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| JKA India Kodansha | JKA India Chief Instructor |
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The Grand Master |
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Master Funakoshi
Gichin |
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Supreme Master Gichin Funakoshi father of Modern Day Karate was born in 1870 the first year of the Meiji Restoration. During his childhood, this art was banned and he first learnt the Martial Art under great warriors Azato Yasutsune and Itoso Yasutsune. At first he was Azato's only student, He also trained under a great many other teachers like Piechin Kiyuna, Niigaki and Sokon Mastumura .When he finished school and became a teacher himself, Master Funakoshi was appointed Chairman of Shobukai the Martial Arts Association of Okinawa. It was only in 1902 when Shintaro Ogawa the commissioner of schools in the Kagoshima Prefecture after witnessing an exhibition of Karate submitted a report to the Ministry of Education in Japan about the benefits of the training in karate that Karate became a part of the curriculum in schools andbegan to be practiced freely in Japan. |
| Dai Sensei Funakoshi Gichin (1870-1957) | |
| However the actual popularity of the
art spread when Master Funakohi was invited to perform before the Crown Prince
of Japan in 1922 when he called at Okinawa enroute to Europe. The great expertise
and skill of Master Funakoshi's performance led to his invitation to perform in
Japan at the Royal Court, The response to his demonstration in Japan was so great
that he was persuaded to stayon. Amongst those who persuaded him to stay on was
Master Jigoro Kano the founder of Judo who gave him the necessary help to teach
the art for the first time in Japan. It was in Japan that Master Funakoshi in order to make the art totally Japanese in nature changed the Calligraphy symbolising "to" or the East which in those days nearly always meant China" to "Kara" or Empty and thus gave the art the name 'Dai Nippon Kempo Kara-te do Jutsu" or Great Japan Fist Method Empty Hand Way or Kara-te do in short, In keeping with his philosohical approach to the art Master Funakoshi took the "Kara 'of Karate-do from the writings of Zen Buddhism. where the form of the universe is emptiness (kara) and kara te when interpreted in the Zen Philosophy was to make nothing of one's self. The calligraphy of Kara is also pronounced as Ku or Mu which is emptiness. In 1936 at the age of seventy years Master Funakoshi established the first Institution of Karate in Japan at Zoshigaya Toshima ward Tokyo. His disciples called the Dojo SHOTOKAN - Shoto being the pen name Master Funakoshi used to sign his calligraphy and Kan meaning house or hall. He was yet he felt his task had only just begun. After he established the Shotokan Dojo the Master went about ensuring that Karate become an integral part of the Japanese Budo. The old Shobo-kai became the NIHON KARATE KYOKAI or translated into English as JAPAN KARATE ASSOCIATION on March 20 1950. This was the first time that any Karate organization was formed in Japan. TheAssociation was made a corporation by the Ministry of Education of Japan on April 10, 1958. In 1956 the world's first Karate tournament was held the All Japan Grand Karate tournament, This tournament is held in Tokyo till today. Teams from India participate in this tournament every year, Dai Sensei Gichin Funakoshi passed away on the 26th of April, 1957. He was 88 years old. |
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Dai Sensei Funakoshi's tomb
at Engaku-ji, in Kamakura. |
| Disciples of Master Funakoshi were invited to teach karate all over the world and it was the SHOTOKAN STYLE of karate that was first taught not only in Europe but also in America and South East Asia. Thus J.K.A. spread its branches through out the world. Today it is the world's largest karate organisation and the Shotkan sytle the most popular with over ten million karatekas in more than 100 countries training under its banner a dreaí of the Master turned into reality. | |
| Significant events in the lfe of Funakoshi Dai Sensei's life |
