BRIEF HISTORY OF JKA PHILIPPINES

 

In 1958, Takayuki Mikami Sensei became the first JKA instructor dispatched to Manila, Philippines. He spent a year here promoting karate. Following him, in 1965, Kunio Sasaki Shihan arrived as the second JKA instructor in the Philippines. Although Sasaki Sensei planned to return to Japan after a few years, a group of Filipino karate enthusiasts convinced him to stay. He established the JKA - Philippine Chapter and served as the official JKA representative in the Philippines until his passing in 2016 at the age of 80.

 

Masanori Takahashi Shihan is a distinguished figure in the martial arts community, recognized for his significant contributions to karate. In 1969, by the authority of Kunio Sasaki Shihan, the Japan Karate Association was introduced by Masanori Takasaki Shihan to Cesar Espiritu, and later JKA Cebu was assumed by Takashi Shihan. 

 

Throughout his career, he has been closely associated with key individuals in the propagation of JKA Karate in the Philippines and instrumental in producing top JKA Philippines karateka. In 1970, JKA Bohol opened with Mr. Nishimoto, Mr. Noguchi, and Oscar Obsioma until 1972. Oscar Obsioma then assumed leadership of JKA Cebu from 1972 to 1974. In 1974, JKA Cebu was reopened by Oscar Carpina and Roy Tan Sanchez with the authorization of Kunio Sasaki Shihan.

 

Then in 1971 Shihan Takahashi went back to Osaka due to personal reasons. Sensei Nishimoto and Sempai Nugochi followed. Oscar Obsioma stayed for a while in Bohol and then went back to Cebu City. Later Shihan Takahashi advised all seniors who are of the same batch as Oscar Obsioma to wear black belt as Shodan. Sometime in 1973, Shihan Kunio Sasaki sent his Shodan student, Oscar Carpina to open JKA in Cebu City. As soon as they became aware that there was a JKA club in Cebu they regrouped and joined the JKA club of Oscar Carpina. And later, upon knowing that Oscar Obsioma and Lito Luague are more senior to him, he gave the authority to them. From then on, the JKA expanded in the Central Visayas Region.

 

Later on, Kunio Sasaki Shihan went to Cebu to have a meeting with the JKA Cebu members. He appointed Lito Luague as JKA official representative all over the Philippines and Oscar Obsioma became the first Chief Instructor of JKA Cebu and handled the JKA expansion.

In 1974, Oscar Obsioma started competing in local karate tournaments, representing JKA Cebu of Central Visayas. That has become his preparation for the Invitational World Championship in Manila. During the World Championship, Oscar Obsioma competed with Sensei Masahiko Tanaka, depending on his title in Central Visaya. During that time, Sensei Tanaka accepted that he found out the real JKA from Central Visaya in the name of Oscar Obsioma. They developed a good relationship.

 

In 1975 they went to Long Beach, California as part of the Philippines and Japan teams to compete in another World Championship. They went to Beijing, China to compete in another World Championship. Then in Budokan, Tokyo to participate in the World Shoto Cup wearing his number 88 Later in 1975, Shihan Takahashi came back to the Philippines in Cebu. At that time, He gave Oscar Obsioma and Lito Luague full authority to teach and manage JKA Cebu.

 

In 2018 Shihan Takahashi immediately appointed Masayuki Iwabuchi of Osaka as the Iwabuchi to pay all the non-paid back dues of JKA-API to make JKA-NKK accepted as the new official Instructor and JKA representative to JKA HQ in Tokyo. Shihan Takahashi requested Masayuki seniors Instructors responders. JKA in the Philippines. This is the birth of JKA-NKK. Later around 2019, they found out that the JKA-NKK had a new policy different from the Honbu-Dojo Tokyo policy. Lito Luague Shihan and other Seniors Instructors responders.

 

 

GILIETO LUAGUE SHIHAN
 

Gilieto Luague Shihan began practicing karate in 1969 under Masanori Takahashi Shihan. He is currently the Chairman of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) Philippines, a certified JKA 5th Dan black belt, a licensed instructor, and a licensed officiating judge. A man with a clear vision for the karate world, he continues to expand the JKA beyond Cebu City to NCR, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, the Middle East, New Zealand, the US, and various European countries.

 

In 1980, Gilieto Luague Shihan took a job in Saudi Arabia, where he established a JKA club in Taif, in the Western Province, with the authority of Shihan Takahashi. He later expanded the JKA to the Eastern Province, establishing dojos in Dammam, Al-Khobar, Jubail, Ras Tanura, Qatar, and Riyadh. He remained in Saudi Arabia until 1993. During his time there, he met Hideki Okamoto Sensei, the JKA representative in the Middle East, who encouraged him to obtain an international Dan certificate and qualification.

 

From 1996 to 2005, he worked in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), where he continued to expand the JKA, establishing dojos in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. After the appointment of Masayuki Iwabuchi Shihan as the chief instructor of JKA NKK, Gilieto Luague Shihan, upon learning this in 2018, immediately returned to the Philippines from New Zealand to support Takahashi Shihan. He gathered senior students, including Oscar Obsioma Shihan, and visited Takahashi Shihan to offer moral support. At that time, they also supported JKA-NKK.

 

Around 2019, they learned that the JKA-NKK had introduced a new policy that differed from the Hombu Dojo Tokyo policy. In response, Gilieto Luague Shihan contacted senior members, advising them not to join other organizations, especially the JTK, and instead, join him in establishing the JKA World Federation Philippines Inc. (JKA-WFPI). This led to the founding of WFPI, with the aim of obtaining accreditation from the JKAWF HQ in Tokyo.

 

After several meetings and deliberations with JKA Honbu Tokyo, Gilieto Luague Shihan capabilities to lead JKA Philippines were recognized.

From August 27 to 29, 2023, Gilieto Luague Shihan led the 1st Philippines All Shotokan Karate International Gasshuku and Tournament. JKA Honbu Tokyo sent Okuma Shihan to observe the tournament and conduct Gasshuku training at Saint Camillus Center, Loyola Heights, Quezon Philippines.

 

On January 1, 2024, with that accomplishment, the birth of JKA-WFPI was officially marked. The certificate of membership was awarded to JKA Philippines (PH-2) and presented to Gilieto A. Luague Shihan as Chairman and Official JKA Representative PH-2 Honbu Tokyo, signed by Katsuhide Kusahara JKA WF Chairman and issued by the Japan Karate Association in Tokyo, Japan.

 

 

 

JKA PHILIPPINES "THE KEEPER OF KARATE'S HIGHEST TRADITION"

 

Filing Date : 26 January 2024

Registrant : JKA WF PHILIPPINES INC [PH]

Address : Phase 5A, Pkg 3, BIk5, Lt 5, Barangay 176, Bagong Silang,

Caloocan City 1400, Metro Manila, Philippines

Class(es) - Goods/Services : 41 : See Attachment

Claim of Color(s) : None

 

Disclaimer: No claim is made to the exclusive right to use "Philippines" and the non-Latin characters that transliterates to "JAPAN

KARATE ASSOCIATION PHILIPPINES" apart from the mark as a whole.       

                                                                                                                                                                      

Transliteration / Translation : The translation is "JAPAN KARATE ASSOCIATION PHILIPPINES” and the transliteration is "Nihon Karate Kyokai Firipin

 

Three-dimensional : No

Claim of Priority : None

Published for Opposition : IPO e-Gazette, published on 15/03/2024

 

 

*** Director Bureau of Trademark