Talkback Archive 2005

28/12/05 - I read your article on Mr. Connolloy. Are you aware that Mr. Connolloy has not been the president of the Australian Karate Federation of Queensland for well over a year? which makes your article quite inaccurate. Sarah Bergman
Thanks for pointing that out Sarah. We did indeed say in the introduction to the interview "Mike also holds the prestigious position of Queensland State President of the Australian Karate Federation (AKF)...." We will change the word "holds" to the past tense "held", but this hardly makes the whole article inaccurate. By the way, our subjects' surname is spelled Connolly, not "Connolloy".

26/12/05 - SENDING MY VERY BEST WISHES TO ALL AT JKA VICTORIA, FOR A SAFE AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS. MAY 2006 BRING YOU ALL GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. PAT DAY BUNDABERG QLD
Thanks Pat and the same to you. Thanks for your continued support and friendship.

24/12/05 – Dear JKA Victoria members. Your continued dedication to Karate during 2005 is appreciated. I hope the rewards have made your efforts worthwhile. We have a very busy schedule ahead in 2006 and as always, there will be a lot of opportunity for you to participate. Have a healthy and happy holiday season and good luck to you in the coming year. Oss. Walter Stark - Instructor JKA Melbourne.

21/12/05 – Hey JKA! Just a note to say I enjoyed checking out what you guys do. I’ve started to use some of the ideas I picked up here in my own school. I think my school and JKA is similar but we only do the original shotokan kata of Funakoshi. I would like to visit your dojo when I make it over next. Oss Milt Olsen Mountains Shotokan Co. USA

20/12/05 - Dear Sirs, "The Road To Karate - A Budoka's Way To Live", Shoji Sensei's book is absolutely fabulous! Would it be possible to know the book's original title in Japanese? Thank you so much! Best regards, David Weidemann – Belgium
Thank you David. It’s good to know that you like Shoji Sensei’s book. It is known in Japanese as “Karate Eno Michi Aru Budoka No Ikizama.” but unfortunately it is out of print, that’s why we undertook to translate it and present it for the enjoyment of our visitors.

18/12/05 – Finally jka is getting its act together, I visited the new jkaa site, really good but this one is easily the best IN Australia. Congratulations and keep it coming. S. Wogan Northcote VIC

17/12/05 – For K.Isaaks benefit, the average charge for Martial Arts classes in Australia is between 4 and 6 dollars per lesson. Some charge up to 15 dollars and some as low as 3 per lesson. Keep up the good work. T Hutchins Brighton VIC

17/12/05 – I love coming here, I can think, get sad and laugh all at the same time. It’s a pity the quality of emails you get isn’t as good as the content of the site. It must drive you nuts! Dean Massey ACT

16/12/05 - hi chase here, what is the difference between the different style of karate? dont worry im not going to change styles i just wonder sometimes.....Chase Sannaghan JKA MSAC Dojo.
Thanks Chase. Originally, there were only a handful of schools and the differences were very easy to see and describe. Now, due to the sheer number of different Karate styles, hybrids and breakaways, very many differences have emerged. JKA is the premier global association and the Keeper of Karate's Highest Tradition. Everything we do is standardised and our technical evolution is in the hands of a very large group of master Karateka.

14/12/05 – Great interviews, keep them coming. I liked the one with sensei Mike Connolly, I had no idea that he was badly beat up by his instructor, as a junior all I know is that he refereed at the AKF nationals and he is a very fair referee. I could tell even although I was only a brown belt. I hope you are all well at JKA and I hope Sensei Connolly doesn’t treat his students the way he was treated. M. Curtis Montmorency VIC

12/09/05 – I done Ishinryu in Melbourne a long time ago and I done shotokan in Sydney for 3 years. All the katas are different, I went to JKA for one class and you guys even do it different to anyone but yous are tough at sparring. I really wish karate was unified so we could do the same training and competitions. A Magri NSW
Wonderful.

12/12/05 – Oss. Do you still have the Dojo in East Keilor and do you guys compete in all styles? T. Vella Keilor VIC

09/12/05 – How much should I pay for karate classes? My son wants to start and they have a special on with a discount if I pay 6 month or a year up front. It works out to about $10 a week unlimited training. Is that fair? K. Isaak Frankston VIC
Thanks. It depends on how much training you intend the boy to do. $10 pw is not outrageous but you might like to think before committing in advance for long periods especially if he is given to changing his mind.

09/12/05 – Do you have a policy for regarding black belts from another style who join JKA and can you tell me if I would be accepted? my history is not JKA but my teacher told us he was a student of Takashi Sensei in the 70’s. I look forward to your reply. I have about 20 kuy students who can join too and to be fair I’m approaching all shotokans. Oss C. Romano VIC
Thanks, good luck.

