SKIF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
AFFILATED MEMBER OF SHOTOKAN KARATE DO INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
HEADQUARTERS TOKYO JAPAN
"Where Life Champions are born."
NEWS AND FEATURES
Sensei Celeste Nottingham retires from
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago
Sensei Celeste Nottingham, one of our founding members, has officially retired as President and Chief Instructor of SKIF Trinidad and Tobago. Sensei Celeste practiced Karate for over 40 years and was a leading female competitor in her early years. She had a positive impact on the many students that past through her dojo doors.As the President and Chief Instructor, she lead the organization with strong karate ideals, in keeping with philosophy and vision of SKIF.
As of January 01st 2025, Sensei Ian Sammy was appointed as the President and Chief Instructor of SKIF Trinidad and Tobago. Sensei Ian is a founding member and was instrumental in the operations of SKIF Trinidad and Tobago. The organization looks forward to continued growth under Sensei Ian and the further the work Sensei Celeste built.
19th January 2025
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago BBQ Fundraiser
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago held its Fund Raiser BBQ on Saturday 22nd February. As part of their drive to help the Organization achieve some of its smaller goals. SKIF Trinidad and Tobago thanks its members who supported the BBQ. They also thank the parents for the positive feedback shared on the Organization's WhatsApp Group.
23rd January 2025
SKIF
TRINIDAD AND TOAGO
1ST GRADING 2025
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago will be holding its first grading on April 11th 2025.
Students who are approved for grading will be informed 2nd April 2025.
30th March 2025
SKIF TRINIDAD AND TOAGO
1ST KATA COURSE CAMP
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago 1st Kata Course (2 day Camp). Takes place at the Mt Lambert Community Center.
This is the 1st Kata Camp to be held by SKIF Trinidad and Tobago. The goal of the camp is to help the members understand both the theory and practical applications of the kata. Basic instruction on the relationship between the stances, hips, coordination and hand positions will be explained.
Understanding Kime and what is speed and timing in kata performance with explained with the intention to introduce it to the higher ranking members
15th April 2025
SKIF TRINIDAD AND TOAGO
1ST GRADING 2025
There were smiles, high fives, and congratulations all around as belts and certificates from our first grading in 2025 were distributed on Saturday at the La Joya Dojo.
There was an understandable feeling of relief as students toiled through 12 weeks of preparation, making sure their techniques were up to standard for the exam.
The grading is part of our calendar of events which is in full swing for 2025, with the first Kata Course our most recent box ticked.
Next up is our national junior tournament featuring karateka under the age of 12, and soon preparations for our second grading in August shall begin.
There were notable performances from the exams among the students who passed.
Shane Lu Choy, Sherisse Balkissoon, and Kayla-Marie (surname) were awarded a skip in rank. John-Matthias (surname), Jaedon Grant, Jenna Hussein and Seven Lu Choy, also left an impression during the exam, and have great potential for the future.
These students among others, are never missing on the floor, and exemplify the Japanese karate spirit with their willingness to learn and assist as well as train as hard as they could.
The examination is a significant step toward our aspirations to develop students of all ages through the lens of Japanese karate, and by extension improving the standard of Trinidad karate one student at a time.
Thanks to the efforts of the grading committee, and club administration, we are pushing forward from a very successful 2024, and are looking forward to more for the remainder of this year.
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago is a local karate club that is affiliated to Shotokan Karate-do International Federation, and organisation with affiliates in more than 100 countries. Our branches include the main dojo in La Joya, as well as our satellite branches in Mount Lambert and Malabar.
10th May 2025
SKIF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 1ST KATA CAMP
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago held its 1st Kata Camp. The event lasted 2 days the 24th and 25th April 2025. Covered over the 2 day period were understanding the rudiments of stances, correct movements and its application to Kihon and Kata. Correct application of blocking in basics and its connection to Kata was also covered. The last few hours of the second day, members were treated to some kumite training with touched on some drills for agility and conditioning.
The camp was met with many positive reviews and calls for the next one. Despite not having a second Camp on the cards for 2025, SKIF Trinidad and Tobago will make efforts to host a second camp in July/August 2025.
