Timeline

1953 to today.

Years drawn from the stories Paul has written — every entry references the post it comes from.

1953–1967

The first generation

  1. 1953 Wally Slocki Canada's First International Champion Wally Slocki began his martial arts training in 1953 at the tender age of 6 when he started Judo classes with Master Frank Hatashita. Then in 1964, he began Kung Fu training with his frie…
  2. 1959 Robert Dalgleish Father of Canadian Goju Robert M. Dalgleish (November 6, 1942 - July 6, 1978) introduced Goju to Canada and is considered to be the Father of Canadian Goju. Sensei Bob Dalgleish started his initial training in 1959 under…
  3. 1960 Tony Facetti Tony Facetti was the model for Wally Slocki and Teddy Marton. As Jimmy Fields said “Tony was the absolute best karate man I have ever seen”. His technique was not only very clean but amazingly powerful in each and every techni…
  4. 1961 Benny Allen Father, Fire Fighter, Champion Instructor Benny Allen started his Martial arts in Chito Ryu Karate in 1961, training under the instruction of Masami Tsuroka. He attained his Black Belt from him and eventually earned his 8th Da…
  5. 1964 Wally Slocki Canada's First International Champion Wally Slocki began his martial arts training in 1953 at the tender age of 6 when he started Judo classes with Master Frank Hatashita. Then in 1964, he began Kung Fu training with his frie…
  6. 1965 Teddy Marton "Mr. Front Thrust Kick" Teddy Marton, a friend of Wally Slocki since childhood, was introduced to karate by Wally in 1965. He trained with Benny Allen for his entire martial arts training. Teddy Marton was one of those total…
  7. 1965 Wally Slocki Canada's First International Champion Wally Slocki began his martial arts training in 1953 at the tender age of 6 when he started Judo classes with Master Frank Hatashita. Then in 1964, he began Kung Fu training with his frie…
  8. 1965 Robert Dalgleish Father of Canadian Goju Robert M. Dalgleish (November 6, 1942 - July 6, 1978) introduced Goju to Canada and is considered to be the Father of Canadian Goju. Sensei Bob Dalgleish started his initial training in 1959 under…
  9. 1966 Very proud to be part of this Alumni at Eastern Karate. I joined on March 15th 1966 in Hamilton Ontario Canada. Benny was the very best instructor to teach young boys to become men. Tough but well worth the pain.
  10. 1967 Teddy Marton "Mr. Front Thrust Kick" Teddy Marton, a friend of Wally Slocki since childhood, was introduced to karate by Wally in 1965. He trained with Benny Allen for his entire martial arts training. Teddy Marton was one of those total…
  11. 1967 Robert Dalgleish Father of Canadian Goju Robert M. Dalgleish (November 6, 1942 - July 6, 1978) introduced Goju to Canada and is considered to be the Father of Canadian Goju. Sensei Bob Dalgleish started his initial training in 1959 under…

1968–1975

The Saltfleet era

  1. 1968 Pat Ammendolia McMaster University 1968 with Peter Urban Referee. Pat with his trophy.
  2. 1968 Ottawa 1968
  3. 1968 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  4. 1968 Benny Allen Father, Fire Fighter, Champion Instructor Benny Allen started his Martial arts in Chito Ryu Karate in 1961, training under the instruction of Masami Tsuroka. He attained his Black Belt from him and eventually earned his 8th Da…
  5. 1969 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  6. 1970 A couple of weeks ago I came across pictures of the first karate tournament I attended. The 1970 Canadian Karate Championship put on by Langelier Dojo at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa. Horsing around in the parking lot were Laura March, Don War…
  7. 1970 I came across a leaflet for the 1970 Canadian National Karate Championship. Does anyone know who won that year?
  8. 1970 Here you go folks who can name all three of these early 1970's karate-ka? I can't name the third one on the right. Does anyone know who it is? Who will get the history award today?
  9. 1970 Robert Dalgleish Father of Canadian Goju Robert M. Dalgleish (November 6, 1942 - July 6, 1978) introduced Goju to Canada and is considered to be the Father of Canadian Goju. Sensei Bob Dalgleish started his initial training in 1959 under…
  10. 1971 I kept my patch for attending the 1971 Canadian National Karate Championships at the CNE .
  11. 1971 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  12. 1971 Who can name the most of these Eastern Karaté members taken in 1971 At Franks house in basement.
  13. 1972 Benny Allen at Paul Gillrie Black Belt Grading 1972. Paul Gillrie arrives in Canada today to begin shooting the film and hold the memorial.
  14. 1972 Benny Allen Towelling off after a hard teaching session at 1109 Main St East dojo 1972.
  15. 1972 Benny Allen at Paul Gillrie Black Belt Grading in 1972.
  16. 1972 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  17. 1973 McMaster University with Franco DeLorenzis posing and Dan Sam Delmonte looking on 1973.
  18. 1973 1973 Ontario Open Karate Championship
  19. 1973 Eastern Karate attended the 1973 US Grand Nationals held in Cleveland Ohio.
  20. 1973 Benny Allen: The Enigma Over the years, people have asked me about Benny Allen. Since I started posting these old pictures on social media his name has come up again. When the Saltfleet High School Karate Club was sent to train at the Otta…
  21. 1973 Tom Robertson Eastern Karate, Brantford A Legacy of Excellence Eastern Karate Brantford was founded in 1973 by Senseis Sam Dalmonte and Tony Chang, who passionately taught Shotokan, Chito-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu karate to hundreds of students, …
  22. 1974 Monty Guest at the Pat Ammendolia 1974 Canadian University Championships held at McMaster University.
  23. 1974 The 1974 Ontario Open Karate Championship at Mc Master University. I look forward to your comments.
  24. 1974 There are some men whose lives are marked by a singular devotion. Such a man is Greg Mellor, whose devotion to the martial arts has spanned more than sixty years. He began, as all journeys do, in the humblest of ways, under the watchful ey…
  25. 1974 Brian Reeves began his martial arts journey at Eastern Karate on Ottawa Street in Hamilton, where his dedication quickly set him apart. Under the guidance of Don Warrener, he distinguished himself as a disciplined and gifted student, eventu…
  26. 1974 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  27. 1975 1975 Ontario Open Karate Championship I welcome your comments.
  28. 1975 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…

