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About the JKA-SKD Canada

The JKA Shotokan Karate-Do World Organization of Canada (JKA-SKD Canada) was incorporated in February 2001. JKA-SKD Canada’s function is to bring together various JKA affiliated organizations across Canada dedicated to promoting, teaching and developing Shotokan Karate-Do, while respecting the rules, regulations and directives decreed and promulgated by the Japan Karate Association (JKA).

JKA-SKD Canada’s main objectives are to:

• sponsor and support local, regional, national awnd international amateur karate competitions, seminars and other gatherings;
• sponsor and support seminars and other activities aimed at qualifying and certifying instructors, examiners and judges; and
• support and assist other Canadian and international organizations dedicated to promoting and developing Shotokan karate.

Currently, 58 dojos from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec are members of the JKA-SKD Canada.

The Board of Directors is comprised of 7 officers :

• President: Michael Doherty
• Vice-president: Daniel Verzotti
• Secretairy: Louis-A. Dessaint
• Treasurer: Melarie Taylor
• Officer: Jean-Pierre Cusson
• Officer: Trevor Ishmael
• Officer: Isabelle Eaton

The JKA-SKD Canada is an approved JKA organization. Our members thus have the opportunity to attend regular seminars by instructors from the Honbu dojo, to participate in JKA National events, and to represent Canada at International JKA events.

Members of the JKA-SKD Canada are also welcome to participate in events organized by Shotokan Karate-Do International (SKDI). SKDI, operated out of New York city, was founded by Sensei Masataka Mori (9^th Dan JKA) and serves as the headquarters for all Shotokan Karate-Do JKA clubs in the Pan-American region (www.jkany.org). Sensei Mori was an International Director and Technical Advisor for the JKA and actively supported and advised Canadian karatekas for more than 30 years. The senior instructor of SKDI is now Sensei Shu Takahashi.

We invite all non member JKA dojos to contact us if they are interested in joining the JKA-SKD Canada.

What is the JKA ?

The JKA (Japan Karate Association) www.jka.or.jp was founded in 1948 by students of Supreme Master Funakoshi Gichin (1868-1957), the father of modern karate. The headquarters of the JKA are located in Tokyo Japan (Honbu dojo) and the Board of Directors of the JKA is currently chaired by Mr. Kusahara Katsuhide.

Chief instructors of the JKA:

• First chief instructor: Master Nakayama Masatoshi, 10^th dan (1913-1987) who held this position from 1948 to 1987.
• Second chief instructor: Master Sugiura Motokuni, 10^th dan (1939-2024) who held this position from 1987 to 2011.
• Third chief instructor: Master Ueki Masaakii, 10^th dan (1939-2024) who held this position from 2011 to 2024.
• Fourth chief instructor: Master Oishi Takeshi, 9^th dan (1941-), since November 9^th, 2024.

The JKA operates worldwide to maintain the high standards of instruction and training established by its founders and to encourage growth and development of Shotokan karate worldwide.

The JKA is by far the largest karate organization in the world.

What is karate?

To search for the old is to understand the new.
The old, the new, this is a matter of time.
In all things one must have a clear mind.
The way: Who will pass it on straight and well?
Poem by Funakoshi Gichin

Karate-do:

The first connotation of karaindicates that karate is a technique that permits one to defend himself with his bare hands and fists without weapons.

Second, just as it is the clear mirror that reflects without distortion, the proper understanding of Karate-do requires one to practice with a clear mind. This is another meaning of the element kara in Karate-do.

As athletic training:

The nature of karate is such that it requires the body to move in all directions and it can be practiced in just about any area, small or large. Since each individual may adjust the exercise to their own capacity, Karate may be practiced by the physically weak, by women, children or elderly people. Moreover, as the body is built up and the techniques become more skillful, the movements naturally become more powerful, so that the amount of exercise becomes sufficient even for the healthy young man in his prime.

As self-defense:

The power of Karate has become well known in these times and it is not an exaggeration to assert that a person well trained in this form of defense may consider the whole body to be a weapon of awesomely effective power. Though Karate does have throwing techniques, it relies principally on striking, kicking and thrusting techniques. Block-attack combinations are eventually executed simultaneously, no weapons are necessary and anyone can learn to apply it and protect himself effectively even with little natural strength.

As spiritual training:

Karate is no different from the other martial arts in fostering the traits of courtesy, integrity, humility and self control in those who have found its essence. However, since there is no need for a special training place, equipment or an opponent, a flexibility in training is provided such that the spiritually weak individual can develop his body and mind so gradually and naturally that he himself may not even realize his own great progress.

Source: Karate–Do Kyohan by Funakoshi Gichin.