Here are some questions and answers that should help you decide whether JKA Karate is for you. If you need more information you can contact us by email or phone or you can visit one of our classes in person. Please make an appointment if you wish to talk at length to an instructor.

Do I need any Karate experience to join a Class?
No, beginners classes are specifically designed for those who have no experience in JKA Karate. Classes cover all the basic movements and will give you a sound introduction. After a time, you will be ready to proceed to another level.

How much does it cost?
You will be pleasantly surprised at the overall cost of Karate training. Karate is inexpensive compared to other sports activities. Your Instructor will explain our fee structure to you in detail. There is a standard training fee payable Weekly, Monthly or by Term (depending on the specific arrangements of the particular Dojo you join) as well as an annual Membership and Insurance fee. JKA has Public Liability Insurance Cover.

The cost of a uniform (Dogi) depends on the quality and the size. A wide choice of uniforms and other accessories are available through your Instructor at club rates. Costs for grading tests, camps and special seminars vary. You will be adequately notified of any activities that cost extra.

Do I need a uniform?
A uniform (dogi) is not required to begin with. Loose-fitting clothing is sufficient and if you decide to continue after the first few weeks of training you should purchase a uniform. Speak to your Instructor about sizes/prices etc.

How do I Join?
Call to make an appointment with the Instructor and arrange a time to come to the Dojo before or after class. Our Dojo Directory lists the address and contact details of JKA Victoria Dojos. Also, you can download an enrolment form from and bring it along with you.

How do I know JKA Karate is for me?
All martial arts have something to offer, so we recommend that you do some research before you start training. There are many differences among the Martial Arts for example, Japanese Karate, Chinese Kung-fu, and Korean Taekwondo all have pros and cons and appeal to different needs. Even within groups and styles of the same martial art there are variations on how things are taught depending on the teacher and the syllabus followed.

If you are considering taking up any martial art, we strongly recommend that you do the following;

• Arrange to watch a class, especially a beginner class, make notes and ask questions
• Ask the Instructor about his or her background and credentials
• Find out about the group or association to which the club belongs. Larger bona-fide organisations usually offer more and have wider recognition.
• Talk to people who train there or to people who know the school and its Instructor
• Check if the training schedule and cost structure suits you
• Find out what is required of the students
• Decide why you want to train, and see if the Dojo will help you pursue your goals

If you then decide that you’d like to try JKA Karate, try a few lessons and see if you like it.

Will I get hurt?
JKA Karate is a hard-style martial art that uses punching, kicking and blocking. However safety is our number one priority. We emphasis absolute control with maximum spirit. We do not normally make contact, rather we control our techniques for maximum effectiveness. As with any rigorous sport, there is the potential for injury and each student has the responsibility to avoid injury himself/herself and training partners. Our policy is that whilst advanced students may make incidental contact, at the intermediate and beginner levels strictly no contact is permitted.

I have some Karate experience, do I join as a beginner?
It depends on your experience, whether it was with JKA and whether or not you have been graded. However, if you are able to perform up to the standard of the class it may be possible to join the general training. The class instructor will make that decision.

I’m considering Karate for my children, Is JKA Karate good for kids?
Yes, JKA Karate is beneficial for individuals over the age of 6 years and most of our dojos have special kids programmes. Children do not have the same attention span or the ability to reason that adults do. They are also naturally more playful and usually more fidgety. Classes are therefore a bit shorter and elements of play are used in the teaching process. We have received very positive feedback from parents about the benefits their kids get from JKA training.

I train in JKA in another state or country, may I train at a Victorian dojo as a visitor?
Yes. Visitors from other JKA Dojos are welcome to train with us while they are visiting our state. Just show up a little before the scheduled training time to introduce yourself to the class instructor and discuss your experience. You may also want to call or send us an e-mail to let us know you are coming. Visitors from other JKAA and JKAWF affiliated clubs; please bring your membership ID and make sure you have advised your Instructor of your intentions.

Who is the Chief Instructor?
The Chief Instructor of Australia and New Zealand is S. Takahashi Sensei OAM, MNZM and the Senior Instructor in Victoria is T. Nishimura Sensei. "Sensei" is the Japanese word for teacher or master. Both of these instructors are ranked Nanadan (7th dan or degree black belt) and both are graduates of the JKA Honbu Dojo Instructors Programme.

Takahashi Sensei is a full time Karate Instructor and professor of physical education in the University system in Japan. He teaches Karate at both Aoyama Gakuin and Komazawa Universities in Tokyo. He introduced and established JKA Karate in Australia in 1972 and has taught here continuously for 30 years.

Our Senior Instructor Nishimura Sensei has lived and taught JKA Karate in the state of Victoria since 1982. Prior to this he was a JKA Instructor overseas.

Do I have to know the Japanese language to do JKA Karate?
No. Over a few months, you will easily learn the words you need to know. There is a list of commonly used Karate terminology on this website. Most of the drills and the counting used by the Instructors are in Japanese, but the instruction itself and any descriptions or explanations are given in English.

What is the difference between your Karate and other martial arts?
Most martial art ‘styles’ have positive aspects and generally have similar aims. The physical actions and methods of practice vary greatly, but the overall goals do not. We practice JKA Karate, a traditional Japanese martial art also known as ‘Shotokan’.

