Instructor

Mario McKenna began his Karate training in Gohakukai under Yoshitaka Kinjo sensei in 1984 in Lethbridge, Alberta. He trained as a live-in student (uchi-deshi) at the Gohakuaki head school in Naha, Okinawa from 1988 to 1989. In 1994 he was awarded the rank of third degree (san dan) in Gohakukai.

Wanting more more serious study of the history and traditions of Okinawa Martial Arts, he relocated to Japan in 1994. There he entered the  dojo of Katsuhiko Minowa and his student Hiroshi Yoshimura to study Ryukyu Kobudo. In 1997 he was presented with his assistant instructor's license (Shidoin). In 2002 he was promoted to the rank fourth degree (yon dan). and in May of 2009 he was promoted to the rank of fifth degree (go dan).

In 1998 he began studying Tou'on-ryu under Shigekazu Kanzaki and his student Shigehide Ikeda until his return to Canada. Currently, Mario is the only instructor outside of Japan  teaching Tou'on-ryu karatedo. After returning to Canada in 2002, he opened his own dojo (Kowakan) in Vancouver to preserve and promote the fighting arts of Okinawa.

Other instructors Mario has received instruction or mentoring from are: Katsumi Murakami (Shorin-ryu & Kobudo), Ryuichitaro Sakai (Goju-ryu), Fred Lohse (Goju-ryu & Matayoshi Kobudo), Wade Chroninger (Goju-ryu), Patrick McCarthy (Koryu Uchinadi), Hiroshi Matsuura (Chikubushima-ryu Bojutsu), Katsuhiro Sakaguchi (Shorinji Kenpo), and Yoshio Senda (Kodokan Judo).

Research & Writing

Besides serving as an editor for the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Mario is also a regular contributor to it and the periodical Classical Fighting Arts. He has also translated several books by Kenwa Mabuni, Genwa Nakasone, along with a book on Shinken Taira's early students. A translation of Katsumi Murakami's Karatedo and Kobudo is slated for publication in 2011.

In addition to Mario's extensive martial arts research and analysis he also holds a Master of Science degree in Sports Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of British Columbia.