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Spirit of the Sensei

This page is dedicated to Japanese Bushido strategies and the experiences of Sensei and author Andrew Bowerbank on his life-long journey. Mr. From 1995-2001 Mr.

Andrew Bowerbank’s life-long commitment to studying the ancient Japanese martial arts
(budo) began in 1975 in a church basement in
Tottenham, Ontario, Canada. Little did he realize how this small karate school would begin a journey that would come to define his very nature. During his high school and college years,
Mr. Bowerbank trained daily with Brad Jones,
a world renowned karate Sensei who cur

rently
leads one of the top JKA dojos in Canada. Bowerbank achieved great success at karate tournaments across Canada and was proud to receive the Ontario Sports Champion Certificate in 1985 while under Sensei Jones’ tutelage. When he turned 17, Mr. Bowerbank began
intense training under Masami Tsuruoka, well
recognized as the “father of Canadian karate”. Tsuruoka Sensei opened the first karate dojo in Canada in 1958. He is highly regarded to this day for his international role in popularizing the art in western society. At the encouragement of Sensei Tsuruoka,
Mr. Bowerbank began studying Aikido and
Kendo in 1985 at the Japanese Canadian
Cultural Centre in Toronto. After achieving his
shodan (1st degree) in Aikido under Sensei
Osamu Obata, Mr. Bowerbank focused his
efforts on his training in Kendo where he has
attained the rank of nidan (2nd degree) from
Sensei Morito Tsumura. In 1991, Sensei Tsuruoka sent Mr. Bowerbank to Japan to train at the renowned Japan Karate Association headquarters in Ebisu, Tokyo; He was fortunate to stay in residence at the “Hoitsugan” and receive instruction from leading Sensei including Minoru Kawawada, Masahiko Tanaka and Mikio Yahara. Bowerbank designed, built and operated the Tsuruoka Canadian Budokai dojo with his business partner, Martin Hung. This school became well recognized across North America as the honbu (head) dojo for Sensei Tsuruoka. Bowerbank published 2 books on the life and teachings of Masami Tsuruoka. Both books achieved “best sellers” status in Canada. He has also made numerous appearances on television and in movies. Today, Mr. Bowerbank continues to give
seminars and lectures on Japanese martial arts, culture and philosophies.

05/24/2026

Gold medal kata performance in 1987!
I was so young then! :)

05/24/2026

Phew! Way back to 1986!

Great image of Malcolm Fisher and I after a provincial karate tournament. Malcolm is historically recognized as the very first non-Japanese (Canadian!) martial artist to successfully complete the elite Japan Karate Association (JKA) Instructor Training Program.

He achieved this milestone by graduating from the intense Tokyo-based course in May 1985, earning a B license and having his name inscribed on the official JKA Instructors board at the Hombu Dojo.

It was through Malcolm's endorsement that I was accepted to train under Senseis Tanaka and Yahara at the JKA Honbu Dojo, Tokyo, in 1991.

04/19/2026

People are always asking me how I got all the photos over the years. Well, I will tell you! It was not easy! And it was in the days before digital so all photos were by CLR camera, with so many rolls that needed developing. Luckily Tsuruoka Sensei let me keep my camera nearby at all times! 🤣

04/19/2026

03/12/2026

It was always great when Tsuruoka Sensei let himself relax and enjoy time off the dojo floor.

03/12/2026

I created this illustration way back when I was 18, one of my first summer karate camps with Tsuruoka Sensei. It was grueling. I just remember my thighs burning from lactic acid, and the smell of Tiger Balm in the air.
I just sat their between each workout and sketched or took photos..