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If you have something to say about anything you have seen on the JKA Victoria website, please drop us a line, all correspondence will be read. Some will be answered privately and some may be posted on this page along with an open response showing your email address. No messages will be deliberately altered but we reserve the right to shorten those that are too long.

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11/08/08 - The last time I visited Aussie in '03 I trained with you guys. In 2 sessions my kata improved out of sight. I'm writing to say I will be back in September (arriving Sydney 22nd) I hope to renew friendships and train like the devil again. OSSU George Kay Suffolk UK.

04/08/08 - Do you have the results of the JKA all Japans? Rhett Dykes Mulgrave VIC
Thanks Rhett. Yes, our results page has been updated.

30/07/08 - Hellow im DANIEL Acosta of Argentina: Sorry , my english is not very good. I'm 27 years old practitioner of Shotokan Karate-do more than 20 years ago I was Argentine champion in all categories, from very compito boy. I am a student of SENSEI Mitsuo Inoue ... This month I will visit your country and I would like to be able to practise with Karateka neozelandeces and australian I had the honour to compete against the selection of his country in the last World Cup shot 2006 in Sydney Australia in the category of kumite team with the Argentina team arrived at 2 place on the podium, the final was with Japan. we lost by very little. Besides, I was in the world 98'y France several years ago to represent the seleccion argentina with the shot that won the South American Cup of 2005 kata. among others I want to make contact and be able to meet people from karate to that country. I will be more or less three months in New Zealand and I hope, can go to Australia. Thank you very much and I hope his reply. D Acosta Argentina.
Thanks Daniel, very nice to hear from you. We will be in touch.

26/07/08 - Good website. Please can you tell me where I can obtain the new JKA kata series of books. David Meier Caulfield VIC
Thankd David. To the best of our knowledge these books are not available in general bookshops, try Amazon.

24/07/08 - I am a program Co-ordinator of Japan Information Cultral Centre, Consulate-General of Japan, Melbourne. We have been compiling the cultural contacts including the Japanese Martial Arts. Would it possible to send us the head office's mailing address? Kumiko Toyama - Consulate-General of Japan, Melbourne
Thank you Kumiko. We will contact you soon.

20/07/08 - I would like to watch your classes to see if they are suitable for my son. He has heard all about JKA at school and is very keen to start. Can I arrange a visit please? Sally Boyle Elsternwick VIC
Thank you Sally. Of course, please drop in anytime, you will find details in our Dojo Directory link.

12/07/08 - My brother did JKA for years and still couldn't fight. I took him to a MMA class and he got beaten easily by a girl! I'm starting to think karate is a joke. Dean S. Inala QLD
Thanks Dean. When you get to the 'punch' line send us another stupid email.

11/07/08 - When does Takahashi Sensei come to Melbourne again? AB Dandenong
Thank you. Shihan arrives on Sunday 17th August - full details will be available to all Dojos very soon.

06/07/08 - Hi, i'm an old shotokan SKI member just writing to say there are not too many sites like this. I like all the reports, articles etc. I travel quite a bit and might have some time in Japan later this year, can you tell me how to go about contacting a dojo in Japan? George Lamb Perth WA
Thanks George. The JKA website has contact information for city and regional affiliate Dojo in Japan.

01/07/08 - Are guests allowed to train with JKA? What is the membership requirement. Royce N. Shepparton VIC
Thanks Royce. Just join, pay the fees and train.

27/06/08 - To Vince's question, the highest grade possible in JKA is ju-dan 10th dan. As far as I know only 2 people have made it. J. Steadman Docklands Vic

23/06/08 - Oss. What is the highest rank in JKA? Vince Di Lolito Richmond VIC

19/06/08 - I live and work in Tokyo and I have an interest in the budo arts. The translation of Shoji Sensei's book published on your site is fascinating. The story is the best commentary on the formative days of Japanese karate I have found. Do you have any more planned? Oliver Hendy, Tokyo Japan.
Thank you. The translation was a once-off and the last part in the series will be posted soon. There are no plans for anything else like it at this stage.

11/06/08 - Hello. Can you confirm the dates for the next JKA World Championships please? Chris D. Allenton PA.
Thanks Chris. Best to check the JKA website directly. The dates have already been subject to change.

06/06/08 - Hey, I notice the number of Talkbacks has fallen this year. Open forums are the way to go if you want to create good debate. One-way emails with editor comments just don't cut it anymore. J. Steadman Docklands Vic.
Thanks. Talkback was never intended to be anything more than a feedback channel for visitors to this site. There are plenty of blogs, forums and web-posts around but debating is not our caper.

05/06/08 - Not a bad site. The interviews are not bad reading, how about some more guys? Alan P. Basingstoke UK
Thanks Alan, not a bad idea.