09/12/05 – Hi. There’s a lot of terrific information on this site. It was exciting to read everything, well done to you, yes, well done that’s all for now. E. Tamlin Berwick VIC

08/12/05 – Please can you tell me details of Melbourne dojo times, fees? I am 2 dans of shotokai JKA from UAE now to live Australian here coming soon. Khalid El Shawa

06/12/05 - Thank you Senseis for an absolutely wonderful website. Kay Robins 2nd Kyu Crewe UK

04/12/05 - 01/12/05 - Thank you to Nishimura Sensei, Stark Sensei and all the Victorians for your advice and hospitality during the 2005 Mildura Gassahku. There was no shortage of food. Great job Ron Brown Sensei. Paul Brown. JKA Gawler Dojo. SA.
Oss Paul

03/12/05 – Oss. I was very pleased to see that you fellas will be hosting the next JKA World Championships. I came down for the O games in 2000, fell in love with your incredible country and met my now Aussie wife Karyn. I do karate but my instructor was bluffed into leaving JKA when Asai and Abbe broke off. We students didn’t even know what was happening and now those guys have themselves split over money or something. Since then I learned a lot about what I was a part of and I really regret not being a part of karate’s "Highest Tradition”. Visiting sites like this makes me upset that an instructors stupidity could cause all this. Anyway, there is a chance that we will be there in July 2006, if possible I’ll make a beeline for Homebush to catch the best of the best. Thanks for a great information base. Tom Foley Ontario Canada.
Thanks Tom. Why don’t you think about approaching your nearest JKA organisation to rejoin? We’re sure they’d listen to you.

02/12/05 – I saw a dead link for the shotokan karate caolition on a melbourne karate website. Are jka members of it and when will the website be ready?
Thanks. We’ve been asked this before but we’ve never heard of it. In an unregulated ‘industry’ there are many make-up groups and private clubs that come and go, this could be another.

28/11/05 – Good evening. I wanted to inquire about Karate classes for my 3 sons, your Ankle Fighters program looks great but I need more information. Is it possible to visit a class before they start? Rion M. Preston VIC
Thanks Rion. Yes, please call one of the contact numbers in our Dojo Directory to arrange a suitable time.

28/11/05 – Can you please include me on the email list for your newsletter? Dale Blane Denver CO.
Thanks Dale, we don’t have one.

26/11/05 – I’ve just read your article ‘Preparing for Chaos’ what a read! As a traditional Karateka I was very happy to see such a sobering piece of writing on a Karate site, congratulations. P. Rayne Wollongong NSW

23/11/05 – Hi, I really like this website but I need to make one criticism. There’s no teaching stuff like tutorials for kata or fighting combinations. Do you agree? Steve Foster Bayswater VIC
Thanks Steve, yes we agree. This site is an information resource, if you want to learn JKA Karate, words and pictures are not enough.

22/11/05 – Oss jkavic, hope you all enjoy the Mildura training weekend! I look forward to reading the report about it soon. Also I really enjoyed reading the interview with Mike sensei, it seems they had a real hand full in the early JKAA days with Takahashi shihan, ouch! Oss bye 4 now. Ray Morcomb JKA Northern Districts NSW

21/11/05 - I have just come across this website and was happily surprised to find the article on Sensei Stark. I began training in Shotokan in 1973 with a friend of mine called Chic Doherty at Sensei Steve Thorburns dojo in Hamilton and "Wattie" Stark was one of the most impressive students there alongsides the likes of Ross Frame. I always remember how physically strong sensei Stark was. The club in Hamilton was very much like a family in those days, I fought Sensei Starks cousin in the club championship semi-finals as a matter of fact. It was a hard training hard fighting dojo an excellent begining for us all. I lost the Shotokan path around 77 and trained in all forms of full-contact over the next couple of decades eventually training for years in kyokushinkai! I hope Sensei Stark is well and I hope he believes the same as I do that the club in Hamilton gave us the best possible start. All the best, Colin MacDonald. Scotland
Thank you Colin. We will pass your message on.

19/11/05 - Oss. I have heard that the world masters of JKA will be all in Australia next year. Is this so? Nelson Davey Brisbane QLD
Thanks Nelson. In August 2006, the Funakoshi Gichin Cup 10th World Karate-Do Championships will be held at the site of the 2000 Olympic Games at Homebush NSW. There will be over 300 visitors from Japan including the Chairman of the Japan Karate Association Nakahara Sensei, Chief Instructor Sugiura Sensei and a string of top Instructors from the Sohonbu Dojo, not to mention the complete JKA Senior and Junior teams. It is shaping up to be quite an event.

