With over 20 years of experience in the martial arts, Sensei Ravignat first started training at the age of 13. First in the art of Shaolin Kung Fu and then Okinawan Goju Ryu. He received his first Shaolin teaching certificate at the age of 18 and his Black Belt in Goju Ryu at 19.

Mr. Ravignat has traveled to Okinawa and China, including the famous Shaolin Temple, to refine his understanding of both the technical and philosophical aspects of traditional Karate, and continues to train under his teacher Chan Hing-Poon Sensei. He also regularly visits Master Anthony Mirakian’s (9th Dan) Dojo in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Carrying on in the tradition of his teacher, Mr. Ravignat teaches traditional Meibukan Okinawan Goju Ryu on a not-for-profit basis at his club in the Gatineau Hills,  20 minutes away from Canada's Capital, Ottawa.

He believes that Karate is beneficial to our society and should be made available to as many people as possible regardless of their financial situation and so seeks to keep the training fees to his Dojo as accessible as possible.

Mr. Ravignat likes to ensure that his students acquire a sound foundation in Karate by emphasizing training in Hojo Undo (supplementary exercises), and possesses a full set of traditional training equipment including the rare Kongoken (Circular Weight). He also emphasizes the mental development of his students through the discussion of Karate history, theory and philosophy.

He has appeared in two feature films and one television program as a martial arts expert. He is the author of several articles on Karate and currently sits on the editorial board of Meibukan Magazine.

Holding a Master's degree in social sciences, he currently works as a researcher for the federal government.

Finally, Mr. Ravignat considers himself an eternal student of the classical martial arts, and is constantly researching, learning and seeking to improve himself physically, intellectually and spiritually.

Favourite Quote: "Karate is purification through self-challenge… indeed this is very difficult".

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