Shotokan differs from other traditional Karate styles mostly in the details. More notable differences exist however among different martial arts. For example, as opposed to Judo, grappling and throws make up only a minor part of our training. Also, we do not often use the kinds of grabs, locks and chokes of jiu-jitsu. JKA techniques generate body power in a different way than for example, Taekwondo and our actions are very direct, compared to the more circular approach of some of the Chinese arts.

JKA places great emphasis on the precision of its movements in that the outcome of any movement is the sum of many small elements. We pay particular attention to the details, theory and purpose of every movement during our training and practice. This approach can be likened to learning on any level, for example, in language the student will need to understand the alphabet before he can write anything, in the same way that he will need to know the words and correct pronunciation before he can speak.

What is the Japan Karate Association?
All Dojo’s in JKA Victoria are affiliated with the Japan Karate Association of Australia (JKAA) and in turn, with the JKA world headquarters in Tokyo Japan. See what is JKA? or structure. The JKA World Federation is the body that oversees the technical and administrative activities of all its member countries. This policy means that JKA has had worldwide uniformity since its beginnings in the mid 1950’s. Our direct association with the JKA World Federation ensures that the Karate we practice is the same as that taught at other JKA Dojos around the world.

How is JKA Karate taught?
We teach traditional Japanese Budo Karate emphasising muscle control, posture, breathing, power, speed, timing and above all, good fighting spirit. There is also a Sport aspect to JKA Karate which allows skills to be tested in a competitive arena. As mentioned before, we are fastidious about correct technique and consider that progress can only be made if the basics of Karate are systematically and thoroughly practised.

JKA training consists of 3 aspects known as Kihon, Kata and Kumite;

Kihon (Pronounced ‘Kee-hon’)
This is the word we use to describe the repeated practice of specific Karate techniques without a partner. We may do a simple punch, for example, over and over, first slow and then fast. Some basics are performed stationary in a standing position, others are practised in a particular stance as dynamic movements in various directions. By repetitive practice of the individual techniques, the movements become integrated and eventually can be performed by instinct.

Kata (Pronounced ‘Ka-ta’)
Karate techniques are also practiced in pre-determined combinations called Kata. Each Kata is like a gymnastic routine, it has a particular number of moves performed in a specific order. By learning the different moves in sequence, individual techniques and complicated combinations can be learned. Originally there were 15 Shotokan Kata, a total of 26 are now practiced by the JKA.

JKA Kata fall into 3 broad categories for training and grading purposes. The Basic group of Heian 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and Tekki 1; the intermediate group of Bassai-Dai, Kanku-Dai, Empi and Jion and the advanced group encompassing a further 16 Kata. The first two of these groups are required for grading purposes and all JKA black belts are very familiar with them. Beyond this, the remaining 16 Kata are practiced mostly by advanced Karateka. The favourite (Tokui) Kata of an advanced practitioner may be chosen from any these for special study.

Kumite (Pronounced Koo-mee-tay)
To begin with, basic sparring known as ‘Kihon Kumite’ is performed with a partner. In this practice, both the intended target and technique to be used are clearly announced prior to the attack. This allows the attacker and the defender to practice timing and distance, control, stance, power, and response. As the student advances and the skills are honed, more advanced forms of sparring are introduced. In the next stage, Ippon Kumite, the element of free motion and varied technique are gradually introduced. Then in Jiyu Kumite, the most advanced stage, the players engage in free sparring where random attacks, blocks, parries and counter attacks are practised. In this stage, the skills learned in the basic and intermediate stages are used to minimise injury. Done correctly, Jiyu Kumite is an extremely exhilarating and dynamic activity. In JKA, Kihon, Kata, and Kumite make up the majority of training. However, we also use warm-up exercises and other drills to help the body prepare for and integrate Karate techniques.

Does JKA emphasise any kind of philosophy?
Yes. JKA Karate is not just a great physical activity and a skillful sport, it is a means to strengthen the character of the participant. “Karate ni sente nashi” means there is no first attack, in other words Karate is only for defence. Restraint and the correct application of the skills of Karate form the basis of all of our training. Karate is ultimately a means towards the perfection of character.

At the end of each practice, the class in unison recites the Dojo-Kun which is the five-line code of the JKA. We do this as a constant reminder that we train in fighting skills for a bigger purpose. Rather than having verbal discussions about Karate's spiritual aspects, it has been shown that regular training over many years will foster the strength, awareness, interpersonal skills, and above all, develop in the participant a spirit of effort, perseverance and tolerance.

Where can I get more information?
This website will hopefully give you the information you need to take the next step, try clicking through the index on the left or look at What People Say About JKA for some general feedback or Articles for some discourse on various Karate topics. If you have some experience, check out Budo or Sport for a better insight into aspects of our approach to training.

For more information on JKA Dojos in the State of Victoria, go to Dojo Directory and contact to the Dojo Head at the dojo nearest you. Feel free also to go along and talk with the parents or friends of people who train or contact us by email. You can also read more about the training and history of JKA Karate and other Japanese martial arts by referring to the hundreds of publications offering this kind of material which is readily available at most bookstores.

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