Welcome message from the JSKA Chief Instructor

I began my karate organization, the Japan Shotokan Karate Association on the 10th of February 1999. It is, of course, based on one of the Shotokan styles in Japan, but also includes “Abe style”.

Let me please first introduce you to the years preceding the foundation of the JSKA. I started karate and judo training when I was 15 years old. In 1958, I was already 4th Dan at the time, I entered the Japan Karate Association where I met Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei, and from then Nakayama Sensei became my grandmaster, while I trained along with many other sensei’s. Nakayama Sensei told me that he was taught not only by Funakoshi Gichin Sensei, but also by Funakoshi Yoshitaka, his son, and my style of karate was strongly influenced by Funakoshi Yoshitaka Sensei as well. This is reflected by the wide foot and low stances presently used.

I graduated as a JKA instructor in 1965, and became then a member of the JKA instructors group. In 1985, I was appointed Director of Qualifications, and from 1990, I was Technical Director for the JKA Matsuno section, from which I retired on the 31st of January 1999. During my active karateka years, I took the 3rd place in the first JKA National Championship and participated in the 2nd JKA World Championship in Paris, as captain of the Japanese team. I won first place in the JKA International Friendship Tournament in 1973 and the first places in the 2nd and 3rd JKF National Championship, which I entered as Tokyo representative.

I have always thought that competition was one form of practice of Budo and was useful for improving techniques. I feel however that Karate training nowadays is centred only on winning competitions and that everybody is training just to this end. This would be however incorrect, and untrue to the Budo spirit. I believe that the true purpose of karate lies in consistent training and that the ultimate goal is to develop a strong mind and body through a regular training, and to make a positive contribution to society in general. I founded the JSKA to re-establish this true purpose of karate.

The JSKA karate philosophy is to:

1. Learn self-defence as a martial art.

2. Improve technique as a sport.

3. Enjoy karate as a mean for developing a healthy body and mind.

I hope that karateka who understand this philosophy, will join us.

ABE Keigo 9th Dan - Tokyo 2008

Original text taken from JSKA Japan website