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Contact
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Phone:
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(250) 498-8883
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Fax:
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(250) 498-4245
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Address:
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Oliver Community Hall, 36003 79th st. Oliver BC V0H1T0
( The Oliver Dojo is located at the Oliver Community / Recreational Center.
There is access to public swimming, the arena, curling rink, tennis, gym/fitness
center, and a large park area with several softball/baseball diamonds. To find us:
If you are southbound (from Penticton) turn left/east at the first set of lights
at the 7-11 store. Drive down across the bridge and make the first right before
the intersection. The Community Center is located to the right, across from the
skating arena. )
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Email:
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oliverkyokushin@hotmail.com
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Black Belt Members
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Mike Riplinger -
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Shodan, Obtained July 22, 2000
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Training Classes
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We offer separate Junior and Senior classes as follows:
Fall Session, Winter Session, and Spring/Summer Session.
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Tuesday and Thursday
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Juniors - ( 6 to 12 years old ): 6:00PM to 7:00PM
Senior - (13 years old and up ): 7:05PM to 8:35PM
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Our training schedule is set-up to follow the school district class
schedules with our breaks concurrent to theirs. Please call or email
for more info regarding cancellations or changes in schedules. Students
from other Dojos, who are in town or passing through, are welcome and
encouraged to attend class. Stop in for an OSU and say Hi!
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History of the Dojo
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The Oliver Club is operated by Mike Riplinger. Mike has trained exclusively in the
Kyokushin style since 1989 and has attained the rank of Shodan. Our motto is to be
the most diverse and progressive karate club in the interior, taking martial arts
to a level that has put us into the minds and good graces of our surrounding
community. We have built and maintained an excellent rapport with our local community,
even drawing the attention of our local newspaper for a front page article. When Mike
first took over the operation of the club in the spring of 1999 there were only 4
regular students. Now we may boast over 100 registered students with a regular
attendance of over 60 Adult and Junior students. It is our belief, that through
our endeavours to create a unique training environment, we have become a club that
will offer opportunities to any age or gender student of any physical/mental
fitness level.
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Training Philosophy
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Kyokushin is world renowned as the "toughest" style of karate. With full
contact sparring and powerful breaking techniques and tournament fighting
with out protective pads. Our style has earned this recognition and continues
to dominate at world class competitions. Taking Kyokushin into the new
millennium has been a challenge that we have met head on. In order to
maintain the traditional training methods and practices of Kyokushin and
not discourage any person from the martial arts, we make a special effort
to keep in tune with our students. We find out what they need and want and
tailor our classes to fulfill those needs.
We of course train and follow the grading syllabus as set out by the C.K.K.O
(Canadian Kyokushin Karate Organization) under the auspices of the I.K.O.
(International Karate Organization) Japan headquarters. We also however,
believe in cross training. Karate is stand up fighting, with self-defence
applications ranging from blows to throws with joint locks and devastating
finishing techniques on the ground or on your feet. As the popular "Ultimate
Fighting" style matches have made famous, grappling is a very real part of
street style fighting and therefore needs to be incorporated into any self-defence
program. We are fortunate to have in Oliver an Aiki-Jujitsu club, run by Mark Bryant,
whose style specializes in takedowns and ground type fighting situations.
We hold interclub training sessions with the Aiki-Jujitsu club working on the
mats which help to fine tune our techniques. We also offer training
opportunities for special needs students that helps to build and maintain
a level of confidence and self esteem in themselves that they never before
experienced. No one is ever denied or excluded from the Oliver Kyokushin
Karate Club due to any shortfalls in physical or mental fitness they may think
they have. We will work with anyone and bring out their best.
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Training Activities: Past and Present
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Tournaments
Oliver has been the site of two annual tournaments hosted by the Oliver
and Ok Falls clubs as a joint venture between Mike Riplinger and Ed Deuschle
of Ok Falls/Naramata. The tournaments are officially sanctioned by the
C.K.K.O. and draws a number of Okanagan and Vancouver fighters, with all
classes available from non-contact to full contact knockdown fighting.
The tournaments are an annual event and will be held in the fall so watch
for info. Spectators are always welcome and encouraged to come out to be
entertained and to support our young fighters.
Fight training
We are currently in the process of developing and selecting a handpicked team
of young fighters who show the tenacity, skill and desire to be tournament
fighters. It is our hope to offer an extra training day for these students
where we can work on fighting strategy and technique as well as cardio work.
Self-defense
We currently hold an annual women's self-defense course as part of the programming
curriculum of the Oliver Parks and Rec. commission. We performed an introductory
course over a five day session for the South Okanagan Figure Skating Association
as part of their winter training camp. We are also working with the Phys. Ed.
Department at South Okanagan Secondary School at the request of the P.E. program
co-ordinator. Tuc-el-nuit Elementary School has requested our services as well
for an introductory awareness and self-defense seminar.
Kids class
We have found a tremendous response to our Junior/Kids training classes
with overwhelming registration and attendance. Mike runs these classes with the
help and assistance of student Glen Shippit. Together they work on ways to keep
the classes lively and interesting. We have been accepting students as young as
5 years old which is very dependant on their maturity level and ability to
comprehend. We also offer the chance for families to train together in the Junior
class with special registration rates for three or more students. Mike has
developed a program of not only tactical self-defense for the children but
also self-awareness, teaching the kids to be more responsible for themselves
and how to think their way out of a situation or how to avoid potentially
dangerous situations.
With the limits of a young mind we focus on breaking up our classes into time
segments that will keep the attention of the students. We use a 10 to 15 minute
warm up 40 minutes of Karate varying between strictly disciplined training and a
more fun approach to teaching the students through activities that build up
camaraderie and team spirit. The last 10 minutes of class time is reserved as a
wind down, fun time, of games for the students. We have found that by using this
technique, we are able to devote certain classes to strict regimental training that
trains the students to know when to play and when to pay! We have offered for the
first time, an opportunity for "team style" class photos. This included a group
club picture as well individual poses and trading cards which was well received by
both the students and the photographer. We will be offering this in the future only
every two to three years to avoid disinterest in this project as we want all the
students to participate. The 2001 Fall Session club photo is proudly displayed in
the foyer trophy case of the Community Hall.
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Future plans
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We are hoping to hold a series of fund raising events to help defray the cost of
purchasing mats for a second fight ring. We held an inter-club mock up tournament
designed to show the students how the tournaments work in order to allay any fears
they may have in competing or officiating. It is our plan to do this at least semi-
annually especially for those students who do not wish to compete in a sanctioned
event. We have built up quite an inventory of training equipment and are always on
the look out for any new type of equipment that will keep the students interested
and will help them achieve their personal goals in their martial arts training. We
currently, and have in the past offered training opportunities for a special needs
student. It is our hope that we can work with the branch chief to develop a grading
syllabus that would be acceptable to the C.K.K.O. and the I.K.O. that would allow
these types of students to test at their own level, and achieve rank at their own
level that is recognized by the organization.
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