Also known as

Description

Kyokushin karate pioneer in Quebec, Canada. Dufour began martial arts with Shotokan under René Stéziadis, then switched to Kyokushin in 1965 under Roger Lesseau (Lesourd), becoming Lesseau's successor as chief instructor in 1972. He won the first Kyokushin Full Contact Championship at the Forum de Montréal on June 14, 1969. Dufour trained over 20,000 students over his career, including Jean Couture (later the first instructor of Georges St-Pierre), André Coulombe, André Gilbert, and Gaétan Sauvé. He authored seven books including L'histoire du karaté au Québec and was inducted into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame (2019), the World Combat Arena Hall of Fame (2019), and the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame (2025).

Teachers (3)

• 
  Ari Anastasiadis

  linkShotokan 2

  Probable

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states Dufour first trained in Shotokan under Ari Anastasiadis before switching to Kyokushin in 1965. Anastasiadis is documented as the first karate instructor in Canada.

  (1963-1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states Dufour first trained in Shotokan under Ari Anastasiadis before switching to Kyokushin in 1965. Anastasiadis is documented as the first karate instructor in Canada.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Puis par la suite, c'est ça Shotokan. Puis par la suite, c'était Ari Anastasiadis, qui était instructeur. Par la suite, ça a été en 1965, décembre 1965, le Kyokushinkai a été implanté au Canada par Roger Lesseau."

  — Zanshin - Épisode 9 - Maître Gilles Dufour - La passion d'une vie - Moi mes soulierslinkinfo
• 
  Roger Lesourd

  linkKyokushin 3

  Confirmed

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states that Kyokushin was brought to Canada by Roger Lesseau and that Dufour was his student and later his successor as chief instructor

  (1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states that Kyokushin was brought to Canada by Roger Lesseau and that Dufour was his student and later his successor as chief instructor

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "en 1965, décembre 1965, le Kyokushin a été implanté au Canada par Roger Lesseau. À ce moment-là, il était deuxième dan. [...] En 1972, je suis tombé chef d'instructeur. [...] Tous les Kyokushinkai vont sortir de Roger Lesseau qui était là avant moi. Pas nécessairement de moi, parce que moi j'étais le successeur de Roger."

  — Zanshin - Épisode 9 - Maître Gilles Dufour - La passion d'une vie - Moi mes soulierslinkinfo

  "In the 1960's, Mas Oyama accepted a French student, Roger Lesourd. Roger lived and trained in Japan directly under Mas Oyama and was eventually awarded a Third Dan Black Belt along with the title of Branch Chief for Canada. In 1968, Roger brought Kyokushinkai Karate to Canada."

  — Ronin Kai Karate — Our Historylinkinfo
• To
  Tony Valpato

  linkKyokushin 2

  Probable

  Dufour mentions in the Zanshin documentary that his first Kyokushin combat instructor was Tony Valpato

  (1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Dufour mentions in the Zanshin documentary that his first Kyokushin combat instructor was Tony Valpato

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Mon premier instructeur en Kyokushin qui m'a enseigné le combat, c'est un dénommé Tony Valpato."

  — Zanshin - Épisode 9 - Maître Gilles Dufour - La passion d'une vie - Moi mes soulierslinkinfo

Ranks (1)

• linkKyokushin

  military_techBlack belt 2

  Probable

  The documentary shows Dufour's first black belt signed by Mas Oyama, but the exact grade and date are not specified

  Dan-Kyu System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The documentary shows Dufour's first black belt signed by Mas Oyama, but the exact grade and date are not specified

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Ça, c'est ma première ceinture noire signée par Oyama."

  — Zanshin - Épisode 9 - Maître Gilles Dufour - La passion d'une vie - Moi mes soulierslinkinfo

Students (1)

• Je
  Jean Couture

  linkKyokushin 3

  Confirmed

  Gilles Dufour himself stated in the Zanshin documentary that Jean Couture was his student: 'le premier instructeur de Georges Saint-Pierre, Jean Couture'. This is corroborated by Dufour's own Facebook comment 'J'ai été l'instructeur de Jean 1972' and the Kyokushinkaikarate memorial post.

  (1972)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Gilles Dufour himself stated in the Zanshin documentary that Jean Couture was his student: 'le premier instructeur de Georges Saint-Pierre, Jean Couture'. This is corroborated by Dufour's own Facebook comment 'J'ai été l'instructeur de Jean 1972' and the Kyokushinkaikarate memorial post.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Gilles Dufour · J'ai été l'instructeur de Jean 1972"

  — Georges St-Pierre Facebook post with Gilles Dufour's comment: 'J'ai été l'instructeur de Jean 1972' link

  "Gilles Dufour a été l'instructeur de Jean Couture R.I.P. en 1972 qui par la suite a été l'instructeur de Georges St-Pierre GSP"

  — Kyokushinkaikarate Facebook group post: 'Gilles Dufour a été l'instructeur de Jean Couture R.I.P.'link

  "J'ai eu des élèves de toutes sortes. Il y a eu André Coulombe, André Gilbert, les frères Fraser, le premier instructeur de Georges Saint-Pierre, Jean Couture."

  — Zanshin - Épisode 9 - Maître Gilles Dufour - La passion d'une vie - Moi mes soulierslinkinfo

Honors (3)

• receipt_longCanadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee 3

  Confirmed

  Listed on the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductees page for 2019

  Title (2019)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Listed on the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductees page for 2019

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "2019 - Gilles Dufour - Karate/Auteur"

  — Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductees list link
• receipt_longWorld Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame — Historical Figure award 3

  Confirmed

  Confirmed by infodunord article about Dufour's induction in Orlando, Florida

  Title (2025-05-23)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Confirmed by infodunord article about Dufour's induction in Orlando, Florida

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "il a été intronisé, le 23 mai 2025, au Temple de la renommée mondiale du World Head of Family Sokeship Council à Orlando, en Floride. Il a reçu le prix de 'figure historique'."

  — Sarthou, Gabrielle. (2025). Arts martiaux : honoré aux côtés de Bruce Lee et Chuck Norris - L'info du Nord Sainte-Agathe linkinfo
• receipt_longWorld Combat Arena (WCA) Hall of Fame inductee 3

  Confirmed

  Mentioned in the infodunord article alongside his other Hall of Fame inductions

  Title (2019)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Mentioned in the infodunord article alongside his other Hall of Fame inductions

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "En 2019, il est intronisé au Temple de la renommée de la WCA (World Combat Arena), qui couvre les États-Unis et le Canada."

  — Sarthou, Gabrielle. (2025). Arts martiaux : honoré aux côtés de Bruce Lee et Chuck Norris - L'info du Nord Sainte-Agathe linkinfo

Sources