To promote the traditions and integrity of karate-do and to provide opportunities to excel in a competitive environment.

Through its programs and leadership, Karate BC, in cooperation with its affiliates, supports the development of karate and the aspirations of its members by offering opportunities and setting procedures, standards and policies.

We believe that karate is an enjoyable life-long activity for all. Its many facets are:

• Martial art

• Way of life

• Sport

• Self-defense

• Character development

• Fitness and health

• Recreation

Through karate we learn, teach, and promote values of respect, discipline, self control, truth, harmony, perseverance, and responsibility.

Karate BC operates on the principles of democracy, respect, fairness, accountability, equal opportunity, openness, and accessibility.

Karate BC is the recognized governing body for karate-do (karate) British Columbia. We are a unified and democratic organization representing and supporting all legitimate systems of karate and its different sport expressions. Our activities are non-discriminatory, and values-based.

We are financially self-sufficient and professionally managed in the progressive development of procedures, standards, and programs. We provide a supportive and nurturing environment for all of our members in their pursuit of the Association's common goals.

Karate BC has as a basic requirement for membership that a club be affiliated with a "traditional" Karate organization or have received its accreditation from one. The very nature of traditional Karate requires that its training and practices be based on the code of ethics called Karate-do, or the way of Karate. This can best be exemplified by a famous quote from Gichin Funakoshi, "the father of modern day Karate." The quote is as follows: "The aim of Karate lies not in victory, nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants."

Traditional Karate has at its very heart the principle that Karate must be used for the good of society. A famous quote from Masami Tsuruoka, the founder of Karate in Canada, is as follows: "Karate-do begins and ends with courtesy. The fists are meant not for killing but for giving life to everyone." Karate-do is a unique sport that is strictly governed by the codes and principles of courtesy, benevolence and spiritual understanding. Teijunsoku Uekata, a 17th century scholar and Karate master in Okinawa wrote "No matter how you may excel in the art of te (Karate) and scholastic endeavors, nothing is more important than your behavior and your humanity as observed in daily life."

Karate BC has resisted the impulse to expand its membership and maintained a standard that insures those who call themselves members of the association have made a commitment to the goals and principle of Karate-Do. At this point, we are not interested in credence to those who teach only the skills of kicking and punching with no consideration to the social context in which they exist. There are many "sport" Karate schools operating in the community, many solely for profit. No effort has been made on our part to recruit any and all clubs. We have opted instead to upgrade the coaching knowledge of our instructors and increase, encourage and enforce proper safety practices within our dojos and competitions. Karate BC has recently constituted a High Performance Committee, through which we have attempted to increase opportunities to excel in competition, officiating, and coaching at higher levels. We feel that by strengthening the internal aspects of our organization and increasing opportunities for our members, we can increase our membership and encourage others to see the benefits of membership in traditional Karate. Over the past two years we have seen a dramatic increase in membership.

To increase Zone participation we have initiated two programs recently:
At the BC Winter Games all zone coaches must be fully certified at NCCP Level 1. During the games a coaching seminar is given for the benefit of all coaches. This seminar is conducted by National and Provincial High Performance coaches. This is now an annual event and a permanent part of our coaching program.

In conjunction with the Kitimat Karate Club, and local community groups, we have approved the establishment of a regional training center in that city. This center will be run by a Provincial assistant coach and monitored by the High Performance Committee. We hope that this initiative will spark interest in other regions.

Additionally, our Officiating program has been revamped to encourage more participation. The focus of the program now is to educate the members to become better officials as opposed to eliminating those who are substandard. Basically more levels of achievement have been added. By increasing opportunities for success, and decreasing those for failure, we hope to encourage more members to maintain involvement in the program. One of the objectives of the five year plan is to have an officials clinic in every zone. This has already increased interest in officiating in the province.

The NCCP Technical delivery has been made more accessable by holding clinics in Kitimat, Prince George, Kelowna, New Westminster, Vancouver Island, and Vancouver. As well, any person who travels over 100 kilometers, one way, is charged only half the cost of the course.

BC Winter Games maintains equal male and female events even though female membership numbers are considerably lower (25%).

Volunteer Recognition Program

Each spring, in conjunction with our annual Spring Championships, Karate BC holds an Annual Recognition Night and Awards Banquet. Awards are presented in the following categories:
Volunteer of the Year (Karate BC): A volunteer who has significantly served the entire organization

Volunteer of the Year (Club): A volunteer who has contributed to a member club

Official of the Year: Voted by the members

Coach of the Year: Voted by the members

Sponsor of the Year

Athlete categories of: Junior Male & Female, Adult Male & Female, Inspirational and Senior

Local and provincial dignitaries are invited to present awards and the winners are highlighted in our newsletter. The local media is also notified of the results. Volunteers are identified and given courtesy tickets to the banquet. Certificates of appreciation are presented to all invited volunteers.

Equity and Access

Karate BC has historically encouraged women's participation in all levels of the organization. There is a position open specifically for at least one female on the BC Coaching Staff. As well, one of the NCCP Technical Course Conductors is female, participating in every course that is delivered in BC, and a driving force in policy making decisions. Forty percent of competition categories are reserved for females. Two of the eight zone coaches in the last BC Winter Games were female. This is a direct result of our policy of encouraging female participation. Female coaches were actively recruited by Karate BC staff. The BC Women and Karate Committee exists to advise the association on Women's matters.

Karate BC has endorsed the Coaches Code of Conduct as published by the BC Coaches Association. This was featured in a KBC newsletter. Karate BC regularly publishes articles on ethical coaching standards and practices in it's newsletter.

Coaching Coordinator and Master Course Conductor, James Johnson, attends the yearly National Coaching Conference in Ottawa and keeps course conductors abreast of new innovations in delivery. As well, course conductors attend BC coaching seminars and clinics at least once a year.

All participants fill out course evaluation forms which are reviewed by course conductors and the Coaching Coordinator. This and verbal feedback from coaches is used to improve course delivery.

Each year an internationally acknowledged coach is invited to BC for a training seminar. At the BC Winter Games each year, a High Performance seminar is held for all zone coaches. Another High Performance seminar is held and is open to all coaches. Both courses are conducted by the National and Provincial coaches and sponsored by Karate BC.

The Instructors Certification Program calls for a "CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE" issued to instructors who complete:

Canadian Black Belt certificate issued by the National Karate Association, Class "C" Officials Certification, First Aid Certification, NCCP Level 1 or 2 (which ever is available) Certification, and successfully complete a police records check.