Dai Sensei Funakoshi was born in Naha City of Okinawa Prefecture in the year 1870. In the year 1913, he became Chairman of the Okinawan Shobukai. In 1922 the first public performance of Karate was given by Dai Sensei Funakoshi when the Education Ministry of Japan organized an Athletic exhibition program in Tokyo where Karate was included as one of the disciplines This demonstration led to Master Funakoshi being persuaded to stay and teach in Tokyo. From 1924 the Master started teaching Karate at the various Universities like Tokyo University, Takushoku University, Waseda University, Todai and Keio University . In1929, Master Funakoshi authored his first booknamed - 'Ryukyu Boxing Karate'. and changed the calligraphy of Karate from Karate-jutsu to Karate-do. In the 1936, Master Funakoshi wrote a textbook of Karate-do for which he was honoured by the Emperor of Japan. It was only later however, in 1943 that he wrote his most famous book - an Introduction to Karate-do. In the year 1948, The Japan Karate Association was established with Master Funakoshi as it's Head and in 1954, Japan officially honoured Master Funakoshi for his contribution to Karate-do. In 1955, the Master established the Yotsuya dojo of the JKA. Dai Sensei Gichin Funakoshi passed away on the 26th of April, 1957. |
The
Chief Instructor after the Master's Demise |
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Master
Masatoshi Nakayama Date of birth : April 13, 1913 University : Takoshoku |
| After the demise of Supreme Master Gichin Funakoshi,
the Japan Karate Association appointed Master Masatoshi Nakayama to head the Masters
of the JKA. Nakayama Sensei authored many books on Karate and was primarily responsible
for setting the standard of the JKA and the spread of JKA throughout the world.
Nakayama Sensei was born in on April 13th 1913 in the Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan.
He spent many of his formative years in Taipei, Taiwan. He entered the famous Takushoku university in 1932. After completion of
his graduation, he enrolled in the Institute of Eastern Studies at the Beijing
University and withdrew from there in the month of May 1946. In May 1949, Nakayama, Isao Obata, and other colleagues helped establish the Japan Karate Association. He was instrumental in forming the JKA instructor trainee programand in 1958 was made the Senior Master of the JKA. In 1952, he was emplaoyed in the Physical Education department of Takushoku University, and finally became the head of that department. He passed
away on April 15th 1987 at the age of 74. Nakayama Sensei wrote many books on karate, including the 11-volume Best Karate series. Many video produced were supervised by him. Among the other famous books are Practical Karate: A guide to everyman's self-defense & Defense against an unarmed assailant and Dynamic Karate. It was only after his demise that many troubles came to the JKA |
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The
Second Chief Instructor |
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Master Sugiura Motokuni Date of Birth : October 4th 1924 |
Born in Aichi prefecture. Oct. 4th 1924 After fininshing School he entered the Koa Junior College now renamed the Asia University in . Apr. 1942 and joined the Karate club under the tutelage of Yosiaki Hayashi Sensei of the Shotokan In 1943 he became a student of Shotokan training under Gichin Funakoshi Sensei and his second son Yoshitaka Funakoshi Sensei. He received the 1st Dan in the month of March, 1944. After graduating from Koa Junior College in Sept. 1944 he entered Tuchiura Navy Flying Corps as a Preliminary Student in the 15th Naval Flying Corps in the month of October He was freed from service in the month of August . 1945 and in November the next year, he got a job at the Nihon Keizai vocational school. Eager to continue his training in Karate-do . he studied Karate from 1949 through 1954 under Mr.Masatoshi Nakayama, an alumnus of Takushoku University., Mr.Isao Kohata and Mr. Shuntaro Ito, alumni of Keio University. In June 1951 he received the 2nd Dan and the 3rd Dan in Nov. 1953 In the year 1955 he became a Director of Japan Karate Association and was given the responsibility of managing the instructors. The heavy work schedule of the JKA led to his retirement from Nihon Keizai Junior College.in December .1955. The next year in April 1956, he entered the Japan Karate Association Guidance Department and until 1971, coached at various dojos including the headquarters Dojo of the JKA. the Kogakuin University Karate club, the Nihon University .Agriculture and Veterinary Department Karate club, the Taisho University Karate club, the Tokyo Keizai University Karate club, the Hitotubashi University .Karate club, the Chuo Tetsudou Karate club etc. In November . 