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A Brief History of the Japan Karate Association Originally, the martial art Te (%u201CHand%u201D) developed in Okinawa as a system of self-defense. Due to Okinawa%u2019s frequent contact and exchange with China, it is certain that the Okinawan martial art was influenced by Chinese kempo at some point during its de-
velopment. However, with only oral tradition and no formal 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 dec-
ades of warfare and issued an edict banning the possession of weapons on the island. According to conven-
tional accounts, a similar law for-
bidding the possession or use of weapons was re-issued and enforced by the Satsuma clan, who had invaded Okinawa in the early 1600%u2019s and brought it under the rule of the Japanese Shogunate. It is believed that in this environment karate developed as a form of unarmed combat for protecting oneself and one%u2019s country, and it was taught and practiced in secret.

Then 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%u2026

The Early Years (1949-1957)The JKA was founded in May, 1949. 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 Japa-
nese 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 instruc-
tor 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 pro-
gram that the JKA has built up its unique cadre of distinguished karate instructors, all full-time salaried professionals%u2014 whose numbers are consistently maintained at roughly twenty individuals.

On April 10, 1957, the JKA became a legal entity when Japan%u2019s Ministry of Education (now Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture) officially recognized the JKA as an association of members for the pro-
motion 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.

Roughly two weeks after official status was granted, Supreme Master Funakoshi passed away at the age of 89. After almost a decade of milestones, it was the end of an era. But the real growth of karate
was yet to come.

May 1949

JKA formed under Supreme Master Funakoshi Gichin

Mar 20, 1955

First JKA headquarters dojo established at Yotsuya

Mar 22, 1955

Saigo Kichinosuke becomes first JKA Chairman

Apr 1, 1956

First ever karate specialist instructor training program established at headquarters dojo

Apr 10, 1957

JKA officially recognized by Japanese government; becomes legal entity

Apr 26, 1957

Supreme Master Funakoshi passes away (age 89)

Growth & Development (1957-1989) Karate%u2019s popularity continued to grow. 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%u2019s individual (general) kumite and kata, and men%u2019s group (Prefectural) kumite and kata.

Once this annual tournament system was established, it wasn%u2019t long before there were JKA karate branches in towns, schools and as many as 40 prominent universities in Japan. 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 All Japan Karate Championship. JKA karate was getting noticed.

Over the years, the tournament divisions expanded to include: a university division (1969), a women%u2019s kata division (1974), a youth division within the general division (1975), an entirely separate youth division for ele-
mentary, junior high and high school students, and a women%u2019s kumite division (1985). In addition, the number of participants grew enormously.

During this period, the JKA further developed its karate instruction sys-
tem, 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 and establish dojo. Karate was becoming a big hit outside Japan too.

In 1975, with karate%u2019s 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 pre-
serve 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 in-
ternational Shoto World Cup was held in Japan, a testimony to how much karate had become an international art.

This period witnessed spectacular development in the art of karate.
As a result of continuous training among instructors, the karate techniques were developed into a complete system. For the first time there emerged a clear, scientific, and practical %u201Cbest%u201D form for each kumite stance, posture and movement. There also emerged a clear delineation between the %u201Ccorrect%u201D and %u201Cincorrect%u201D way to execute each stance, punch, kick or technique.

Once these techniques developed, many instructors went overseas to spread the art of karate around the world. The JKA was the first karate organization to set up dojo outside Japan. This is the reason the JKA is so prominent and powerful overseas.

Furthermore, the JKA became the only karate organization to send
its qualified full-time instructors to teach karate at universities. In con-
trast, some other universities simply have one of their old students hold karate classes.

In 1986, Nakahara Nobuyuki, a distinguished business leader and former Tokyo University Karate Club member, was appointed the eighth Chairman of the JKA.

Sadly, as JKA karate was reaching a pinnacle, Master Nakayama passed away, in 1987. He was 74 years old.

