Traditional Shito-Ryu Karate & Kobudo in Port Coquitlam
Serving Port Coquitlam & Burke Mountain since 2018
604-783-DOJO
Who We Are
PoCo Karate is a traditional Karate and Kobudo dojo (school) that caters to students seeking authentic Karate and Kobudo instruction. Our primary focus is on improving the health and wellbeing of our participants while they learn valuable self defence skills. We continue the traditions passed down through several generations of masters, tracing back to Okinawa. Our studies include a balanced curriculum of historic katas (forms), bunkai (application), kihon (basic techniques), kumite (sparring and grappling) and kobudo (Okinawan weaponry).
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PoCo Karate is a member of Karate BC and Karate Canada. Karate Canada is the only karate organization legitimately recognized, supported and funded by the Canadian government, and is the National governing body for the sport of karate in Canada. Karate Canada is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, the World Karate Federation, the Pan American Karate Federation and the Commonwealth Karate Federation.
The style of Karate practiced at PoCo Karate is Shito-Ryu Satokai.
Jascha Espley
Sensei / Head Instructor
Espley Sensei is a Yondan (4th degree Blackbelt) in Shito-Ryu Satokai Karate and Shodan (1st degree Blackbelt) in Sato Ha Kobudo. Both rankings granted by Akira Sato, 9th Dan, one of the most respected Karate masters in the world. Espley Sensei holds instructor certification from Karate Canada and the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). Sensei started his training in Karate in 1987 and has extensive experience in both traditional and competitive Karate. Sensei's Kobudo training began in 1989. He has a well rounded background in traditional Karate. Prior studies include Shito-Ryu Itosukai, Shito-Ryu Seikokai, Chito-Ryu and JKA Shotokan.
In addition to being the Head Instructor at PoCo Karate, Sensei is also the Head Kobudo Instructor at Nikkei Karate at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby, BC.
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Espley Sensei also has an active competitive career in sport Karate. He has represented British Columbia on the BC Team on four occasions. He continues to compete recreationally while also coaching the next generation of high performance and recreational athletes.
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Recent Tournament Results
2024 Karate BC Provincial Championships
Gold Medal in Kobudo,
Silver Medal in Master's Kata
2023 Canada Open Championships
Bronze Medal in Kobudo
2023 Karate BC Provincial Championships.
Gold Medal in Kobudo
2022 Canada Open Championships.
Bronze Medal in Kobudo
2022 Karate BC Provincial Championships.
Gold Medal in Kobudo
2021 Canada Open Championships
Bronze Medal in Kobudo
2021 Karate BC eTournament
Gold Medal in Kobudo
2019 Sato Cup Karate Championships
Awarded Master's Grand Champion Trophy
Gold Medals in Master's Kata and Kumite
Bronze Medal in Kobudo
2019 Karate BC Provincial Championships.
Gold Medal in Kobudo
Gold Medal in Master's Kata
Bronze Medal in Master's Kumite
2019 Canada Open Championships
Bronze Medal in Kobudo
2016 Sato Cup Karate Championships
Silver Medal in Kobudo
2016 Americas Masters Games
Bronze Medal in Kata
Silver Medal in Kobudo
Melanie Goulet
Assistant Instructor
Melanie joined PoCo Karate in 2022 and holds NCCP & Karate Canada Trained Instructor status. Currently a Brown Belt in both Karate & Kobudo in our style, she brings with her an extensive Karate & Kobudo background including Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt) in Shorin-Ryu Shintokukai Karate and Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) in Shorin-Ryu Shinkokai Kobudo.
Claudia Laos-Loo
High Performance Instructor
Claudia Laos-Loo is an international level competitor and the 2024 Karate Canada National Champion (Senior Women's Kata). She holds a Bachelors of Science degree majoring in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, and is presently the Athletic Co-Director on the board of Karate Canada.
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Claudia has a wealth of both competitive and coaching experience in Sport Karate, which adds incredible depth to our coaching capabilities and programs at PoCo Karate.
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Canadian Olympic Team Profile (Link)
Recent Tournament Results
2024 Karate Canada Nationals
Gold Medal in Kata
2023 Pan American Games
Bronze Medal in Kata
2023 PKF Continental Championships
Bronze Medal in Kata
2023 North American Cup
Silver Medal in Kata
2023 Paris Open
Silver Medal in Kata
2022 FISU World Combat University Championships
Bronze Medal in Kata
2022 Commonwealth Karate Championships
Gold Medal in Kata
Gold Medal in Team Kata
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Tracey Eklund
Assistant Instructor
Tracey joined PoCo Karate in 2021, and has been training in our Karate style since 2007. Tracey holds NCCP & Karate Canada Trained Instructor status.. Currently a Brown Belt in our style of Karate, he also brings with him an extensive background in the martial arts, including a Red Belt in WTF Taekwondo and Brown Belt in Kyokushin Karate.