17/11/05 - Hi its Josh Weston here I visted before. I really beleive karate is a waist of time. We had a lot of karate guys who couldnt handle grappling at our gym so they moved on agian and the ones who stuck it like me improved. This proves that karate is simply no good. Josh Weston Mulgrave VIC
Thanks Josh. Your spelling is improving too.

14/11/05 - Hello from Tasmania. Just wanted to pass on my thanks for this great resource. Though not a student of shotokan karate my self, I have had the pleasure of training with Takahashi sensei on a number of occasions, though this was some years ago. Sadly, finding an intelligent karate webpage on the net these days is not as easy as it might seem. Though a regular vistor, this is the first time I've said "G'day". I'm always happy to welcome visiting traditional karate-ka to my dojo in Launceston, so if anyone is coming this way on holidays, please stop by. Thanks again for your efforts with the website. Mike Clarke Launceston TAS

13/11/05 - Who the hell is that Rasta and does he really do karate? M. Cain Rowville VIC
Thanks. We don’t know, but maybe you do - this webmail came from the same address as the last Rasta message!

13/11/05 - This thing about the Japanese having an advantage in karate because of body proportion is nonsense. If you talk about stances I think they do but not overall. The closest comparison to karate of using your full body in a sport would be gymnastics. Japanese male gymnasts do appear to have a lower centre but the Russian (Caucasians) are every bit as good if not better. Strength, balance speed and technical excellence is within the reach of everyone provided they do the work. Will Gallagher Perth WA

10/11/05 - Hi, Annette here. Just to tell you I finally caught up with my dear friend Jackie. Thanks for your assistance. I’ll be returning to the UK and hope to do a bit of karate again If they take geriatrics haha. Oss Annette Culvers Newcastle NSW

09/11/05 - Hello. I am curently in Trinidad and Tobago but will be coming to Australia in late 2005 or maybe early 2006 and was wondering what the process was to join JKA Australia. I train with the JKAWF of Trinidad and Tobago (under the ISKF). I will be based in the Shepparton area and was wondering what the nearest clubs were. Thanks - Damien Hezekiah Trinidad and Tobago
Thank you Damien, we will be in touch.

09/11/05 - I dropped by again first time in a while. This is the best nfp website on Shotokan I've come across. Well done guys. K. Rijk Maastricht Nederlands
Thanks very much

07/11/05 - In my view, if westerners have good instructors and train as hard and as Japanese, can be equally as good or better. Too much nonsense goes around about westerners aren't supple or have too high a center of gravity. The only advantage a smaller body size gave the Japanese was that they were forced to invent a fighting system like karate in the first place! George L. New York NY USA

03/11/05 – Oss. What a surprise to see Sensei Walter Stark on the site. I wonder if he remembers Sonny from JKA in Honolulu. He trained there before going to England for the 1990 World Championships. I was the guy who drove him around. I cant train anymore but I still have an interest. Can you please get Walter to contact me. Saul Esposito Hawaii USA
Thanks, we will certainly do that.

28/10/05 – Hello to you in JKA Australia. Nice to find a reliable source of information on traditional combat arts. I’m a Sports and Human Movement major. My present field of study is karate and its technical evolution since it became a worldwide phenomenon. Leaving aside cultural and attitudinal variances, there is no doubt that techniques, stances and the resulting methodologies of training practiced by Europeans and Americans are very different to those in Japan. Everything in my research points to the essential cause of this as being the differences in body size and proportion between Japanese and Caucasian. Have you considered an in-depth look at the subject? Davis Paton Orange County USA
Thanks Davis, no we haven’t, but if you leave aside Culture and Attitude your conclusion might fall short of reality. Both are an important part of Budo Karate.

25/10/05 – Dinky Rastaman writes yass coming from ya site yas do a nice job inall still ondy oladays inja country da karate issa reason fuma oly axistance ya here. JDM - stands fa Jamaican Dread Man – Jah Rastafarai.
Thank you very much for your kind words, it's always a pleasure to hear from you, do write again soon.

24/10/05 – The sites great. Do you sell JKA Merchandise? Can’t get anything from the sports stores and the martial arts shops are full of kick-boxing and taekwondo stuff. Josh Hughesdale VIC
Thanks Josh. This is only an information site.

