Our History

Since 2001, Karate Kids has been providing an exceptional program of fitness, character education, and Martial Arts instruction to elementary school students in over 250 schools in the GTA.

Early Days

Hanshi Kenneth Tallack (8th Dan) along with his son Robert Tallack (5th Dan) spent several years living in Japan studying Goju Ryu Karate with the Masters. During that time, Robert attended a Japanese elementary school and experienced the daily inclusion of traditional Martial Arts in the Japanese education system.

When they returned, they opened Tallack Martial Arts, a successful Karate Dojo in Kingston, Ontario.  At the age of 24,  inspired by his experience in Japan, Robert started teaching a martial arts program in the elementary schools around Kington so that more students could have access to the disciplined and impactful practice of Karate.

In 2005, Shannon Smith (current owner and President) met Rob. While watching him teach a class, she was fascinated to see how the kids were completely focused and engaged in his teaching and how they would light up when they were personally acknowledged by their Karate instructor. 

She witnessed a transformation in the confidence and respectful behaviour of the students and thought "this class is so much more than kids learning Karate.  With additional curriculum elements, this class could be a way to help kids feel like they really belong to something and feel like they matter!”

This was a transformative moment in her life and Shannon became instantly mission-driven to build the program so that it would have an even more profound impact on the way kids feel about themselves.

And just like that, Shannon quit her corporate job and joined Rob as a partner spending the next two years focused on reworking the curriculum and expanding the program to over 90 schools a year in the GTA.  The Toronto area was opened under a new company, Karate Kids Canada and Shannon become sole owner and President in 2008 while Rob went on to pursue other business interests.

Lynn Quinn came on board in 2007 as a territory manager and quickly rose to Vice President in 2011.  Lynn and Shannon’s shared vision for the company has propelled the success of the Karate Kids program to more than they could have ever imagined.

The results have been spectacular!

To date, over 48,000 students have participated in our program and our mission remains the same: 

To motivate and engage students through martial arts while helping them develop the highest levels of confidence, respect, and mindfulness.

In essence, to help kids feel like they matter!

If you are interested in bringing Karate Kids Canada to your child's school, please refer your school today!