Sep 10, 1957

Yamazaki Iwao becomes second JKA Chairman

Oct 20, 1957

The 1st JKA All Japan Karate Championship held at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Becomes annual event thereafter

Apr 10, 1958

Master Nakayama Masatoshi becomes Chief Instructor

Jun 2, 1959

Masutani Shuji becomes third JKA Chairman

Jun 11, 1961

Crown Prince attends 5th JKA All Japan Karate Championship

May 1, 1964

Japan Karate Federation established

1964

8th JKA All Japan Karate Championship cancelled for Tokyo Olympics

Jun 20, 1965

From 8th JKA All Japan Championship, all championships held at Nippon Budokan

Dec 4, 1965

JKA headquarters dojo moves to Koraku

Jun 10, 1966

Tanaka Kakuei becomes fourth JKA Chairman

Jun 10, 1968

Masutani Shuji returns as fifth JKA Chairman

Jun 19, 1972

Kosaka Zentaro becomes sixth JKA Chairman

Oct 30, 1973

JKA headquarters dojo moves to Ebisu

Aug 20, 1975

IAKF World Cup held in U.S. Held every other year for four times

Nov 21, 1975

JKA resigns from Japan Karate Federation

1981

JKA returns to Japan Karate Federation as supporter of each karate style

Oct 10, 1984

Iizuka Takeshi becomes seventh JKA Chairman

Sep 29, 1985

Shoto World Cup Karate Championship Tournament held at Budokan. Held every other year since

Jun 1, 1986

Nakahara Nobuyuki becomes eighth JKA Chairman

Apr 15, 1987

Master Nakayama Masatoshi passes away (age 74)

Overcoming Challenges (1990-1999) In 1990, the JKA was rocked by crisis when a faction within the organi-
zation seized the JKA%u2019s official status. The group called an extraordinary General Assembly meeting, but did not identify the agenda or state the purpose as legally required. After this unlawful meeting, the faction suc-
ceeded in illegally changing the official executive register. Thus began a long period of litigation.

Despite this, the JKA continued to progress. The overwhelming majority of members and instructors remained loyal to the original and true JKA. Then Master Sugiura Motokuni was appointed to the position of Chief Instructor in 1991. Together with Chairman Nakahara, they began initiating a return to the true spirit of karate%u2014just when that spirit was needed most.

In 1994, the JKA published the first in a series of five authoritative text-books on kata. This series quickly became the %u201Cbible%u201D of karate kata.

Then came the court rulings. In 1995, as members had long expected, the JKA won the case in Tokyo Local Court. In 1998, it won again in Tokyo Higher Court. Then in June 1999, the Japan Supreme Court rejected the appeal of the seceded group, and the case was closed once and for all. As a result, the legal executive register was restored to the state it was in before the faction had so forcefully changed it.

In the end, the JKA had not only weathered the challenge, but had grown stronger because of it. It had gained more internal cohesion and a stronger sense of identity than ever before.

Jun 10, 1990	Litigation begins over official register
Apr 1, 1991	Master Sugiura Motokuni becomes Chief Instructor
Feb 20, 1993	JKA headquarters dojo moves to Ebisu
Oct 30, 1994	JKA publishes textbook on kata. Gradually expanded to five volume series
Jan 19, 1995	Tokyo Local Court rules in favor of JKA
Oct 29, 1998	Tokyo Higher Court rules in favor of JKA
Jun 10, 1999	JKA wins the case in Japan Supreme Court; official recognition restored

The JKA Leaps Forward into the 21st Century (2000 to present) With its legal status restored by court rulings, the JKA leapt into the 21st Century. It restructured its internal organization, and also reorganized its financial base.

In December 2000, it purchased land and established a brand new headquarters and dojo in the center of Tokyo. This was the first time the JKA had owned its own land and building. The grand opening ceremony was held in May 2001, attended by numerous dignitaries and many members from other karate organizations.

With renewed vigor, the JKA repositioned itself, clearly defining itself as %u2018The Keeper of Karate%u2019s Highest Tradition.%u2019 In 2004, it launched a new official website, through which it continues, as always, to promote true karate around the world.

Dec 22, 2000	New JKA headquarters dojo built in Bunkyo-ku, Iidabashi, Omagari
May 19, 2001	Opening ceremony for new JKA headquarters dojo
Aug 2004	JKA launches new official website as "Keeper of Karate's Highest Tradition"

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