22/10/05 – Hey, I checked the JKA Japan site – what a difference. Finally a source of decent information from the premier organisation, your jkavic is good too. F Ying Springvale VIC

18/10/05 – Oss (that’s what you say), I’m hearing my son telling me so much about JKA karate. He trains here in Copenhagen and his friends all are excited by the World Championships of Shoto Karate in your city of Sydney. I like what the art is done for my son, he was a bit crazy but this helped to tame him. B. Theisen Denmark

18/10/05 – Hi, it was nice to find your site with so much good stories and information. I’m yet another shotokan karate dropout considering a return but I want to enjoy whatever I’m doing and not be under too much pressure to reach a good standard again. Visiting this site has got me thinking seriously about it, I’ll let you know what happens, thanks. David R. Preston VIC
Thanks David, good luck.

15/10/05 - OSS I train from JKA Brazil I had my first gashuku training camp with sensei. We are all very tired and very glad to be through. Every techniques over and over then more and more. I was tired to try and lie down on the sand like many. Franco Brazilia Brazil

14/10/05 – Fantastic to see, and read, your interview with Sensei Mike Connolly. Great reading for every JKA member or karate enthusiast. Train hard – see you in Mildura… Oss. Dion Risborg Instructor JKA Adelaide

13/10/05 – The site is too much JKA. Can u consider an article of the strongest karate? Joel Haifa Israel

13/10/05 – I just read your JKA tributes. Tragic to keep losing the great men of karate, they seem immortal I wonder who will be next? G. Obst Vermont VIC

09/10/05 – Thanks for the Budo/Sport editorial. I have been debating this for ages and I have come to the conclusion that the difference between them is the “intention” of the fighter. If he puts his full skill on the table, he can take a lot of punishment but still “kill” his opponent. I think that’s the difference. D. Hervey Oakleigh South VIC
Thanks. Yes, the intention must be right but the rules and the judges applying those rules must accommodate a match that allows skills to be tested in as close a way to a real life encounter as possible.

06/10/05 – Oss JKA Victoria! Simon and I have tied the knot! We have posted a couple of our wedding photos on our dojo website, JKA Whyalla. Feel free to stop by and take a look. Keep training hard guys. Sarah Thorburn, JKA-Whyalla dojo.

05/10/05 – Groovy site. I like surfing karate sites you always feel in awe of the people who do that stuff. I don’t even know if I could do the kia-ai shouts, I’m too timid. Anyway thanks. Colin Maher Huntingdale VIC

03/10/05 – Just arrived in Sydney from the UK where I did Wado for about 6 years. I can’t believe the number of styles, masters and high street martial arts shops in Australia. Everywhere I look I see a school every time I call to make an enquiry they tell me they’re the only authentic style or they have the highest graded teacher. Phew, I bet most of them are nothing more than pirates. Your site is an oasis in a desert of ego. Evan G. NSW
Thanks Evan, we wouldn’t go that far.

02/10/05 - Hmm good site. And I agree the new JKA Japan site is great. I have a question you might be able to answer. Why did the kata called Jiin not make the JKA official list it was my favourite. Do you know if its still practised by the SKI? A. Holby Mosman NSW.

01/10/05 - The issue of karate as budo or sport is not really for a competitor to think about. All they want to do is win a match in a bold but gentlemanly way. Keir Dunn Mill Park VIC

29/09/05 - Oss You have a fine site. Good luck JKA Australia with next years World Championships in Sydney Guy Shaplin Holyhead UK

28/09/05 - Bulls international is a high-growth manufacturing company providing premium quality of boxing equipments and martial arts supplies OEM/ODM products to OEM buyers, wholesalers and distributors worldwide. Our products range: Martial arts supplies& boxing equipments, Suits Judo/karate/tae-kwan-do/tai chi suit/kung fu, Jogging/kick boxing/tang soo do uniform/instructors uniform bla bla bla bla Nasir Mahmood Pakistan

25/09/05 - Hi your current editorial is interesting but students of karate should not take part in a competitive event then say they don’t do a sport. You are either doing budo or you are doing sport. Twisting the point as you did to allow karateka to compete is clever but the plain fact is JKA has a definite sports side. Best wishes, Julian P (Shotokai Karateka) Surrey UK.
Thanks Julian. The point was; for some people including some JKA Karateka, the line is blurred. Sport is an end in itself, it is where a person’s sole reason for participating and his/her entire training routine is focused on one outcome – winning the event. In Budo Karate we train for a very different purpose and ‘competitions’ are used as a test of the skills we learn. (Note to readers - There is no competitive test of skills in Shotokai Karate)

24/09/05 - Thanks for the nice balanced views. I read one of your articles on a Martial Arts Blog site and clicked on until I got here. Good to know traditional karate lives in Australia. Will Burton Atlanta USA

24/09/05 - Oss. I hope you can help me please. I’m from England visiting Australia soon. Is there a JKA dojo in Darwin? Sam K. Dorset UK
Thanks Sam You can check out the national Dojo register on the JKAA website.

