Taneda Sensei started his training in the style of Chito ryu in 1974 under the guidance of Sensei Warren Mauer. In 1979 there was a major split in the style. Tsuruoka Sensei “The Father of Canadian Karate” would leave Chito ryu to form his own organization. Mauer Sensei followed Tsuruoka Sensei while Taneda Sensei stayed with Akutagawa Sensei, {Warren Mauer’s original Sensei} and O Sensei the founder of Chito ryu {Tsuruoka Sensei’s Sensei} and his son Yasuhiro Chitose Sensei. In 1982 O Sensei and Chitose Sensei travelled across Canada. Taneda Sensei travelled with them and at that time learned a sequence of throws called Junishi, which represent 12 animals. After O Sensei passed on in 1984, Chitose Sensei would take his father’s place as Soke of the Chito ryu style.
Taneda Sensei has trained with Soke Sensei since 1979 and is now the highest-ranking person outside of Japan in this original style of Chito ryu. He is a Vise Honbucho for the Sohonbu in Japan and heads the Canadian division of the International Chito ryu Karate Federation.
The Dojo has promoted over 100 Black belts. Taneda Dojo Black belts can be found in England, Greece, Japan, Australia, and of course across Canada. Many of our Black belts have stayed and trained in Japan with Soke Sensei. Several have stayed for more than 1 year. Kirk Sensei stayed for 3 years and Senpai Todd Tournat has lived there for over 20 years.
Soke Sensei entrusted his son Naoyuki Chitose to stay with members of the Taneda Dojo for three years. He attended Kelowna Secondary High School to learn English and study in the Dojo with Taneda Sensei. Naoyuki Chitose will be the next Soke of Chito ryu.
Sensei Chris Taneda, Kyoshi
Nanadan • 7th Degree Black Belt
Sensei Chris Taneda is a 7th Degree Black Belt with the title of Kyoshi and is the highest ranking person outside of Japan within the Original Style of Chito ryu. He is a member of Karate BC’s Technical Committee and part of Karate Canada’s Dan Grading panel. Sensei Taneda has experience with Educational Kinesiology for Kids, Touch for Health and NLP.
Sensei Taneda was 6-time Canadian National Kumite Champion and 4-time Chito-Ryu World Champion. He won the Masters kata division at the Nationals and won a Bronze medal in the Men’s Under 60 Kilo Kumite division in the same tournament. Sensei Taneda has a top 8 finish at a WKF World Championships in Mexico City placing 5th. He was Captain of the Canadian team at a World Championships in Brazil. Sensei Taneda has been recognized as Athlete of the Year for Karate at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and the City of Kelowna awarded him Athlete of the Year in their Civics Awards.
Sensei Taneda won Karate BC Coach of the Year in 2005. He was the Head Coach for the Canadian Team of the Chito ryu World Championships in Japan. Sensei Taneda has been the BC Winter Games and Zone Head Coach for the Thompson Okanagan for many years and was given a special award for his contributions to the BC Winter Games. He was the Chair for Karate at the BC Winter Games recently held in Penticton 2016.
As a proud ambassador of his community, Sensei Taneda was selected as a torch bearer for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. In 2012, Sensei Taneda was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, to honor the significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. Sensei Taneda and his wife Cheryl, were awarded the title of Citizens of the Year for the town of Westbank [now West Kelowna].
Cheryl Taneda, Senpai
Sandan • 3rd Degree Black Belt
Cheryl Taneda started her training in 1985 and now holds the rank of Sandan. She is a qualified yoga instructor, background as a fitness instructor and worked in the public education system where she specialized with visually and hearing impaired students.
After 3 years of training Senpai Cheryl became a Provincial Gold medallist in the Black belt division while still a brown belt. In 1990 Senpai Cheryl won a Bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Brazil. She became the 1st female competitor to win an International medal for Canada in the former WUKO [ World Union of Karate Organization] events. Senpai Cheryl has won numerous National medals, Soke Cup medals. She has represented Canada at Pan American Championships, Female World Cups, and World Championships.
Senpai Cheryl has been recognized by Karate BC as a Grass Roots Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Inspirational Athlete of the Year. The town of Westbank recognized Sensei Taneda and Senpai Cheryl as Citizens of the Year. Senpai Cheryl has coached the BC Winter Games team for the Thompson Okanagan for many years and was part of the Coaching staff for the Canadian Team, in Japan, at the Chito ryu Soke Cup. She was selected as a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Award in recognition of worthy and devoted service recognized by her peers and nominated by a government official.
The Taneda Dojo is lucky to have her positive, caring, knowledgeable, and infectious spirit, influencing so many young lives.
