INSTRUCTORS

Sensei Matt Bickel

Accomplishments:

  • Member of the Junior and Senior Canadian National Team from 2005-2009
  • Junior Pan American Karate Championships Medalist
  • US Open Gold Medalist
  • 8 – Time Provincial Champion and 10 – Time National Medalist
  • Canadian National Champion
  • Provincial Team Kumite Coach 2014-Present
  • Trained and coached national and international champions
  • Head Coach of the BC Winter Games Zone 4 Team
  • Bachelors of Physical Education and Coaching (BPEC)
  • NCCP Competition Development Certified
  • 15 Years of Martial Arts Teaching Experience
  • Recipient of the Vince Redfern Scholarship
  • Karate Canada Sandan Black Belt (3rd degree)

Sensei Matt’s specialty is motivating and inspiring children and youth. His energetic and enthusiastic teaching style is both engaging and fun. His main focus is to encourage all students to try their best. Sensei Matt understands that each student is unique and has different goals. Knowing this, he makes it a priority for his students to set personal goals to aid them in their road to success.

Whether the focus is on studying traditional karate, developing confidence in self-defence situations, increasing fitness levels, earning a black belt, or participating in competition, Sensei Matt has the knowledge and ability to see all students reach their personal goals.

To see what students’ parents  have to say about Sensei Matt and the program he runs, please take the time to read the testimonals section of the website.

“My name is Matt Bickel and I have been studying karate since I was ten years old. From that tender age of ten, karate has always been a central part of my life. Even before I was registered for actual karate lessons, I was always fascinated with karate. So much so, that I created my own make-shift dojo in my backyard. That way, I could train just like my idols Bruce Lee and Jean Claude Van Damme did!

Once I began my formal training, I quickly realized that there was much more to karate than just punching and kicking. Although a part of karate, those techniques barely scratched the surface of what karate really was, and what it could do for my life. Karate has provided me with many things. It has given me close friends whom I can count on, role models who have helped me to stay focused and mature into a man, and a fierce passion for something I love.

Through my teenage years karate was a constant support for me. Right up alongside my friends and family, it was another thing that kept me grounded and in touch with who I was. It helped me to confidently say “no” to peer pressure and to feel secure with myself. When life would throw a curve ball at me, karate was always there to help. No matter what was going on in my life, I was always able to use my karate as a support network. Whether it be for support from karate friends, a distraction, or tool to help stay focused and keep everything in perspective, I could count on karate.

As I became more and more involved with karate, I began training with a much greater intensity during each class, and took my training and competitions very seriously.

Throughout my competitive career I have been fortunate enough to have become the provincial, national, and Pan American champion. Karate has allowed me to travel all around the world and explore places I would have otherwise likely never seen. In fact, the first time I ever went on a plane was on my way to my first national championships when I was fourteen!

I’ve been teaching and coaching for 15 years. First it was just helping my Sensei teach the occasional class here and there, but eventually I started teaching private lessons for the competition group, and my own group of students soon after. For me, there is no greater joy than observing karate’s effect on my students.”

Sensei Parvin Mayan

  • 14 years of training
  • 5 years teaching experience
  • Current Junior and Senior National Team member
  • NCCP Instructor Beginner Certified
  • Multiple national titles
  • Junior Pan-american Championship Silver Medalist
  • Vince Redfern Recipient
  • Nidan (second degree black belt)

Sensei Parvin is a current athlete of Team Canada and regularly competes internationally. She brings her experiences back with her and passes them on to her students. Sensei Parvin is kind, patient, and amazing with children while also having the ability to train strong athletes. When she is not training, she is studying to become a physio therapist in SFU’s kinesiology program.

Sensei Connor Szeto 

  • 13 years of training
  • 6 years teaching experience
  • Provincial champion and current BC Team member
  • Canada Open Gold Medalist
  • NCCP Instructor Beginner Certified
  • Nidan (second degree black belt)

Sensei Connor is a meticulous and detail-oriented instructor while still being patient and kind. Sensei Connor has been involved with karate since he was 7 years old, and brings years of experience to the table. He has also been able to train with team Canada, and many top instructors throughout the world. Sensei Connor is also one of our main coaches for our junior competition team when they compete in local competitions.

Sensei Bryanne Bickel – Lion Cubs and Little Lions Program Director

  • Bachelors of education
  • Baccalaureate degree in early childhood education
  • 9 years teaching experience in elementary school
  • 4 years karate training experience

Sensei Bryanne specializes in working with children aged 5-10 years old and has been working as an elementary school teacher for the past 9 years. Her experience working in the public school system with multiple different grades and ages is a great asset for our team. Sensei Bryanne oversees our Lion Cubs and Little Lions programs, and helps develop age-appropriate curriculum for our program.