22/09/05 - Hello Sensei, can u please tell me how to breathe in training when I get tired? The tireder I get, the more I kind of panic and I can’t do my karate properly when I think to much about catching my breath. Should I just stop? Paula GKR Newcastle NSW
Thanks Paula, we suggest you speak to your Instructor about this.

22/09/05 - Please let me know about karate classes for children. thank you emanuela merlatti VIC

20/09/05 - Hi guys! Well done to everyone who competed at the 2005 National Championships in Perth. It was fantastic to finally meet many of the members of JKA that I have spent my time reading about. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon! Sarah Tidswell Whyalla SA

16/09/05 - Hi from Russia. We are practicing JKA style shotokan in Moscow. We are looking at Kata moves for heian 5 for 23 exact moves. Nowhere we can find definitive answer to moves. Andrea Rimov Moscow

15/09/05 - Hi, my legs have just recoverd after training with you in the Albert Park Dojo, 2 years ago. I hope Laura Kempster is still training and gave you aussies a hard time during the cricket, he he. Looking forward to the World Championships in Sydney. Oss Gary Stewart JKA England
Thanks Gary. What's cricket?

13/09/05 - Good mornings from italy. Some student of my shotokan group attend a WKC world championship before planning in Brazil cancel but now Serbia. Many compatriot of Australia karate promised attend and for make a biggest event. Before meeting old friend to all who come from you many appreciates from our athlete. GL Riva Italy
What?

10/09/05 - What do you call a karate organisation where the instructor has so much influence over students that they do anything he asks, even if it is bad for their health, their wallet and their family? Answer – the same thing you call an organisation where the senior students mis-treat and talk to THEIR students in broken English or very bad Japanese? Pure and simply – A CULT. My brother joined your cult after being a member of another karate cult and guess what? Same old same – pay up, shut up, take what you get and kiss as much backside as you can find. My brother is a vulnerable person and this karate thing has not helped one bit. C. Whitten QLD
Thanks. Your message is vague. If JKAA has done anything you think is wrong, please be specific and we will deal with it.

08/09/05 - Masterful. Great words and images. The emails are a scream. More moving pix pls. Rob N. Sunbury VIC

08/09/05 - Ossu. Can you update me on the latest in the debate for Olympic recognition? Where do the big organisations ITKF/IAKF/WKF/JKA all stand with their applications? I haven’t read much about it of late. Paul J. Lincoln UK via Dubai.
Thanks Paul. The WKF seems to be the best prepared of the multi-style groups and although we have an interest in this, we would say the JKA is the better organised and by far the largest and best positioned single purpose group. As for which one is closer to IOC recognition, the debate is not as public as it was, but no doubt a lot is happening behind the scenes.

04/08/05 - Hi there, have the dates been set for the next of the karate courses in Melbourne with JKA master Stan Schmidt? I missed the last one due to work commitments. G.K. Sandringham VIC
Thanks. We publicise all JKA courses and seminars held by Instructors anywhere in the state of Victoria right here on this website. Our records show that there have only ever been Seminars by 3 JKA masters, and they are;
1. Takahashi Sensei the Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate association of Australia and New Zealand - who tours both countries 6 months of every year.
2. Our own Senior Instructor in Victoria JKA 7th Dan Nishimura Sensei.
3. Master Hiroshi Shoji 8th Dan now deceased - who visited Melbourne 9 years ago.

03/09/05 - You have a lovely site guys. I have a question about kata. In my style, we do heyan godan with the third and sixth move facing the front. Is this correct in JKA? I have a lot more to ask I would appreciate if you could assist. Sarah. GKR Ballarat VIC
Thanks Sarah. If you want to learn JKA Karate, join a JKA dojo, verbal assistance won't help you.

01/09/05 - Oss. I’m doing advanced research on self-efficacy and empowerment through fighting arts. Can you tell me who I can speak to at JKA Victoria? I am proposing to conduct activity based meta-analyses which will target adolescents who have taken up traditional Karate. My work to date has shown a correlation between increased self-efficacy and regular success in belt tests and to some extent competition success. The project would entail a termed study over a 6 month timeframe. I Look forward to your early reply. Mel Kohn Melbourne VIC.
Thanks Mel. We are only concerned with assisting in the development of our members through the practice of Budo Karate. Not measuring their ability to produce levels of performance that have an influence over events that affect their lives. They get enough of that at school, so no thanks.

