WAKO Canada, 5008 South Service Road, Burlington, ON (2026)

07/14/2026

SAVE THE DATE – 2027 NATIONALS

WAKO Canada is excited to announce that our 2027 Competition Calendar is almost ready for release—and it’s shaping up to be one of our biggest seasons yet!
The year will feature an outstanding lineup of:

·       More Development Tournaments
·       More Club Shows
·       Coaching & Officials Certification Courses
·       More Tatami Tournaments
·       National Team Training Camps

And the pinnacle of the Canadian kickboxing season...

The National Championships

The 2027 Nationals will mark the 23rd edition of Canada’s premier kickboxing championship—one of the longest-running and most prestigious combative sport tournaments in the country.

Each year, WAKO Canada raises the standard, and 2027 will be no exception. Athletes can expect:

·       Open computer scoring for transparency
·       Standardized international competition equipment
·       A spectacular championship venue
·       Early match scheduling to help athletes prepare
·       More divisions across all age groups
·       Canada’s top clubs under one roof

And then... there are the BELTS!

The WAKO Canada belts have become legendary. Every year they set a new benchmark for excellence, and in 2027 we’ll unveil our most spectacular championship belt ever.

The 2027 National Championships will also serve as the official selection event for the Senior & Veteran World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan—the first time this prestigious event will be hosted there.

The road to Team Canada begins at the 2027 National Championships.

Save the date. Chase greatness.

07/13/2026

Legacy Consulting hosted its annual School Owners Summit this past weekend, bringing together some of the most respected and professional martial arts and combat sports club owners from across Canada and the United States. The three-day event provided an incredible opportunity for networking and professional development, with industry experts delivering presentations on topics critical to the long-term success of martial arts businesses.

From exploring the transformative impact of artificial intelligence to enhancing student grading systems and improving business operations, attendees left with practical strategies and innovative ideas.

For the first time in Legacy Consulting’s history, the School Owners Summit sold out completely, demonstrating the growing commitment of club owners to continuous learning and organizational excellence.

WAKO Canada was proud to serve as a sponsor of the event and remains committed to supporting the outstanding work of Nick Castiglia and the Legacy Consulting team in strengthening the martial arts industry.

The summit concluded with an inspiring keynote presentation by WAKO Canada President Muzammal Nawaz, who spoke on the importance of building a leadership culture within martial arts clubs. Drawing on decades of experience in leadership development—including his work with the International Red Cross and his doctoral research in sport psychology—Muzammal shared practical strategies for developing leaders at every level of an organization. His presentation challenged club owners to intentionally cultivate leadership among coaches, instructors, staff, and students.

WAKO Canada congratulates Nick Castiglia and the entire Legacy Consulting team on another exceptional and impactful summit. Their continued commitment to education, innovation, and leadership development is helping to strengthen the future of martial arts clubs across North America.

Clubs interested in enhancing their leadership, operations, and long-term success are encouraged to connect with Legacy Consulting to learn more about its programs and services.

07/08/2026

Deepest sympathy for the Magbitang family

It is with heavy hearts that we learn of the passing of Tyrone Magbitang. He was in a car accident that caused this tragic death. He was travelling to training at the Ontario Police College as part of his CIT (Constable in Training) when the accident happened.

He was only 27 years old.

Both Tyrone and his brother and dad were active members of WAKO Canada for many years in the early days of our association. Both brothers fought at numerous Provincials, Nationals and the Ontario Winter Games.

‘I had so many conversations with Tyler and Tyrone over many years. Both boys were incredibly respectful and such hard workers. Their dad lived for the boys and took them everywhere. Gary was the perfect role model of a great father. My deepest condolences go out to the whole family.’ Muzammal Nawaz

We will inform members if we learn anymore about funeral arrangements or if there is any way of supporting the family.

07/08/2026

Prestige Fight Series 7

The team of and .king.g_ put on another incredible edition of Prestige Fight Series .

This 7th edition of PFS had incredible talent from BC, Quebec and top clubs from across Ontario.

The matchmaking was outstanding with many fights having closely scored results - and many that could have been the fight of the night.

Both Gerald and Eric are staples of the Canadian Combative community as former fighters, club owners, coaches and now - promoters.

‘Their dedication to uplifting the sport across the country is inspiring to everyone they work with.

Congratulations to all the coaches and fighters that participated, your heart and skills were the center piece of PFS7.

And the Gerald and Eric - thank you for always setting a standard for everyone to follow.‘

Muzammal Nawaz, President WAKO Canada

07/05/2026

Smashing Records!

The 2026 Summer Smash was an incredible day of competition, development, and community — and the numbers speak for themselves!

212 participants
21 clubs represented
149 bouts completed

The vision behind the WAKO Canada Development Series has always been simple — to create opportunities for athletes to grow, gain experience, and develop their skills in a positive, safe, and supportive competitive environment.

The Summer Smash delivered exactly that. Athletes stepped onto the mats and into the ring, challenged themselves, learned from every round, and continued their journey in combative sport.

WAKO Canada would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of the clubs, coaches, athletes, and families who supported this event. Your commitment to athlete development and your belief in creating these opportunities are what continue to build and strengthen the future of combative sports across Canada.
Congratulations to every participant who competed at the Summer Smash. Whether this was your first tournament or another step in your competitive pathway, we hope the experience helped you grow, inspired you, and moved you closer to your goals.

A very special thank you goes out to our incredible team of officials. With over 70 bouts per ring, it was an intense day requiring focus, consistency, and professionalism. Development events present a unique challenge — our officials are not only refereeing and judging, they are also educating athletes, managing safety, and reinforcing control and development.

