History of Japan Karate Association
A Brief History of the Japan Karate Association
Originally, the martial art Te (“Hand”) developed in Okinawa as a system of self-defense. Due to Okinawa’s frequent contact and exchange with China, it is certain that the Okinawan martial art was influenced by Chinese kempo at some point during its development. However, with only tradition and no contemporary written records, it is not certain exactly when the art called Kara-Te first emerged in Okinawa. It is believed that it developed roughly 500 years ago, when the dynastic ruler King Shoha unified the region after decades of warfare and issued an edict banning the possession of weapons on the island.
According to accounts, a similar law forbidding the possession or use of weapons was reissued and enforced by the Satsuma clan, who had invaded Okinawa in the early 1600’s and brought it under the rule of the Japanese Shogunate. It is in this environment karate developed as a form of unarmed combat for protecting oneself and one’s country, and it was taught and practiced in secret.
Came the birth in 1868 of Okinawan karate master Funakoshi Gichin. He dedicated his whole life to promoting the values of the art, and introduced the way of karate-jutsu to Japan, where it spread across the country. By 1949, his followers had established an association for the promotion of karate; they called it Nihon Karate Kyokai, or Japan Karate Association. It was the beginning of the JKA…
The Early Years (1948 - 1956)
The JKA was founded in November, 1948.
By 1955, the first headquarters dojo had been built at Yotsuya in Tokyo, and the first JKA Chairman had been appointed: Saigo Kichinosuke, member of the upper house of the Japanese Diet and grandson of Saigo Takamori, one of the greatest heroes of Meiji Japan.
In 1956, the JKA set up the first-ever karate specialist instructor intern (kenshusei) training program at the headquarters dojo, and accepted its first round of trainees. This was the start of the finest karate instructor training program ever created, a program never matched or even approached by any other karate organization. It is through this program that the JKA has built up its unique cadre of distinguished karate instructors, all full-time salaried professionals— whose numbers are consistently maintained at roughly twenty individuals.
On April 10, 1957, the JKA became a legal entity when Japan’s Ministry of Education (now Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture) officially recognized the JKA as an association of members for the promotion of karate and the spread and enrichment of actual karate practice. Twelve years later, another karate organization was also given legal status, based not on membership but on contribution by an individual foundation, mainly for the purpose of arranging karate matches.
Growth & Development (1957-1989)
In October 1957, the 1st JKA All Japan Karate Championship was held in Tokyo. At this first tournament, the first karate match rules tournament in history, the number of divisions was limited to four: men’s individual (general) kumite and kata, and men’s group (Prefectural) kumite and kata.
The annual tournament system was established, it wasn’t long before there were JKA karate branches in towns, schools with as many as 40 prominent universities in Japan participating. In 1958, Master Nakayama was appointed Chief Instructor. In 1961, His Majesty the Crown Prince of Japan (now His Majesty the Emperor of Japan) attended the 5th JKA. The world of Japan Karate Championship was on the billboard.
Over the years, the tournament divisions expanded to include: a university division (1969), a women’s kata division (1974), a youth division within the general division (1975), an entirely separate youth division for elementary, junior high, and high school students, and a women’s kumite division (1985). The number of participants grew enormously.
During this period, the JKA further developed its karate instruction system, and while greatly expanding its branch dojo throughout Japan, began sending (as early as 1958) some of its most highly-accomplished professional instructors overseas to America, Europe, and the Middle East to teach. Karate was becoming a big hit outside Japan.
In 1975, with karate’s prospective entry into the Olympics in mind, the first JKA-sponsored international tournament, the IAKF (International Amateur Karate Federation) World Cup was held in the U.S.; over the following several years, it was held three additional times. However, in order to preserve the true technique and spirit of ippon-shobu (downing the opponent with one blow), the JKA ultimately established a new tournament, the Shoto World Cup Karate Championship Tournament. In 1985, the first international Shoto World Cup was held in Japan, a testimony to how karate had become an international art.
Karate techniques were developed into a complete system and emerged a clear, scientific, and practical “best” form for each kumite stance, posture, and movement. There also emerged a clear delineation to execute each stance, punch, kick, or technique. The JKA was the first karate organization to set up a dojo outside Japan. And, JKA became the only karate organization to send its qualified full-time instructors to teach karate at universities.
In 1986, Nakahara Nobuyuki, a distinguished business leader and former Tokyo University Karate Club member, was appointed the eighth Chairman of the JKA.
Leaps Forward into the 21st Century (2000 to present)
In December 2000, it purchased land and established a brand new headquarters and dojo in the center of Tokyo. With renewed vigor, the JKA repositioned itself, clearly defining itself as ‘The Keeper of Karate’s Highest Tradition around the world.
Based on significant contributions to society through a number of activities, the Japanese Ministry of Education recognized JKA as SHADAN HOJIN (incorporated association) in 1957. JKA is further recognized by the government of Japan as KOEKI SHADAN HOJIN (public interest incorporated association) on March 21, 2012. JKA is the only Japanese martial arts association to date to be given such recognition by its government.
The mandate of JKA is to contribute to world peace through
1) conducting research and providing instruction in Karate-Do,
2) influencing children and adolescents to improve their physical and mental health, as well as cultivating the spirit of martial arts, and
3) a wide distribution of the concept of Japanese martial art which emphasizes manners and respect.
JKA members endeavor to develop their characters and contribute to society on a daily basis; this is the objective of JKA.
