Jonathan Gladstone Sensei has been studying Karate at the Okamikan since 2002, achieving his Shodan (first degree black belt) rank in December, 2008 and then his Nidan (second degree black belt) Dec.9, 2011. Karate is a family affair for Gladstone Sensei, who trains with his son Simon, also a black belt at Okami Kai. He enjoys support for his training activities from his wife Liz and other son Ben.

Though he studied judo briefly as a child, most of Gladstone Sensei’s training in Karate and other martial arts has been with or through the Okamikan in Uxbridge. He says he “enjoys the warm, friendly and family-oriented community where we study martial arts seriously and with rigour without losing touch with fun.”

Gladstone Sensei is an inveterate volunteer who works with both children and adults as leader of Okami Kai’s Demonstration Team (2005-present). Gladstone Sensei also coached and organized children’s baseball in Uxbridge for many years and delivered Junior Achievement programs at a local elementary school for about a decade. Currently he helps run adult and children’s programs at the local squash club and participates actively in several committees including the children’s school at his synagogue. He is also a Professional Engineer (Ontario) working on computer systems, and volunteers extensively with CMG, an academic organization of computer professionals.