Our hats go off to every referee, judge, and official who helped create a positive experience for our athletes.
Next up — The Halloween Howl!

Our final Development Series tournament of 2026 will make history as the Halloween Howl becomes part of the North American Championship weekend for the very first time.
Pre-Novice and Novice Kick Light athletes will have the opportunity to compete in either the Halloween Howl or the North American Championship, creating another amazing weekend of competition, development, and celebration with WAKO Canada.

06/27/2026

A Continental Call!

Athletes across Canada and the USA have an incredible history in combative sports. Most sport historians agree that the sport was developed on our continent. There is a rich history of all combative sports and Canada and the USA have shown incredible leadership over many years.

A huge part of our history of success was competition, and lots of competition!

The more our athletes get on the mats,
The more we get into the ring,

And the more we face different opponents -
The better we get!

The North American Century Cup provides an incredible opportunity to bring the world to our continent.

The only WAKO internationally sanctioned tournament on the continent, the North American Century Cup provides clubs, coaches and athletes an incredible chance to compete with athletes from across the globe.

We are calling all Canadians and Americans to come to the Century Cup and show your heart and skills against the best in the world!

Early bird registration ends JUNE 29th!

https://wakocanada.ca/event/north-american-champion/

PS - The belts are incredible!

06/25/2026

Gladiators MMA on Top!

Coming from the thriving young city of Grand Prairie this northwestern Alberta club has become truly international in the past few years! The foundation of the club is Taekwondo, but they have added strong Brazilian Jui-Jitsu and kickboxing programs that have elevated the club to one of the most decorated combative clubs in Canada.

The certified instructors are committed to providing high-quality instruction in each discipline, with a focus on technical proficiency, physical fitness, and mental discipline.

They are led by Master Luis Martinez who is an incredible leader in all of the combative sport disciplines offered at Gladiators. He has personally coached and lead athletes to the top of the PRO MMA world, International Tae Know Do tournaments, and also to many podiums in WAKO Kickboxing.

His team always has the largest contingent of athletes that qualify for the National Team from western Canada. He has fielded athletes to the PANAMs in Chile and the Worlds in Abu Dhabi. From National Champions to podium finishers, all Gladiator athletes come to compete with incredible technical skills and a fearless fighting spirit.

WAKO Canada is proud to have Gladiators MMA as the heartbeat of our western Canadian Clubs!

06/23/2026

The Century Cup is Coming!

WAKO Canada is proud to present the second edition of the North American Open Century Cup.

Why you need to be there:

FAIR JUDGING
Transparent open scoring and a commitment to fairness ensure every athlete has the opportunity to perform at their best.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Compete against athletes from around the world and gain valuable exposure on the international stage.

PREPARATION FOR WORLDS
Test yourself under official WAKO IF rules and experience the level of competition that prepares athletes for success at the highest levels.

MEASURE YOURSELF
Challenge yourself against top athletes from across Canada and the United States.

EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE
Surround yourself with coaches, officials, athletes, and supporters who share a passion for sport and excellence.

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
From registration to competition day, the organizing team is dedicated to creating a positive experience for every participant.

The Century Cup is the only internationally sanctioned kickboxing tournament in North America. Hosted at the beautiful Markham Pan Am Centre, every aspect of the event - from the venue and scheduling to athlete support - is designed with competitors in mind.

Early bird registration ends MARCH 29th!

https://wakocanada.ca/event/north-american-champion/

Step onto the mats.
Step into the ring.
Represent your club.
Rep your country.

PS - The belts are incredible!

06/22/2026

Summer Smash Breaks Records!

The countdown is on for one of the most exciting events of the summer!

We are thrilled to announce that 212 participants from 35 clubs across Ontario will be stepping into action at this year’s SUMMER SMASH, making it the largest Summer Smash in event history!

Focused on learning, skill development, and creating a fun and supportive competitive experience, the Development Series tournaments have become a cornerstone of the WAKO Canada calendar.

These events continue to provide athletes of all ages and experience levels with an incredible opportunity to grow, challenge themselves, and connect with the kickboxing community.

The final bout list will be emailed to clubs in the coming days, with the official version being posted on the WAKO Canada website on June 30th.

Get ready for an unforgettable day of action, development, and excitement—Summer Smash 2026 is shaping up to be our biggest and best yet!

Important information for coaches, athletes and parents can now on the website at -

https://wakocanada.ca/event/summer-smash/

06/19/2026

WAKO USA has been a tremendous supporter of the North American Century Cup since its inception. At the inaugural event, Team USA brought athletes from California, Minnesota, Utah, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and beyond.

The tournament featured some of the top athletes in the United States, creating countless exciting matchups between Canadian and American competitors. Team USA captured the men’s point fighting division led by El Java, while Canada won the women’s division led by Samuel Gagnon.

In the ring disciplines, many Team USA athletes who later competed at the WAKO World Championships in Abu Dhabi earned podium finishes, including Meryl Swidler, Mekenna Vanyo, Destiny Taylor, Javier Huerta, James Whitaker, and Montaine McFarland.

Some of the toughest fighters in the competition came from Hawaii. Combat Sports Hawaii brought athletes in both the junior and senior divisions, competing with exceptional heart, skill, and determination while proudly representing their state on the international stage.

Interest from the United States has already been overwhelming for the 2nd North American Century Cup, returning to the PANAM Centre in Markham.

🥊 Early Bird registration closes June 29.
Register today: https://wakocanada.ca/event/north-american-champion/

WAKO Canada

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