29/08/05 - Oss JKA Vic, As always the site looks great! I really like the new story about Master Shoji, and I'm so pleased that JKA Vic gave me the chance to train with the late Shotokan master back in 1996. I look forward to seeing you all in Perth for National seminar & competition. Oss, Raymond JKAA Sydney

27/08/05 - Hi JKA VIC! Whyalla dojo website is www.jkawhyalla.com.au Feel free to sign our guestbook to let us know you stopped by. Oss! Sarah Tidwell Whyalla SA.
Thanks Sarah, good luck with the site and hi to all our Karate friends at JKA Whyalla

27/08/05 - Hi. I was astonished and very pleased to see an email on this website posted back in January from a close friend I had in England - the one and only Jackie (the body) Darby. I did karate with the KUGB in the midlands UK and I was backpacking around OZ in 97/98 and doing the odd bit of training mostly at JKA dojos. I met the love of my life in the NT and ended up returning to live here. Happily married now with 2 boys aged 3 and 4 and a sports-mad Aussie hubby, but sadly I don't have time now to train. Thanks JKA Victoria for helping me find my dear friend. Please send me her email address. Best wishes Annette Culvers Newcastle NSW
Good on you Annette, we have sent your friends contact details off to you - hope she hasn't changed email addresses.

26/08/05 - Is there any JKA in Malaysia? If I'm interested with karate, then I might continue later when I go back home. Faiz
Thanks. Go to the JKA Japan website for the latest contact information.

24/08/05 - Hello to all in JKA VIC! Sarah here from JKA-Whyalla Dojo. We have recently published a website for our dojo and were wondering if you would like to check it out and perhaps include it on your links page! Would be much appreciated. Oss, Sarah Tidswell Whyalla SA.
Thanks Sarah, send us the URL happy to link you.

21/08/05 - Thanks for your quick reply to my question. Why do you call kata kumite and kihon the inseperable trinity? sounds a bit eleborate don't you think?! H Hynde Dalgety NSW
Thanks for your comment. Maybe it is a touch elaborate, but it's a descriptive term to explain the importance JKA places on the interrelationship of the 3 elements of Karate.

20/08/05 - I’ve been a regular visitor to this site and I always enjoy your stuff. Would you be interested in trying my essays? I write semi-fictional accounts of the lives and adventures of martial arts masters. My philosophy is that most material we read of the old masters is romanticised and exaggerated. My work admits to being based on the truth but allows me to speculate and use my imagination. I have attached a sample which I hope you like. David Proctor Bunbury WA
David, this is an information site, so we’ll stick to fact-based contributions for now. Thanks for your kind offer anyway.

18/08/05 - Hi, I just wanted to say JKA ROCKS!! Tim Methil Rosebud VIC

17/08/05 - I’m very interested in JKA Karate pre 1980. I have done a lot of research and I can say that so far Master Shoji’s story makes very interesting reading. I know that he was a kata specialist but from what I see in books and on the web I have not found much mention of any kumite honours. Do you know if he was much of a fighter? H Hynde Dalgety NSW
Thanks. All JKA Instructors are very well versed in JKA “inseparable trinity” of Kihon, Kata and Kumite.

17/08/05 -I am writing to find out what are the present jka requirements for shodan grades. Can I assume that it is the same for Zanchin Shotokan? My son was preparing for his shodan grading but my family had to go overseas and now that we’ve returned, the nearest shotokan dojo is JKA. Thanks in advance for your answer. Rina T Brisbane QLD
Thanks Rina. If your son is interested in taking up JKA Karate, he should approach the dojo first. Good Luck.

17/08/05 - Hello guys. What a site. Kelly Minter Wales

17/08/05 - Oss JKA Australia. Great to visit your site and see the next world championships are being held down under – congratulations you must all be very excited. I attended the last 2 Shoto world cups as a spectator but I’m way past competition age. I will not make it to Sydney but the JKA “Worlds” are easily the best thing since sliced fish! Go well. Tom Healey Surrey UK

15/08/05 - Good morning. I'm a lapsed JKA karate enthusiast from Cape Town in South Africa. I live in Elwood in Melbourne and I'm looking for a DOJO. Please mail me the details of your branches. Thanks Bart O. Elsternwick VIC.

13/08/05 - Oss JKA Victoria! Would you be able to add a link to our club here in the sunny (cough) UK? We are a club in the Harlow and Bishops Stortford area of England. No worries if this is not possible. Thank you! Carly Godfrey UK
Sure Carly, send us the URL and we'll have a look.

13/08/05 - Oss! I will be moving to Melbourne next year and plan to live in the South Yarra area. Does Sensei Baggott have an email address I can contact him on? I only ask because the time difference makes it a bit tricky to call! Thank you, Carly.
Thanks Carly, even better - we'll get Baggott Sensei to contact you, stand by.