11th May 2025
SKIF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IS TTARP REGISTERED
As of 2025 SKIF Trinidad and Tobago is TTARP Certified. A long awaited venture that has finally come to be a reality.
The vision is to make karate training accessible to all and to be all inclusive. Karate was originally designed for adults but in the as time passed many of its training regimes was adjusted to accomodate young people.
Karate can be a fulfilling event for senior persons as it provides a way to develop fitness, flexibility, strength and understand the rudiments of personal safety.
In addition there is the benefit of socializing and coming to work together, building new friendships while pursuing karate as a group.
We are sure that SKIF Trinidad and Tobago is the only Organization in Trinidad and Tobago that has provided the TTARP facility. SKIF Trinidad and Tobago will continue to blaze its own trail and provide an avenue to understand karate completely.
31st May 2025
SKIF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
12 AND UNDER NATIONALS
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago held their 12 and Under Championships on May 31st 2025. the event was well attended with students trying to put on their best performance. Both Kata and Kumite were done. The Kumite aspect was exciting and it was very heartening to see so many students, who were competing for the first time, holding their own.
All in all the event showed us that despite that there is a lot of work to do, we have a strong base to start from. The karateka are fired up and they are ready for the next championships.
SKIF Trinidad and Tobago Tournament Organizing team and Sensei Ian Sammy would like to thank everyone who supported our Championships and helped make it a success. Special thanks goes out to juniors who assisted us as table officials.
Fantastic Job everyone!
1st June 2025
DR. MELINA DE FOUR NEW YORK EXPERIENCE
"I'd like to thank SKI New York for welcoming me so warmly to their classes for over the two months I spent there... you all had a very specific attention to detail with the techniques I did, you all were able to identify any mistakes I was making... I was able to apply that to my training."
Melina Defour is back!
After over two months away on medical training as a doctor, the SKIF Pan American women's kata finalist expanded on her experience at the SKIF New York dojo, where she trained in the regular classes and was fortunate enough to train with Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa, who was invited to conduct a technical seminar.
The stars aligned perfectly for Defour, as Kancho is often busy teaching throughout the year, and she seized the opportunity deepen her knowledge in karate-do.
She made new friends, refined her technique, and furthered her professional career at the same time.
The stuff that life champions are made of.
We'd like to extend our gratitude once again to @skifnewyork for their hospitality over the duration. They exemplified that the "F" in SKIF is not just for Federation, but it also stands for family.
Oss!
July 04 2025
HONORING TRADITION AND UNITY
The Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF) Trinidad and Tobago is proud to announce its upcoming International Seminar, scheduled for November 2025. This milestone event will not only celebrate the deep roots and disciplined spirit of Shotokan Karate, but also reaffirm our connection to the global SKIF family.
In a historic moment for SKIF in the Caribbean, we will have the honor of welcoming Hanshi Hiroshi Ishikawa (9th Dan) and Kyoshi Alejandro Castro (7th Dan)—two of the most respected figures in the international karate community. Their visit represents not only a rare opportunity for technical and philosophical enrichment but also a reaffirmation of SKIF's commitment to unity, growth, and tradition.
Hanshi Ishikawa, a direct student of Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa, brings decades of wisdom, discipline, and technical precision. His teachings embody the very essence of SKIF’s philosophy: the harmony of spirit and technique.
Kyoshi Castro, a leading figure in SKIF Latin America, is renowned for his dynamic teaching style, strong leadership, and dedication to the global advancement of Shotokan Karate.
As SKIF members, we recognize that this seminar is more than just a training opportunity—it is part of a shared international effort to preserve and promote the values of traditional karate. Hosting this event places Trinidad and Tobago on the map as a meaningful contributor to that legacy.
Participants will engage in rigorous training sessions, technical workshops, and rich cultural exchanges. Whether you are a senior instructor or a junior karateka, this seminar will offer invaluable lessons and insights that can elevate your understanding and practice of karate.
This November, we stand together with SKIF members worldwide—united by the gi, the dojo, and the principles we live by. We invite all practitioners to join us in this celebration of excellence, heritage, and international friendship.
Oss!
August 11 2025