28/05/08 - Helen Buxton is my name from Leeds England. I saw Jon Keeling's post. He won't remember me but I trained a few sessions at the Hoitsugan in the early 90's when I was in Japan with my family. Coincidentally, I am moving to Australia later this year and I would like to get back to training. Indeed it would be great to have a Hoitsugan seminar down under, how about it? Regards Helen.

24/05/08 - Great talkback from Mr Younger of Ontario. You didn't say anything in response, do you guys agree with him? Wayne Trainor Vancouver BC.
Thanks Wayne. Ed's email was much longer than what was shown. He gave many examples to support his contention and all of them made sense. Broadly speaking, JKA is under no illusion about what it does. Karate like anything evolves and the pioneers would be the first to acknowledge a superior method whether it comes from within or without. Traditional Karate may seem poles apart from newer combat methods and systems, but don't make the mistake that it lags behind.

17/05/08 - Oss and keep up the good work. Vince Di Lolito Richmond VIC

12/05/08 - Hi JKA Vic We would like to announce the safe arrival of Austin Riley Thorburn into the JKA family. Born on 9th May 08 at 1:30pm! Sarah and Simon Thorburn Whyalla, South Australia.
Thanks Guys. Congratulations - another new JKA member! Keep them coming.

11/05/08 - Hi and thanks for the report on the recent JKAA nationals in Melbourne, I wanted to attend but had to go to Japan at the last minute. I collect Shotokan memrobilia and wondered if you could send me a tournament program or a poster of the event or even better a DVD - of course I will cover the cost. Lee Goran Oakleigh VIC
Thanks Lee, we will be in touch

07/05/08 - Since there has been some recent discussion here about Kawawada Sensei and the Hoitsugan Dojo. For anyone interested in the Hoitsugan Dojo or the Hoitsugan Seminars, please see the following website and feel free to contact me with questions: www.hoitsugan.com I lived in Japan for a total of 8 years and led classes at the Hoitsugan on Saturday mornings for several years in the early/mid-1990's. My dojo website is here: www.jkasv.com (California) And I co-run the international internet distribution of Tokaido in Japan: www.tokaidojapan.com I also run www.shoto-kan.com and a couple other minor sites. Oh, I also run the Shotokan YahooGroup, among others. Please pass on my regards to Beverly Cook and ask her to contact me. Perhaps we can arrange to have a future Hoitsugan Seminars event in Australia! Jon Keeling JKASV
Thanks. Who is Beverly Cook?

04/05/08 - Thanks for a straightforward no BS site. Everywhere I go I read about master X being the finest karate instructor that ever lived or master Y having no peer in technique or master Z being a living samurai - the truth is there are hundreds Japanese and non-Japanese individuals going around today more gifted than anyone who pioneered karate in the 60's and 70's and many others who would not even waste their time doing it any more because reality and traditional karate are poles apart, not to mention today's martial arts public is highly informed and doesn't fall for the mass hypnosis that instructors of the past used to build empires. Through it all JKA has been a beacon of truth in a world of half-truths - not perfect but as good as it gets in trad karate. Ed Younger Ontario Canada.
Thanks Ed.

01/05/08 - I thought the JKA threw Yano out in the late 70's. From what I have read and heard he should not be allowed anywhere near a modern dojo. S. Pitman Cloverdale WA

23/04/08 - Laughing at your quips and enjoying your work. Dave Friel Ostend Belgium

18/04/08 - JKA Rocks! Ainsley Pert Drumoyne Ireland

13/04/08 - Well done with the website it has packs of information. I will be in southern Australia and Victoria later this year, do you have dojos in Melbourne area? Greg Kelly Belfast NI.
Thanks Greg. Take a wild guess.

12/04/08 - Nice site. In ref to Ty Reynolds' questions. I trained at the hoitsugan for 18 months from mid 2000 onwards. It was Nakayama Sensei's private dojo before he died now Kawawada Sensei carries on the same tradition. Nakayama Sensei was open-minded enough to create a private dojo where anyone who wanted to train could. The general karate classes at JKA headquarters were hard but the whole place was geared to the instructors, the hoitsugan dojo had a warmer more open atmosphere, it was great training there, we are lucky it continues. K. Shaw Portland USA.

08/04/08 - Great to read your report on the recent championships in Melbourne and good to see the big names of JKA were in attendance. With his reputation, is there any chance of an interview or a special article on Mr Yano? L. Travers Bristol UK
Thanks again. Yano Sensei is the kind of man who lets his Karate do the talking, and unfortunately things were so busy that there was no time to contemplate an interview with any of the Japanese.

04/04/08 - When will we be able to read about your national seminar? I thought Mr Yano quit karate years ago, can't wait to see the legend again. L. Travers Bristol UK
Thanks, the full report is now up.