1957 he received 4th Dan and on the 10th of April 1958, he was appointed the Director of the Corporation. Japan Karate Association with the responsibilty of making rules of matches and referee. May 14th 1958, he received a qualification of the degree of Physical .Education. instructor of Karatedo from the Ministry of Education. From 1959 through 1963 he wa occupied as a part-time Physical .Education. Karate instructor and lectured at General Education Dept. of Asia Univ. In the meanwhile in March 1961 he meritted the 5th Dan From Dec. 1961 he was involved in editing a text book titled "Karate-do no Kihon", or "Basics of Karate-do". This text book points out the common errors of the JKA members. In the month of April. 1963, he received 6th Dan and from the very next month was involved in making 8mm film for overseas.and was given in charge of 2 videos of 6 volumes of the English edition. He resigned as the Director of the JKA on Jul. 10th 1963 and from April 1964 took to full-time Physical .Education. Karate instructor and was promoted as assistant professor at General Education Dept. of Asia Univ. In Apr. 1968 he received 7th Dan and was Engaged in writing a textbook from Apr. 1969 Got invitation of China Japan Friendship Karatedo Cup Visited Taipei, Taichu, Tainan and Takao from Mar. 26th to Apr. 7th, 1970 for this purpose From August 1970 he was engaged in making videos of Karate Kata for overseas. He served as the president of Koganei city Karatedo Federation and Koganei P.E.. Association officer From 1973 to 1978. In the month of April in the year 1975 he became the head of the Japan Martial Arts Society and in August visited visited Los Angeles and Hawaii to attend the meeting of IAKF and the 7th Cup. From December of the same year Master Sugiura started publishing a column in the magazine "Monthly Karatedo" In April
1976 he was promoted to professor of General Education Dept. of Asia University
and on June 21st of the same year he received the 8th Dan. of the JKA which entitled
him to the board of the Technical Committee. Later in the year in July.he visited
the branches in Jakarta, Surabaya and Yogyakarta. on the way to Indonesia. with
Asia Univ. Alumni Association After this vist in the same year from Sep.15th to
Oct.5th, he travelled to the U.S.A visiting varous universities in the US to study
instruction of Karate. like the US.UCR;PIERCE College;UCLA;Arisona State Univ;Scottsdale
Community College;J・KA of Colorado;Temple Univ.College of PE; NewYork State
University. |
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The
Third Chief Instructor |
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Name : Masaaki Ueki |
| Ueki Sensei is a graduate of the JKA Instructor Course. He passed the course in 1962. He was born in Tokyo on March 24th, 1939. He attended the Asia University, the same university as former Chief Instructor Sugiura. Ueki Sensei started Karate from the 3rd year of high school. After attending University he entered the Instructor Course of the Japan Karate Association and graduated in the the year 1962. His spectacular kicks were often commented upon and like most of his peer group, Ueki sensei is known for his spectacular technical ability. He has won the 1st place in kata in the 8th (1965) , 9th (1966), 10th (1967) , 11th(1968) 14th(1971), 17th (1974) & 18th (1975) All Japan Karate Championships. He has also won the 1st Place in Kumite in the 11th All Japan and was placed 2nd in the 8th & 14th at each of these championships he was proclaimed as the Tournament Grand Champion (viz three times in 1965, 1968 & 1971). Ueki Sensei was the Assistant Chief Instructor during the tenure of Master Sugiura. He was appointed as the Chief Instructor of the JKA by the Shihan Kai of the JKA in it's meeting on 6th March 2010 after Sugiura Sensei stepped down.More details can be seen at http://www.jka.or.jp/english/about/01_ueki.html |
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