Category: Shotokan

Yuko Hirayama

Budo, for me, is to face and confront yourself. Yuko Hirayama One of the few female JKA instructors, Yuko Hirayama is one of the only women to complete the JKA Instructors Course. She is the highest-ranked woman teaching at the JKA Hombu. Yuko Hirayama was born on 18 June 1969 in Yokohama, Japan. She was …

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Miki Nakamachi

You are always going to make mistakes in life, but you always have to look at and face up to them. When you stop doing it, then your weaknesses are exposed. Don’t look for affirmation from somewhere else, because that means that you have no self-belief inside yourself… and in that case, no amount of …

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Richard Heselton

I want to move on, improve and evolve – I once heard someone say “yesterday’s solutions don’t solve today’s problems” and I totally agree with this. Richard Heselton The name Richard Heselton it’s not as well known as it should be. He is one of the best Shotokan karatekas of his generation. Nicknamed the ‘Monster‘, …

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Shojiro Koyama

Modern life is too quick and competitive, changes are rapid, and Karate helps us to see past the world around us and into ourselves. Our pace of living keeps us looking ahead; Karate helps us rediscover ourselves. Studying kata is like basic education and kumite is the final examination. The only diploma is using Karate …

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Hiroshi Shoji

It is my belief that to polish our waza (techniques) and our minds through Budo will make us healthy, live long and become useful for the community. Hiroshi Shoji The first JKA All Japan kata champion, Hiroshi Shoji was known for his exceptional timing. An instructor at the JKA Hombu, he was known for his …

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Takeshi Naito

Each era must accept tradition to grow, but not remain as it was 30 or 40 years ago. As I said “traditional” means “to continue” but accepting changes and improvements. Over time, everything undergoes an evolution, we always try to improve, to keep the positive and remove the negative: then it is a question of …

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Takeshi Oishi

Everything, in my opinion, is in the training, so there are no tips to give, only quantity of training, in order to automate the techniques, so as not to think, when it will be time for the fight. Takeshi Oishi One of the longest-serving instructors at the JKA, Takeshi Oishi was a formidable fighter. Known …

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Norihiko Iida

Masatoshi Nakayama, the former Chief Instructor of the JKA, once said of Norihiko Iida: Iida’s changing techniques are admirable. They bring to mind the mysterious technique of twirling one’s fingers as if to hypnotise a dragonfly. One never thinks he will fall for the trick, but in the end, he succumbs A powerfully built man, …

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Toru Yamaguchi

Technique will keep on improving, I hope, as instructors understand more about modern technology and its uses. I believe we can develop new technology for our bodies too. Toru Yamaguchi Considered one of the best ever JKA instructors, Toru Yamaguchi was a well-rounded karateka. He had good kihon, kata, and kumite. Masatoshi Nakayama once described …

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Masaaki Ueki

Always remember the mind and body are one. Masaaki Ueki Masatoshi Nakayama, the former Chief Instructor of the JKA, once wrote of Masaaki Ueki: The hands and feet of Masaaki Ueki are worth watching, for they are very fast and truly sharp. It is not surprising that many opponents have been defeated. Masaaki Ueki’s technique …

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