Karen Borrmann

Nidan (2nd dan black belt), dojo leader

Karen founded the Lakeshore Shotokan Dojo in the fall of 2015. Having started her karate journey at university in Germany, Karen joined Canada Shotokan in 2003 at the Montreal Shotokan Dojo.

Karen was awarded the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) in 2006 and Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in 2013. She received the SKA Canada East member of the year award in 2012 and 2016, and was honoured as Best Competitor by Ohshima Sensei at the Shotokan Karate of America 60th anniversary team competition in Santa Barbara, California, in 2016. Over the years Karen has regularly entered and placed in many regional and international tournaments.

Alex De Vergori

Shodan (1st dan black belt)

Alex has been practising Shotokan karate for over 25 years. He started at university in England in 1993 and continued his training when he moved to Canada in 2006. Alex trained with Simon Inwood at the Montreal Shotokan Dojo, going on to teach beginner classes there.

Alex achieved his Shodan (black belt) in 2009 at the Summer Special Training in Lennoxville. He is a founding member of the Lakeshore Shotokan Dojo, where he has been teaching since 2016. Alex is a proud father of two teenage boys.