Safeguard Martial Arts

The journey began in 1996. Tina Parker enrolled her four-year-old son Troy in Canada's Best Karate, a traditional Shotokan karate school under the direction of Ron Perkio. “I wanted something positive and disciplined for Troy that he could also have fun with,” says Tina. “A few months later I decided to join the adult class as an alternative from working out in the gym. We never looked back!"

Tina joined the school’s operations team shortly thereafter. In 2008, the school became independent and Safeguard Martial Arts was born. In 2014, when Ron retired, she and Troy became the new owners of Safeguard Martial Arts. Tina, a second degree black belt, continues as Director of Operations, and Troy, a third degree black belt, serves as Chief Instructor.

The mother–son collaboration behind Safeguard Martial Arts is reflected in the inclusive, family-oriented environment of the school. “We have quite a few young students whose parents have joined our adult program,” says Tina. “It’s a great way of bonding, and something positive they can share as a family. It’s always interesting to see the child teaching the parent and motivating them to success."

Consistently recognized in the Langley Advance News "Best of the Best" rankings in the Martial Art School category since 2002 thanks to the support of its students and families, Safeguard Martial Arts offers traditional martial arts training in age-appropriate groups for students as young as three. The school also offers several innovative programs with a niche focus, such as Bully Buster, Stranger Awareness and Street Self-Defense.