Mike Ditson, Shidoin
Yondan • 4th Degree Black Belt
Senpai Mike Ditson is a 4th Degree Black Belt with the title of Shidoin. Senpai Mike has been a member of the Taneda Karate Dojo for more than 30 years, and full time instructor for 16 years. He has won multiple medals at the Canadian National Karate Championships, and is a former Chito-Ryu Kata World Champion. Senpai Mike is now the Head Coach for the BC Karate Team. In 2009, he was named Karate BC Coach of the Year, and in 2012 Karate BC High-Performance Coach of the Year. Senpai Mike has coached for the Canadian National Team at a Pan American Championship in Mexico and Columbia. Senpai Mike is a Past President of the Southern Interior Karate Association (Zone 2) and currently he is a member of the Karate BC High-Performance Committee.
Michelle Cowan, Senpai
Yondan • 4th Degree Black Belt
Senpai Michelle Cowan started training with Sensei Taneda in 1985. She competed successfully at tournaments Provincially, Nationally, and Internationally. Senpai Michelle has won 2 National Black belt Championships. At the Junior Goodwill Games in Arizona, she was the only competitor representing Canada to win a Gold Medal. The city of Summerland acknowledged her accomplishments by awarding her Athlete of the Year as well as Summerland’s Woman of the Year. Senpai Michelle won multiple medals at the Chito ryu World Championships, in Australia she won a Gold and a Silver medal, in Japan she took 2 Silver Medals and in Toronto she won Gold and Silver. Senpai Michelle has been teaching in all the children programs in the dojo for many years. She coached the Thompson Okanagan Karate team at the BC Winter Games in 2014 and 2016. Senpai Michelle holds the rank of Yondan [4th degree Black belt].
She is married to a 3rd degree Black belt in the club and 2 of their children train as well.
Tania Reid, Senpai
Sandan • 3rd Degree Black Belt
Senpai Tania Reid began her training with our Dojo in 1990. Previously she trained 4 years in another style. After being coached at a BC Winter Games by Taneda Sensei and Senpai Cheryl she decided to train with them. Since there was no training location yet in Kelowna, her parents would drive her every day from Rutland to Westbank.
Since that time Senpai Tania has competed Provincially, Nationally and Internationally. She has competed at 5 Soke Cup tournaments. At 2 of these Chito ryu World Championships she has won the top spot in Women’s Black belt kata. In 2004 at the Australia Soke Cup she was the Women’s Black belt Grand Champion.
Senpai Tania holds the rank of Sandan 3rd degree. She is married to a 3rd degree Black belt from the Dojo and both their children are training. She works for the City of Kelowna as a building inspector.
Teri Foster, Senpai
Nidan • 2nd Degree Black Belt
In 1991 Senpai Teri Foster was flipping through a newspaper and noticed an add for a karate demonstration. This led her to the path of becoming a dedicated student and an integral part of our teaching staff. Her rank is Nidan and she has been teaching the children’s programs in Penticton and Summerland since 1997 and has instructed in the West Kelowna and Kelowna Dojos. Her background is in Education. She ran a licensed day care facility and since 2002 has been an Education Assistant within the school system. Senpai Teri has dabbled as a writer for children’s books. Senpai Teri is one of the main forces behind the success of the yearly Taneda Dojo Summer Camp. She tirelessly spends hours planning games and activities that put children in positions to grow,create and have fun.
Anne Ross, Senpai
Nidan • 2nd Degree Black Belt
Senpai Anne Ross started training in Sept 2000 after watching her husband and sons for several years. She now holds the rank of Nidan which surpasses her other family members. Senpai Anne has been committed to helping the Summerland and Penticton Children’s programs. She is a Controller at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and with her help, the Annual Chito-Ryu Friendship Tournament has been hosted there since 2010. Senpai Anne competed for many years, including 3 Soke Cups tournaments [the Chito ryu World Championships]. In Japan, she won 2 Golds medals and a Bronze, in Australia she took the Silver medal in Kumite, and in Hong Kong won a Silver and Bronze medal. She has recently qualified as a Provincial Referee. Senpai Anne is the treasurer for our fundraising society. Her sparkly smile greets everyone that enters the Dojo.
Sukhresh Kaloty, Senpai
Nidan• 2nd Degree Black belt
Senpai Sukhresh Kaloty started his training in 2002 when he was 7. In April he graduated from University with a Bachelor in Science.
Sukhresh won a Gold and Bronze medal at the BC Winter Games in 2007. He has been a member of the BC team and won Silver at the Canadian National Black belt Championships as well as 3 Bronze medals. He was picked to represent Canada at the Junior Pan American Championship in Mexico. Sukhresh teaches classes in the Mission but has been accepted into a University in Australia, so we are lucky enough to have him teach help for a few more months.
Avneet Kaloty, Senpai
Shodan • 1st Degree Black Belt
Senpai Avneet Kaloty, has been doing karate since 2003. She is in her second year at UBCO. Avneet has won many Provincial Gold medals and has represented BC at the Black belt National Competition. A career highlight has been achieving 2 Gold medals at the 2010 BC Winter Games. Competing in 2 Nationals she won Silver in kumite one year and Bronze the next year. In 2015 Avneet was graded to Shodan, 1st degree Black belt.