Head Instructor
ELIZABETH WIJNSTRA 6th degree black belt, Rokudan
Began to study Shotokan karate in 1971, in the city of Novi Sad, former Yugoslavia, under former National and European kata and kumite champion Dr. Ilija Jorga, founder of World Fudokan Shotokan Karate.
After graduating from the Dental Technician’s College in 1974, Elizabeth left Yugoslavia to seek out and explore the world. Spending some time in Germany and almost 5 years in Netherlands, she and her husband Eduard immigrated on June 5th, 1979 to Vancouver, BC, Canada.
20 years later on June 5th, 1999, Elizabeth captures the “grand master woman” title (double gold) at the National Championships that was held in Vancouver, BC.
In 1982 she has joined the newly established Coquitlam Shotokan karate club under instruction of Sensei Mike Scales. Elizabeth continued training and became assistant instructor of Coquitlam Shotokan till early spring of 2000, when she and her husband decided to move to a slower pace community Okanagan Falls, in Okanagan. That very same year in the fall, she has established a new karate club in that community: “Skaha Lake Shotokan”.
After living in Okanagan Falls for 4 years, Elizabeth and Eddy have decided to move to a more dynamic city such as Kelowna. By then, she has re-started the former Mission Karate club, and in May 2005, Skaha Lake Shotokan in OK Falls was officially closed. The following year Elizabeth named her new club in Kelowna: “Jushinkan Martial Art – home of the free spirit.”
In 2023, Jushinkan Martial Art was officially recognized by Karate Canada as an independent Karate Style Association.
Achievements in Karate: 6th degree black belt in Shotokan Karate
Former National and Provincial Grand Master Woman Champion
Provincial Senior and National “A” class Referee
1999 Sport BC Master Athlete of the year
2002 Karate BC Award “Spring Provincial Tournament Official”
2002 National Karate Association Award “Official of the year”
NCCP Level 2 Coach
Present functions:
Chief Instructor Jushinkan Martial Art
Former President and member of the Technical Committee ShotoCanada
Former Chair of Karate BC Officials Council
Former Chair of Kararte BC Woman’s Committee
Sport BC Certified Harassment Adviser
Outside of karate, Elizabeth is a Certified Life/Executive Coach in Professional Leadership devepeloment. She is presently member of the prestige Dr. John C Maxwell world organization, and as a John Maxwell Coach, speaker and teacher, she can offer workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching, aiding to personal and professional growth through study and practical application of John’s proven leadership methods.
Instructor
Volodymyr Shchelkanov, Sandan
Brief karate history:
1986 started practise karate in Lviv Shotokan Club Ukraine
1993 certified 1 dan (Black Belt ) by UFAF POLAND
1993 -1995 helping instructor in Lviv Shotokan Karate Club
1995-2000 Instructor of Kids Shotokan Karate club
2000 immigrated to Canada
2000 – 2004 Joined Seiko-Kai Shito-Ryu (Vancouver)
2005 – 1 Kui (Brown Belt Seiko-Kai Shito-Ryu)
2012 – joined Coquitlam Shotokan Karate Club
2016 – Completed Karate BC Level 1 Street Proofing Course
2015 – 2017 Assistant Instructor in Coquitlam Shotokan Karate Club
2017 – moved to Kelowna, joined JMA and became Instructor of Jushinkan Martial Art in Kelowna
Junior Instructor:
Kelly Grant, Nidan
Kelly have been training at Jushinkan Martial Art for 10 years, since he was in grade 2. He told Sensei Elizabeth when he was very young that he would not stop until he achieves his black belt. That he did on July 28, 2017. Aside from Karate, his interest includes: writing stories, writing and record drawing, singing and hanging out with friends.
Kelly is a high school and colllege graduate with welder’s C ticket in adition to the Sound Technician certificate received a year prior. He plans to continue training Karate and has a desire to better himslef and do good things for the world and people around him. He is strong willed and does not give up easily. He will often push himself past limits with the end goal of improving every trait of his personal being. He claims: ” I do not know where I’d be without my training, and honestly dont’ want to know…It has helped me indefinitely!”
Kelly is currently the instructor of the Junior class at Jushinkan Martial Art.