Shihan Chris Lair (7th dan) Operates Prince
Albert Budokai Karate Dojo in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Sensei Lair
began karate training in Prince Albert in 1983. He has
since received instruction from karate masters such as Masatoshi
Nakayama, (10th dan), Teruyuki Okazaki, (10th dan) and Yutaka Yaguchi
(9th dan). He has won medals at the ISKF Canada and IKD Canada National Championships
for individual sparring, individual kata and team kata. Sensei Lair
graduated with high honors from the University of Saskatchewan where he
conducted original research in achievement motivation of elite
athletes. Sensei Lair is an IKD certified Class C Judge, Class D Instructor and Class D Examiner. Sensei Lair is retired in Prince Albert.
Sensei Larry Abbott (3rd Dan)
Larry Abbott began karate training with Midwest Karate (JKA). While there he trained under Sensei James Kushner, while also receiving training from Sensei Jerry Marr. After taking a lengthy leave he had returned to training under Sensei Chris Lair in P.A. (Sask IKD). While training there he received his Shodan and continued training. This included training under Shihan Marcel Lussier, Shihan Maureen Woon A Tai and Shihan W. Dexter Shim. He is currently a Sandan. Karate is a passion of Larry’s which resulted in him opening, in 2014, his own Dojo (Valecrest IKD) in Tisdale, Sask. Larry has a trade in Motor Vehicle Repair and has been employed as an Industrial Painter since 2001.
Caitlyn Sachkowski (4th Dan)
Operates St. Michael’s Community School, Prince Albert. Sensei Sachkowski began karate training in Prince Albert in 2010 under Sensei Chris Lair. Sensei Sachkowski has received training from Shihan Marcel Lussier, Shihan Frank Woon-a-Tai, Shihan Maureen Woon-A-Tai, Shihan Josef Woon-A-Tai, Shihan David Pyke, Shihan Bryan Mattias, Shihan Clive Hinds, and Shihan Janice Pyke. She has since traveled around the world for training and tournaments, and has won a variety of medals and awards. She co-instructed at St. Michael’s Dojo with Darcy Blahut in 2014, but took over as head instructor in 2015. She enjoys sharing her passion with the students and has fun challenging herself by incorporating the latest trends into her classes. Sensei Sachkowski is currently a 1st Assistant Manager at a well-known fast food restaurant.
Ryan Galbraith (5th Dan) - Assistant Instructor
Sensei Ryan Galbraith has over 30 years of experience in karate-do. Ryan’s early formation was marked by the teachings of Sensei Mark Minarik (ITKF) and Sensei Dell Phillips (ISKF). Sensei Phillips also instructed both former and current Sask IKD Chief Instructors, Shinan Lussier and Shihan Lair, respectively. Ryan brings a wealth of teaching skills to the dojo from his work as a GIS Instructor at Sask Polytechnic. From the very start of the Prince Albert Budokai Karate Club, Ryan has shown an unwavering dedication and generosity in helping every student reach their highest potential, regardless of age or rank.
Darcy Blahut (4th Dan) - Assistant Instructor
Darcy Blahut began training during his youth in the 1990’s at the Yorkton Karate Club (JKA) under Sensei Wilf Miller and under the organizational leadership of Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki. After a hiatus, following a period of travel and study abroad, he returned to Saskatchewan and rooted himself in the community of Prince Albert, where he works in a leadership role with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. In Prince Albert, he returned to (and refreshed) a more disciplined study of the martial art within the nascent IKD. Darcy progressed through his dan rankings and instructor training under the provincial leadership of both Shihani Chris Lair and Shihani Marcel Lussier, in addition to receiving the teachings of that broader pan-Canadian Master class. Darcy has long been intrigued by the fact that Master Gichin Funakoshi was himself also a poet, though lamentably none of the Master’s poems have survived. After almost 20 years of practice and study, Darcy considers himself as very much just beginning, and teaching as a new frontier.
