A 30-year legacy of discipline and community: Inside Abbotsford’s oldest karate dojo

When Harry Sidhu walks into the Baker View Elementary gym, he’s stepping into more than a training space. For him—and for generations of Abbotsford residents—this is hallowed ground. It’s where he first laced up a white belt in the late 1970s, where some of Japan’s most respected karate masters have taught, and where one of the Fraser Valley’s longest-running martial arts traditions continues to thrive.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Abbotsford Shotokan Karate Dojo under Sidhu’s leadership. But the story stretches back much further.

A dojo rooted in local history

The original Abbotsford Karate Dojo began in the early 1970s under Sensei Robert Lewis (Sidoli), a local police officer, and his instructor, Sensei Nairumi. By the time Sidhu discovered karate through a summer recreation program in 1975—and then began formal training in 1977—the dojo was already well known for producing provincial and national champions.

“It’s the same school we train in now,” Sidhu says of Baker View. “Some of the top karate masters have visited there.”

In 1987, when Sidoli returned to the U.K., he entrusted the dojo to Sidhu. Six years later, Sidhu left Abbotsford to work as a federal corrections officer on Vancouver Island, but returned in 1995. With Sidoli’s encouragement, he re-established the dojo—launching the 30-year chapter being celebrated today.

A direct line to Japan

One of the defining features of Abbotsford Shotokan is its affiliation with the Japan Karate Association (JKA), a globally recognized body operating in more than 100 countries. Sidhu says the dojo is the only one in Abbotsford directly connected to Japan through JKA instructors.

“We have to have the training through their people and their certification,” he says. “Some of our ranks, we can’t get them unless we go to Japan.”

This past weekend, he hosted JKA masters—including a world champion—who travelled to Abbotsford to conduct gradings for local students. For Sidhu, maintaining this lineage is about upholding standards, not prestige.

Karate as transformation

Sidhu has trained thousands of students over nearly 50 years in the dojo. Many have pursued careers in policing, corrections, healthcare, and other fields. Others simply found stability and confidence that stayed with them into adulthood.

He remembers one student who trained as a teenager and later reconnected with him by chance.

“He used to show up in an expensive car,” Sidhu recalls. “Years later, I saw him on the SkyTrain, finishing university, still training, and planning to go to Japan. Karate had grounded him.”

These kinds of transformations are common, he says. Students have earned scholarships. Young athletes have suddenly excelled in football or hockey. Academic performance has improved.

“Karate makes them more flexible, more faster, more focused,” Sidhu says. “Especially for boys—it’s been found that boys are kinetic learners, so they learn through movement faster.”

But at his dojo, the lessons go beyond physical skill.

“We're not just teaching karate in its physical form,” he says. “We’re teaching manners, respect, etiquette—all of these things that make a better human being when they go out into society.”

A quiet, steady community force

Despite its accomplishments, Sidhu calls the dojo “the best kept secret in Abbotsford.”

They operate a few evenings a week, work with the school district to keep costs low, and ensure that ability to pay is never a barrier. Ages range from six to the late 60s. Over the decades, the dojo has run women’s self-defense classes, community workshops, and countless tournaments.

Students have gone on to provincial and national titles. One former student became a bodyguard for Tiger Woods. Sidhu himself has competed extensively, winning multiple provincial titles, a silver medal at the 2016 Canada Open, and gold at the BC JKA Provincials that same year.

Even after 50 years of training, Sidhu says he still considers himself a student.

“I have to modify things because my body’s getting older,” he says with a laugh. “I kick lower now. I use more elbow techniques. But I’m still learning.”

A valley rich in Shotokan talent

Sidhu notes that the Fraser Valley has long been home to some of Canada’s most respected traditional karate talent. That includes Don Sharp, a Chilliwack-based seventh-degree black belt and former world champion.

“People don’t realize the level of skill we have here,” Sidhu says.

This weekend’s Western Canadian Championships in Chilliwack—where Sidhu and other instructors will complete referee recertifications—are the latest reminder.

As the Abbotsford Shotokan Karate Dojo marks its 30th year under Sidhu, students are preparing for upcoming provincial competitions and a major tournament planned for early next year.

For Sidhu, though, longevity is not the achievement. Continuity is.

“Traditional karate isn’t about fighting,” he says. “It’s about self-improvement. If you stay humble and keep learning, it stays with you for life.”