09/08/05 - Hi, I am learned in the way of the empty hand, having trained in JKA in Scotland. I am now in Sydney and would very much like to continue training. Can you give me any contact details for Sydney? Aragato goziamasu, Ian Mackle Sydney NSW
Thanks Ian, your Japanese needs some work. Someone from JKA NSW will be in touch soon.

08/08/05 - Just a costructive comment after stumbling on this wedsite of JKA. Take a look at grappling it beats karate every time you know. Sorry to busrt your buble. Josh Weston Mulgrave VIC
Terrific Josh. We take your advice as seriously as we take your spelling.

06/08/05 - Sending our regards to JKA karatekas in Auzzie-land. Keep up the BUDO way, the only way. Friday we finished our summer training camp. Ossss Sig Magnusson, Reykyavik ICELAND
Thanks Sig. As a Budoka you would have done Kangeiko in the freezing cold up there. Please tell us about it if you have.

05/08/05 - Good evening. When will the details for the '06 JKA world championships be available? Franz Uberatz Hamburg Germany.
Thanks Franz. We will post the details of the 2006 Gichin Funakoshi Cup (formerly the Shoto World Cup) in the coming months.

03/08/05 - I used to train with Walter Stark at Steve Thorburns club at Whitehill in Hamilton. Billy Paton, Falkirk Scotland.
Thanks Billy, we passed your email on. Stark Sensei will be in touch.

02/08/05 - I found this area quite by accident! It looks like a very fun addition to your site. Hilarious stuff! Good job! All the best from Mark G. in Groovy Nippon. Mark Groenewold, Japan
Thanks Mark. Anyone interested in an intelligent Karate website should have a look at Mark's Karate the Japanese Way

30/07/05 - Best karate stuff around. Keep it up. Jake Irwin Port Arlington

30/07/05 - Thank you for the ongoing story of Shoji Sensei. The past of Karate is very tough and mysterious, senseis like he are now gone but their words remain to tell the world about the exploits of our karate fathers. Osss Jamal Sulieman Lebanon

28/07/05 - A little birdy told me that the next Shoto World Cup is being held down under. Can you confirm please. Den Hathaway Dublin Ireland
Thanks Den. Australia has a number of talking birds, so you could be right.

26/07/05 - Dear Sirs, I am a russian student and I have just begun studying at Auckland University. I have been practicing Shotokan Karate for 3 year and would like to continue here in Auckland. Could you please help me in finding Shotokan dojos in the Auckland Region. Thank you very much Oleg Vull Auckland New Zealand.
Thank you Oleg. We have passed your message onto the seniors in JKA New Zealand. You will hear from them soon.

23/07/05 - It’s my lucky night. I followed the link from the site “Karate the Japanese Way” and found this one. I love the very clear explanations of why karate is budo. I like the thought provoking articles and editorials and I envy some of the people in the interviews for their achievements. Well done. Jim Seaton Wales.
Thanks Jim. Yes, Mark from KTJW was kind enough to link us up. Glad you enjoyed your visit.

23/07/05 - I had a look at your talkbacks, they are hilarious. You could start a site just for karate idiots to write in with all their rubbish. The rest of the site is brilliant as well. Jon H. NSW.

20/07/05 - Oss, I do shotokan JKA in England. Do you have any advice on how I can improve the speed of my backward movements? I would appreciate any technical advice on the subject. S. Hanlon Worthington UK
Thank you. You won’t learn much about technique by reading. The basics of Karate need to be taught first hand and monitored by a qualified Instructor. JKAE has some very capable people. Please direct your question to one of them.

19/07/05 - Hi there. I’m a brand new and highly motivated student of the martial arts and I found your site which kept me going for an hour. My only criticism is that I don’t understand some of the terms used, other than that it was great to see so much dedication and knowledge displayed. Thanks for inspiring me even more. PV Holland Johannesburg South Africa
Thank you, the terms we use are necessary for our Karate readers. Good luck.

15/07/05 - Hello. I'm visiting there at October. My information is that JKA has 2 factions in Melbourne. Without any confusion could I please attend the training with the correct master. Yours sincerely T Hanegem Germany.
Thank you. Your information is wrong. As stated on this website, we represent all JKA dojos in Metropolitan Melbourne and everywhere else in the state of Victoria. Our peak body is the Japan Karate Association of Australia which is the sole affiliate in this country of the JKA World Federation. If you contact us when you arrive you are most welcome to train.

