Ari Anastasiadis was the first person to teach karate in Canada, having opened his dojo in 1956 or 1957. He was a graduate of the famous Japanese Karate Association school in Tokyo, Japan, where he trained with all the legends of Japanese Shotokan karate and was the one of the few foreigners to attain a black belt in those early years of Japanese karate.

His students included names like Fern Cleroux and Andre Langelier, who would drive from Ottawa-Hull to Montreal just to train with someone who really knew karate.

Anastasiadis was also responsible for introducing the author of one of the most famous books on karate ever, C.W. Nicol,to karate. Anastasiadis told Nicol when he first came to Ari’s dojo in downtown Montreal, that if he really wanted to learn karate he had to go to Japan where the masters of all the styles were teaching. Nicol did so and afterward wrote the most amazing story of his training calling the book “Moving Zen”.

Ari Anastasiadis' whereabouts are presently unknown. We have tried to find him but to no avail. Let it be known, Ari, you are not forgotten and we all thank you very much for bringing karate to Canada in those early days.