught karate.
"People dont necessarily look for legitimacy. The first thing people look at is proximity, then cost, then quality," he said.
For McKenna, who polished his skills in karate during nine years living in Japan, the art of the sport shouldn't be about proximity.
"For me to go to my teachers, I had to travel for almost one hour one way. So to me, it's never been a question of that. If the instructor's good, of course I'm going to make the effort," McKenna said.
Wallis said Karate BC comes across students who could be potential Olympic champions but who have black belts from independent clubs that aren't enough to carry them into top-tier level competitions.
Since those schools arent recognized under Karate BC, those athletes can't be recognized as ready to move onto the next level of competition.
Karate BC recognizes approximately 20 Vancouver schools and list them on its website. Wallis estimates it recognizes about 130 school in the province, with a total of 4,000 students and members.
McKenna notes the independent schools may in fact be breeding a group of very talented athletes, trained by an equally skilled instructors. But without the Karate BC umbrella, those athletes will go unnoticed.
"If you're telling someone youre teaching karatedo but you're not, to me it's like you're selling a certain vintage wine saying its an '84 merlot and it's actually not, McKenna said. It's some other blended wine that was made last year.
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