01/04/08 - Talk about biased, your site is full of nothing but jka this and jka that, there is a lot more to shotokan than jka, what about SKI, WSKA, ISKF, KUGB, KWF, WSKF et al... Adam. Donald Kobe Japan via London.
What about them you pinhead? This is just an information resource by and for JKA people, how can we talk about other groups we know nothing about? PS, you picked a good day to send such a stupid email.

25/03/08 - Hi Mark Beason here again. My trip has been delayed but I will be in touch in May when I arrive. Please can you tell me a bit about JKA Victoria and the karateka you have. Also, do you have any news or articles I could read before coming. M. Beason Hull, UK
Thanks Mark. It's surprising you found the Talkback link and didn't notice anything else - this site is full of information, news and articles, what's the matter with you mate?

19/03/08 - Karate sites are ten a penny but this is a good find. The articles and reports are very informative thank you very much. Ed Jacobson Georgia USA

13/03/08 - Brilliant site guys. Trent P. Darwin

09/03/08 - Hi I'm a regular visitor so I have Talkback saved as a favourite. Did you know that your logo page had been hacked? Liam S. Darwin.
Thanks Liam, fixed.

05/03/08 -Oss. Have you guys seen the movie Kuro Obi yet? Naka Sensei is outstanding in it, handsome and brilliant karate. Anne Lonnegan ex JKAE Dover UK

01/03/08 - Hey, I see that Melbourne is hosting this years national championships of JKA Australia. I do JKA karate and I will be touring down under in April so I will miss it but good luck. T. Caddie Toronto Canada

27/02/08 - I'm visiting Australia for a six month work stint arriving in Melbourne on 3rd March. I will be living with relatives in the Carnegie area, can I please train in one of your classes and who do I contact? Mark Beason (nikkyu JKA) Hull UK.
Thanks Mark. Certainly, please contact us when you arrive - contact details on the Dojo Directory page.

22/02/08 - i was recently looking up my jka history and noticed that i was not recognised in the victorian roll of honour i got my first dan about 14 years ago. I attended training at the mildura dojo. listed is my younger cousing joe romeo but my name is not on there my date of birth is 12.6.81 Don Pascale and i achieved our first dan together. sorry to be a pain just was curious why i am not listed. regards Joseph Romeo Mildura VIC
Thanks Joseph. All fixed.

15/02/08 - Can you tell me if senseis kagawa and kawawada still train? I left karate in 1991 but I remember these and some other top guys from your JKA. Ty Reynolds Horsham UK
Thanks Ty. Kawawada Sensei runs the Hoitsugan JKA Dojo in Tokyo and is still very active. Kagawa Sensei moved on but is very prominent still in Karate circles.

14/02/08 - OSS JKA ROX OSS!! HK Port Melbourne VIC

06/02/08 - I did a seminar JKA in Australia last year. The kata we do here in Sweden is very different but still you can seeit is the same kata. Why is kata different in other countries? M. Karlsen Stockholm

01/02/08 - Thanks for a great site. Do your instructors give private lessons, please let me know. My brother and me are fifteen and seventeen we tried taekwondo but there's too many people and not enough personal attention for the students. We live in the Chadstone area. Jason Meek Hughesdale VIC
Thanks Jason, we will be in touch.

29/01/08 - My name is Milton Graves, I wrote before Christmas asking if I could train while I was there on vacation but I didn't get to the city as it turned out. Australia is a great country, if the karate is as good as the hospitality, I really missed out. MG New York USA
Thanks Milton

23/01/08 - I'm just a passing ex karate-ka. I was impressed by your tributes to the great JKA masters Enoeda, Shoji, Kase and others. Thank you for presenting a straightforward no-nonsense JKA site without the stupid galleries and forums - but please more articles! Thom Wilson Stratford UK

15/01/08 - Hi, my name is andrei and i am interested in taking the jka karate lessons. I need to know the time table, locations, fees and the equipment required. Could you please send me an email containing that information as soon as possible. Thank you, Andrei N. Middle Park VIC

08/01/08 - Marvellous find. Thanks for all the great stuff on your site, what a difference from all the opinion-based rubbish and chest-beating that you get these days. Power to you JKA Victoria. Ian Marx West Midlands UK.

03/01/08 - Hello, I am looking for a JKA dojo. I have recently come to live in Melbourne and have in the past trained for quite a few years, including a few years with Sensei Enoeda and Sensei Otta in London and Jim Mathers in California. I used to compete frequently in both Kata and Kumite. I have not worn a gee for 5 years, so I am very rusty indeed! BUT I am eager to resume my training. Can you recommend a dojo that I can contact please? Yours in the martial arts, Jose Ordonez.
Thank you Jose, we will be in touch.

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