About Us

Our Board of Directors

Our board is comprised entirely of volunteers who donate their time for the love of the sport and of the community.

Board of Directors

  • President - Ron Casey

    Awaiting Bio

  • Vice President - Gary Sabean

    Godan (5th degree black belt)
    Shihan (Master Instructor)

    Sensei Gary Sabean has been studying karate since 1985. He has been a member of the Canadian National Karate Association (NKA) team for 12 years, and had the privilege of representing Canada internationally for this period. Sensei Sabean earned this honour by becoming a nine-time Canadian kumite champion. Additionally, he was the 2001 World Chito Ryu Karate champion for sparring, and 2004 World Chito Ryu Grand Champion for both kata and kumite.

  • Secretary - Jenny Rybie

    Sandan (3rd degree black belt)
    Shidoin (Teacher).

    Jenny trains under Sensei Justin Rybie at Yobukan dojo, and has been training Chito-Ryu karate for over 25 years. She has competed internationally in Australia, Norway, Japan and Hong Kong. Jenny placed 4th in Womens Team Kumite in Hong Kong in 2013.

  • Treasurer - Sarah Meredith

    Shodan (1st degree black belt)

    Sarah Meredith has been training Chito-Ryu karate for seven years under the tutelage of Sensei Casey in Canmore.

  • Director - Justin Rybie

    Yondan (4th degree black belt)
    Shihan (Master Teacher)

    With over 30 years of karate experience, Sensei Rybie has been very involved in the karate community both nationally and internationally.

    Sensei Rybie has competed in Karate Alberta Tournaments, on the Alberta Team in the National Karate Championships, and in five international tournaments in Hong Kong, Australia, Norway, and Japan. Sensei Rybie is a former international Kumite and Team Kumite Champion, as well as finishing top three in kata on three occasions.

  • Director - Randy Mockford

    Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt)
    Shidoin (Instructor Certification)

    Randy began training at the age of 16 and received his black belt by Akutagawa Sensei in 1997.

  • Director - Vlad Pohnert

    Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt)
    Junshidoin (International Assistant Instructor Certification)

    Sensei Vlad began his karate training in 1999 at the age of 34. He joined the Edmonton Yoseikan Karate Club and began his Chito-Ryu training under Sensei Harvey Hiob in June, 2000.

  • Director - David Gannon

    Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt)
    Junshidoin (International Assistant Instructor Certification)

    Sensei Gannon first began his martial arts training in Grande Prairie in 1994 at age 22 in Shorin Ryu. He joined the Edmonton Yoseikan Karate club in 2008 under Sensei Hiob.

  • Director - Matt McInnes

    White Belt

    Matt has been practicing Chito Ryu Karate since the beginning of 2022 under Sensei Harvey Hiob at the Edmonton Yoseikan Karate Club.