Shotokan Karate of America
Encyclopedia
Shotokan Karate of America (SKA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to teach traditional karate-do
in the United States. It was founded and is still led by Tsutomu Ohshima
, a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi
, the father of Shotokan
karate. Today, Ohshima is recognized as the shihan
(chief instructor) of many other SKA-affiliated Shotokan organizations worldwide, including France Shotokan and Israel Shotokan among others. SKA's national headquarters are in Los Angeles
.
club in 1948, after having already trained in sumo, kendo, and judo during his childhood. At the time, Funakoshi, in his early 80s, was still teaching at Waseda and other universities. Ohshima's leading seniors at Waseda were Hiroshi Noguchi, Shigeru Egami
, Toshio Kamata-Watanabe, Tadao Okuyama, and Matsuo Shibuya, and he became captain of the club in 1952. In 1955, he moved to UCLA to continue his studies, and led his first U.S. practice soon afterwards. In 1957, he started the first university karate club in the United States, at Caltech, and in 1959 founded the Southern California Karate Association. As more dojos were opened in California and throughout the U.S., the organization was renamed to Shotokan Karate of America in 1969.
, with eight kyu
ranks, and five dan
ranks. Contrary to many other karate organizations, there are no ranks above godan (5th dan), which Tsutomu Ohshima
was awarded by Funakoshi in 1957. The godan rank is the highest rank ever awarded by Gichin Funakoshi. In SKA it is attainable by talented individuals with several decades of dedicated practice and teaching.
Additionally, there are SKA-affiliated dojos in Curaçao
, Hong Kong
, Gabon
, Japan
, Morocco
, and the Netherlands
.
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
in the United States. It was founded and is still led by Tsutomu Ohshima
Tsutomu Ohshima
is a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate who founded the Shotokan Karate of America organization. He is the Shihan of the SKA, and to this day holds the rank of 5th dan in karate, which was awarded to him by Gichin Funakoshi...
, a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, the father of Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
karate. Today, Ohshima is recognized as the shihan
Shihan
- Title of "Master" is a Japanese Honorific Title, Expert License Certification used in Japanese martial arts for Master Level Instructors. The award of the Expert License Certification is if designated by the qualification by virtue of endorsement by the [A] Association of Chief Instructors or [B]...
(chief instructor) of many other SKA-affiliated Shotokan organizations worldwide, including France Shotokan and Israel Shotokan among others. SKA's national headquarters are in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
History
Ohshima (1930-) began practicing karate at the Waseda UniversityWaseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
club in 1948, after having already trained in sumo, kendo, and judo during his childhood. At the time, Funakoshi, in his early 80s, was still teaching at Waseda and other universities. Ohshima's leading seniors at Waseda were Hiroshi Noguchi, Shigeru Egami
Shigeru Egami
was a pioneering Japanese master of Shotokan karate who founded the Shōtōkai style. He was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, who is widely recognized as the founder of modern karate.-Early life:...
, Toshio Kamata-Watanabe, Tadao Okuyama, and Matsuo Shibuya, and he became captain of the club in 1952. In 1955, he moved to UCLA to continue his studies, and led his first U.S. practice soon afterwards. In 1957, he started the first university karate club in the United States, at Caltech, and in 1959 founded the Southern California Karate Association. As more dojos were opened in California and throughout the U.S., the organization was renamed to Shotokan Karate of America in 1969.
Special Training
SKA conducts regional special practices known as "Special Trainings" (or gasshuku in Japanese) twice a year, usually in the winter and summer. These consist of a series of intense practices held over a short period of time, in a communal setting. Special Training is considered a crucial aspect of SKA practice, as Ohshima writes, "I hope that all Shotokan members will attend at least one special training because this is the essence of traditional martial arts practice." One strict rule of Special Training is that no participant may leave until the Special Training is officially over; leaving early without permission of the chief instructor entails automatic expulsion from SKA.Ranking
SKA uses the ranking system originally introduced by Gichin FunakoshiGichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, with eight kyu
Kyu
is a Japanese term used in martial arts, chadō, ikebana, go, shogi such as Japanese traditional culture, and academic tests and in other similar activities to designate various grades or levels or class of proficiency or experience...
ranks, and five dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
ranks. Contrary to many other karate organizations, there are no ranks above godan (5th dan), which Tsutomu Ohshima
Tsutomu Ohshima
is a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate who founded the Shotokan Karate of America organization. He is the Shihan of the SKA, and to this day holds the rank of 5th dan in karate, which was awarded to him by Gichin Funakoshi...
was awarded by Funakoshi in 1957. The godan rank is the highest rank ever awarded by Gichin Funakoshi. In SKA it is attainable by talented individuals with several decades of dedicated practice and teaching.
Dojos
A directory of SKA dojos in the USA is maintained on the SKA website. Tsutomu Ohshima is also recognized as the chief instructor of several SKA-affiliates outside the United States, including:- Belgium Shotokan
- Canada Shotokan
- France Shotokan
- Germany Shotokan
- Greece Shotokan
- Israel Shotokan
- Spain Shotokan
- Switzerland Shotokan
- Poland Shotokan
Additionally, there are SKA-affiliated dojos in Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.