Private Project

Karate in Ontario: THE UPHILL BATTLE ‘THE COST OF RAISING A CHAMPION’

Karate and the Olympics: Who Will Represent Canada in 2020?

This documentary highlights the difficulties experienced in creating champions in Ontario. As the parent of a well-known champion stated: ‘Today, a child’s whole athletic career depends on the pockets of the athlete’s parents – whether they can pay, or not’.
Today, money talks so loud that a person’s paying capacity can now replace talent, dedication, and perseverance. Every day we’re seeing athletes faced with hardships and problems created by stringent rules, under-funding, and a complete lack of understanding from ‘higher-ups’ in the fast paced world of Karate in Ontario. With Karate becoming part of the Olympics, this situation must be changed! Coaches today are facing real challenges – the challenges involved in raisings athletes to such an elite standard that they’re qualified to bring glory to our country in 2020.
Karate in Ontario has a unique historical background. It also has exceptional athletes and amazing coaches, but it doesn’t have enough competitions, enough judges, enough referees, and it has almost no funding for athletes and coaches!
Today, Karate faces a real challenge, and that is: How do we make the transition from an amateur sport to a professionally organized industry with the appropriate environment for raising true champions?

  • Maria Morgunova
    Director
  • Maria Fletcher
    Writer
  • Maria Morgunova
    Producer
  • Kevin Krocker in Japan
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 30, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    65,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HD 1080
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • https://www.amazon.com/Karate-Ontario-Battle-Raising-Champion/dp/B079ZBQ36V?fbclid=IwAR2PBoiVN_tH4vzED9aD-Ctfx22_TjzisOYIr4z5Zf8FJOxlofWVSv_MCTs
    Country: United States
    Rights: Video on Demand
    Country: United Kingdom
    Rights: Video on Demand
  • e-Bay
    Country: Canada
    Rights: Video / Disc
  • Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC)
    Country: Canada
    Rights: Video on Demand, Video / Disc
Director Biography - Maria Morgunova

Maria Morgunova personally directed this documentary feature. Maria is the Director of INVISION PRO - a media company in Toronto, Ontario. Maria’s background includes more than 10 years’ experience in journalism and the film and video industry as a videographer, journalist, film editor, producer of short stories, and the director of TV talk shows. Maria holds an MA of Arts, and has created successful stories and programs for the corporate world, broadcast television, and PR companies.

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Director Statement

First and the unique study about karate in North America. Today, this film is the only available research in this field. Previously, no statistics had been obtained on karate-related events in North America any data recorded on seminars, camps, and tournaments offered by karate clubs, nor any statistical or demographic information relating to karate students and coaches involved in various clubs throughout North America. The documentary seeks to demonstrate the urgency and need for an official study on karate throughout North America. Indeed, the future development of karate as a whole is dependent upon official, in-depth statistical research.