Many people have asked  about how Kyokushin Karate was started in Winnipeg. This is an attempt to write down a resume of the history of Kyokushin Karate in Winnipeg. It all started on March, 1982, when Sensei Angel Carrasco established Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate - Dojo Entheos in Winnipeg, since then many things have happened and today there are 3 Kyokushin Dojos in Winnipeg, 2 of them are commercial school and the other still teach Kyokushin Karate free of charge to students. Below you will find more detail information on the history of Kyokushin in Winnipeg. It is my hope that this will help the new Kyokushin generation to learn more about  their roots as they are the ones who will continue writing the future of Kyokushin in Winnipeg.

March, 1982, Sensei Angel Carrasco brought Kyokushin Karate to Winnipeg creating Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate

~199.., Sensei Mac Mierzejewski came to Winnipeg and started teaching Kyokushin Karate. He went back to Edmonton and one of his student. Senpai Kris Kwapiszewski, got in charge of teaching Kyokushin Karate.

1996, Sensei Angel Carrasco meet Senpai Kris Kwapiszewski, and started training together.

  June, 1997, First Summer Camp, organized by Sensei Angel Carrasco.

September, 1998, Sensei Angel Carrasco joined the International Kyokushin Organization, Matsushima Group (IKO), and was recognized as a 2nd Dan Black Belt (Nidan), by Shihan Roman Szyrajew, who is in charge of the Canadian Kyokushinkaikan Organization (IKO3).

1998, Senpai Kris Kwapiszewski, was graded to Shodan by the Canadian Kyokushin Organization (IKO 1 - Shihan Stuart Corrigal). Unfortunately Senpai Kris Kwapiszewski, after a few years of teaching, stopped his teaching due to study commitments.

August, 1998, Senpai Mario Acuna, was graded to Shodan by Sensei Angel Carrasco and also was recognized as a Shodan by Shihan Roman Szyrajew, Chairman of the Canadian Kyokushin Organization (IKO 3), by recommendation of Sensei Angel Carrasco. Senpai Mario Acuna was the first student from Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate, to became a black belt.

July,1998, Second Summer Camp, organized by Sensei Angel Carrasco.

March, 1999, Sensei Angel Carrasco went to Montreal to the "Mas Oyama's Memorial Cup 1999" organized by Shihan Roman Szyrajew, where also have the change to participate in an International Seminar where he meet Kancho Matsushima and other instructors from around the world. This was the first occasion to introduce Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate to the world and also open the door for other Kyokushin practitioners from Winnipeg. 

February, 2000, Sensei Diego Beltran, join Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate, and started training at Sensei Angel Carrasco' Dojo (Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate - Dojo Entheos).

March, 2000 Sensei Angel Carrasco's student, Senpai Mario Acuña, started teaching at Maples Community club in March of  2000.

June - July, 2000 Third Summer Camp, organized by Sensei Angel Carrasco.

  April, 2000, Sensei Angel Carrasco went to Montreal for a Second time to the "Mas Oyama's Memorial Cup 2000" organized by Shihan Roman Szyrajew, where he also had the chance to participate in an International Seminar where he trained once again with Kancho Matsushima and other instructors from around the world. This time was an important moment for the future generations of Kyokushin Karate in Winnipeg. Many Instructors from other countries got to know about Kyokushin in Winnipeg which would make it easier for others to connect locally or Internationally.

  June 2000 Sensei Diego Beltran, joined the International Kyokushin Organization, Matsushima Group (IKO), and was recognized as a Black Belt Nidan (2nd Dan), by Shihan Roman Szyrajew.

  November 2000 Sensei Angel Carrasco talked to Shihan Roman (Canadian representative of the IKO) for the possibility of allowing Sensei Diego Beltran to be included in the Canadian Team for the World Tournaments in Japan. Sensei Diego Beltran was included in the Canadian Team and together with Sensei Angel Carrasco went to the World Tournament in Japan, which is held once every 4 years. Sensei Diego Beltran did had an excellent performance which allow him to capture the 6th place in this world tournament.

  November 2000 Sensei Angel Carrasco received the 3rd Dan Black Belt (Sandan) in Japan, by the International Kyokushin Organization, Matsushima Group (IKO).

  November 2000 Sensei Diego Beltran received the 3rd Dan Black Belt (Sandan) by the International Kyokushin Organization, Matsushima Group (IKO).

  April  2001 Senpai Mario Acuna took one of his students, to participate in the "Mas Oyama's Memorial Cup 2001" organized by Shihan Roman Szyrajew in Montreal.

July, 2001 Fourth Summer Camp, organized by Sensei Angel Carrasco.

  June 2001 Sensei Diego Beltran open his own Dojo, which was named "Guardian Dojo".

  November 2001 Senpai Mario Acuña open his own Dojo, which was named "Maples Dojo".

  March 23, 2002, Two students from Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate - Dojo Entheos went to Montreal to compete in an International Tournament.

  June 2002 Sensei Diego Beltran went to the Kyokushin Weight World cup held in the USA, as a member of the Canadian Team. He got 2nd place in the Male lightweight divisions.

June, 2002, Fifth Summer Camp, organized by Sensei Angel Carrasco.

  October 2002. After an important meeting that all the Kyokushin Instructors in Winnipeg have with Shihan Roman (September 5, 2002), Sensei Angel Carrasco from Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate, and Sensei Diego Beltran, from Guardian Dojo decided to start working together in the creation of the Manitoba Kyokushinkaikan Karate Organization, in order to promote and regulate in a more effective way Kyokushin in Manitoba.

  October, 2002, A student from Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate - Dojo Entheos went to Montreal to compete in an International full contact Tournament.

  March, 2003, Two students from Winnipeg Kyokushin Karate - Dojo Entheos went to compete in the International Tournament "Mas Oyama's Gold Cup"

  May, 2003,  17 - Several students from "Maples Dojo" went to Montreal to compete in the "Matsushima Cup 2003" Junior Tournament. 

July, 2003, First Guardian Dojo Summer Camp, organized by Sensei Diego Beltran.

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