1976–1989

The Hamilton dojos

  1. 1976 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  2. 1977 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  3. 1977 Tom Robertson Eastern Karate, Brantford A Legacy of Excellence Eastern Karate Brantford was founded in 1973 by Senseis Sam Dalmonte and Tony Chang, who passionately taught Shotokan, Chito-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu karate to hundreds of students, …
  4. 1978 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…
  5. 1978 Robert Dalgleish Father of Canadian Goju Robert M. Dalgleish (November 6, 1942 - July 6, 1978) introduced Goju to Canada and is considered to be the Father of Canadian Goju. Sensei Bob Dalgleish started his initial training in 1959 under…
  6. 1980 Well the good news of the day is that we spoke yesterday to George Chung owner of Black Belt Magazine and told him about our movie we are planning and he simply loved the idea of it and said that he and Black Belt Magazine would support the…
  7. 1980 Tom Robertson Eastern Karate, Brantford A Legacy of Excellence Eastern Karate Brantford was founded in 1973 by Senseis Sam Dalmonte and Tony Chang, who passionately taught Shotokan, Chito-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu karate to hundreds of students, …
  8. 1986 Tom Robertson Eastern Karate, Brantford A Legacy of Excellence Eastern Karate Brantford was founded in 1973 by Senseis Sam Dalmonte and Tony Chang, who passionately taught Shotokan, Chito-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu karate to hundreds of students, …
  9. 1987 Paul Gillrie Paul Gillrie joined the Don Warrener Eastern Karate Club at Saltfleet High School in 1968. He trained at Ottawa Street Dojo that summer, then the Kiwanis Boys Club in 1969, and Delta in 1971. �He entered McMaster University in…

1990–1999

End of an era

  1. 1996 Many of us never had the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to our Sensei, Teacher, Mentor, Founder, and friend Benny Allen, when he passed away in 1996—now almost 30 years ago. We are pleased to share that his gravesite has been found, an…

2000–2026

Remembering

  1. 2026 Benny Allan Memorial Service May 2, 2026 Castleton Ontario 11 AM Castleton Cemetery
  2. 2026 Documentary Update Last night I called Greg Mellar to discuss questions about his journey in the martial arts. I had another reason for the call. I wanted to know how people felt about a documentary and a memorial service for Benny Allen. …
  3. 2026 Many of us never had the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to our Sensei, Teacher, Mentor, Founder, and friend Benny Allen, when he passed away in 1996—now almost 30 years ago. We are pleased to share that his gravesite has been found, an…
  4. 2026 This is where we are planning to have the Premier and screening of Eastern in the fall of 2026. It will be a night to remember with many of the old Eastern Alumni and Canadian legends in attendance that evening. Red Carpet, snacks soft drin…
  5. 2026 Did you know we are making a 90 minute movie on Eastern Karaté with rare old film of Benny Allen, Bob Dalgleish, Teddy Marton, Don WARRENER and several more. Interviews on what the training was like. What was Benny really like and Frank Wis…