Sensei Nandana Wijewardana, Founder and Chief Instructor
Black Belt 4th Dan, Japan
Chair-Tournament Committee, Referee/Judge - Ontario Karate Federation (OKF)
Certified Meditation Instructor (Thailand)
Self Funded Researcher of Zen (spirituality); Cosmic/Universal Energy & the connection to Modern Science
Sensei Nandana Wijewardana is the founder and the Chief Instructor of Kenseikan Canada. He has over 40 years of experience in teaching Karate. He has won the NATIONAL (ACKA) KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP in 1979 (Junior) and 1981 (Senior A). He represented Sri Lanka's National Kenseikan Karate Team. He was also awarded his 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan) in 1987. He also won a Scholarship (Air Lanka Ltd.) for advanced Karate training at The University of Tokyo in Japan. Later on the 16th of June 2007, Sensei received his Black Belt 4th Dan from Shihan Dai Kiyochika Oka, the Chief Instructor International at the Head Office in Tokyo, Japan.
Sensei Nandana traces his lineage back to the founder of modern karate himself; the Grand Master Gichin Funakoshi. Funakoshi’s student, Sensei Minoru Miyata, became one of a select few in the history of karate to receive a 9th degree black belt, and he in turn instructed Shihan Okawa who was a Senpai. Sensei Nandana is a student of Shihan Wataru Okawa, Japan He began his career in Canada as the Chief Karate Instructor for the City of North York Schools. He also taught at Northern Karate schools at the same time. He later launched Kenseikan Dojo in Canada on September 7, 1994. On September 15, 1996, he formally registered the Kenseikan Canada branch in commemoration of Shihan Okawa's first death anniversary. Sensei founded the Japan Karate-Do Kenseikan Canada branch mostly as a monument to his teachers, Shihan Okawa and Shihan Dai Vincent Fernando, who passed away. He was adamant about pursuing the goals of Kenseikan Karate-Do in Canada. He was unwilling to let Kenseikan teachings perish. In addition to teaching traditional Karate-Do, Sensei's philosophy is to instill greater human values and attributes in his students. He also aims to help them succeed in life by guiding them via the spiritual aspects of martial arts. |
Training History:
Trained by: Shihan Wataru Okawa, 8th Dan, Shihan Dai Vincent Fernando, 6th Dan, Sensei Hirofumi Inoe (1984), Sensei S. Tominaga 8th Dan (University of Toronto), Shihan-Dai Kiyochika Oka Chief Instructor Japan.
Training Camps attended: by Shihan Tetsuhiko Asai, 10th Dan JKA/JKS, Shihan Yamaguchi (9th Dan JKA), Hirofumi Inoe, Japan, and, Judo Camp conducted by the Japanese Master
Judo: YMCA by a Japanese Expert From Kano Judo School, Japan (Graded to 7th Kyu at the 1st Grading Test).
Black Belt: 1st Dan - Japan Karate Association Shotokan, 3rd Dan and 4th Dan-Kenseikan and Shotokan
Karate tournament Judge/Referee: Certified by Karate Ontario 1996 and currently the Chairman of the Tournament Monitoring Committee of KO.
Meditation Instructor: Certified by Ven. Shiranthaoro Viriyang, Meditation Centre Bangkok, Thailand in 2003.
Meditation Camps attended: Doi Inthonan Mountain, Thailand
Trained by: Shihan Wataru Okawa, 8th Dan, Shihan Dai Vincent Fernando, 6th Dan, Sensei Hirofumi Inoe (1984), Sensei S. Tominaga 8th Dan (University of Toronto), Shihan-Dai Kiyochika Oka Chief Instructor Japan.
Training Camps attended: by Shihan Tetsuhiko Asai, 10th Dan JKA/JKS, Shihan Yamaguchi (9th Dan JKA), Hirofumi Inoe, Japan, and, Judo Camp conducted by the Japanese Master
Judo: YMCA by a Japanese Expert From Kano Judo School, Japan (Graded to 7th Kyu at the 1st Grading Test).
Black Belt: 1st Dan - Japan Karate Association Shotokan, 3rd Dan and 4th Dan-Kenseikan and Shotokan
Karate tournament Judge/Referee: Certified by Karate Ontario 1996 and currently the Chairman of the Tournament Monitoring Committee of KO.
Meditation Instructor: Certified by Ven. Shiranthaoro Viriyang, Meditation Centre Bangkok, Thailand in 2003.
Meditation Camps attended: Doi Inthonan Mountain, Thailand