(Image Credit: Shogun Dojo)
Sport

Prince George instructor to represent Canada at world martial arts championship

Jul 30, 2026 | 3:19 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — A Prince George martial arts instructor is preparing to compete on the international stage after qualifying for Team Canada at the WKU World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Tareq Abu Khadra, owner and sensei of Shogun Dojo, earned his spot at the prestigious event after placing among the top competitors at national qualifying tournaments held in Calgary earlier this year.

The WKU World Championships, running from August 3 to 9, will bring together nearly 2,000 athletes from around the world. Competitors will take part in a variety of disciplines, including point fighting, kickboxing and traditional martial arts forms.

Abu Khadra will be representing both Canada and Prince George as he competes against some of the world’s top martial artists.

The achievement is particularly significant for Shogun Dojo, where three athletes qualified for the international competition. However, rising travel and accommodation costs created financial challenges, preventing two of those competitors from making the trip to Germany.

As a result, Abu Khadra will be the dojo’s lone representative at the championship.

Despite that setback, he hopes his appearance at the world championships will help inspire local martial artists to pursue opportunities beyond regional and national competition.

The Berlin event is considered one of the largest martial arts tournaments in the world and provides athletes with the opportunity to compete against elite competitors from dozens of countries.

For Abu Khadra, the upcoming championship represents the culmination of years of training and dedication, while also shining a spotlight on Prince George’s martial arts community.

With Team Canada set to compete against athletes from across the globe, Abu Khadra will be carrying the hopes of his hometown dojo as he takes to the world stage in search of a championship performance.