13/07/05 - I've worn a Tokaido uniform the past several years and I'm very pleased with it. Now, I want to purchase a second one but before I do, I hope you can help me with some questions I have: It seems to me that Tokaido is no longer available in Belgium, is this correct? If so, in which European countries is Tokaido still for sale in stores? I'm not very fond of buying over the internet because I'd like to try out the dogi before I buy it. I think I have a Tokaido 'The Ultimate' traditional cut S.A.W. uniform but I'm not really sure. It's certainly not the present much seen wide uniforms used for competition. It looks like the one they used in the 60's and 70's. Perhaps you can send me some more distinct pictures to clearify this problem. I look forward to your answer. I hope you can help me. Oss Nils Tensy Belgium
Thanks Nils. Tokaido is still the brand preferred by JKA Instructors but we can't help with pictures or information about retailers in Europe. You could try the website at www.toukaido.co.jp/e.tokaido/e.index.html

11/07/05 - Oss please tell us when and where the next JKA Australian National Open Championships will be?? I was trying to arrange for a look for some KUGB visitors. Oss Kevin Behan Windsor VIC
Thanks Kevin. The JKA Nationals will be held in Perth WA this coming September. We will email you more information.

08/07/05 - It's tough trying to separate sport and karate for students let alone in conversation but I thought your article was spot on. Please do a lot more on this subject. Kind regards Naheem P. Toronto Canada.
Thanks Naheem.

05/07/05 - That was a good editorial. I struggle to explain what I do to people who ask and this helped enormously. P Dunstan (Goju stylist) Canberra ACT

04/07/05 - Great website, it figures in my "favorites", but when do we get the chance to read the ("coming soon") tribute to Tabata Sensei? Thanks, David Weidemann - Belgium
Thanks David. Sorry for the delay, we will post it as soon as we can.

02/07/05 - Your editorial raised a very important point. I have always separated sport and karate by thinking about the "do" aspect. Nowhere in sport do we have the path or way that will take us on the kind of journey we have in karate. Thanks for tackling the issue, budo needs to be at the top of every karatekas mind. Keep up the great work. A. Drake Newcastle NSW30/06/05 - Hi, I was just wondering if you had a centre close to Abbotsford for my 8 year old to attend beginners class. Thanks Elspeth Ross Abbotsford.
Thanks Elspeth. We have Dojos at MSAC in South Melbourne and Kew, but please check our Dojo Directory.

29/06/05 - Please send me your list of Dojos in Melbourne. Des Laird Elsternwick
No Des. There is a Dojo Directory on this site, 2 clicks away from here.

27/06/05 - Firstly great site.I am currently training in the Whyalla dojo and will be in Preston in the second week in July and would like to know the closest dojo to Preston. Thanks Paul Holmes Whyalla South Australia
Thanks Paul. Please contact us by phone (see Dojo Directory) when you arrive.

26/06/05 - I disagree with the editorial that karate is not a sport. Surely it is a sport the same as judo or taekwondo or fencing which all have a more serious side. I can’t see how you can separate it completely from sport because it has rules, competetors and winners. That’s a sport isn’t it? Kurt. Johannson Newcastle NSW
Thanks Kurt. Budo Karate (Karate-Do) is not confined to matches alone, far from it - that was the jist of the eDitorial. When competing becomes the main reason for an activity, then you would be justified in calling it a sport. The examples you give illustrate this perfectly because they are all now Olympic Sports.

26/06/05 - I am very interested in taking up karate. What is the age limit? Will I be under pressure to take grade exams and will I need to fight? A. D’Souza Windsor VIC
Thanks. If you’re able bodied, age is not a barrier. You are expected to work toward increasing your rank, that’s part of our culture. As for fighting, it is taught in simple increments and no-one is obliged to spar if they are not ready or able to do so.

22/06/05 - I would like my son to learn Japanese Karate and would like some information on beginners or children's classes, times and fees please. The closest centres are the East Keilor and Avondale Heights centres. BTW - My son is 7 and a hlaf years old. Thank you Domenic Cafari Melbourne
Thanks for your enquiry Domenic, one of our Dojo heads will be in touch with you.

21/06/05 - I am contacting you with regards to opening and starting a JKA Karate Dojo in Gisborne New Zealandj. I would be grateful if you could advise me on how I would go about doing this. Kind Regards Neil Reaney NZ
Thanks Neil. JKA Victoria has referred your enquiry to the Head of JKA New Zealand, Sensei Mark Willis. He or his secretary will be in touch with you soon.

19/06/05 - Oss to all brother karatekas at JKA down under. Can you please inform me if Herr Wolfgang Ettienne is still prominent in JKA Australie. I had a visit to him many years before now and to pass on my good feelings. Tobias Muller Berlin Germany.
Thanks Tobias. The name does ring a bell, but he is no longer a JKA member.

19/06/05 - Your site is definitely worth a visit but it lacks actual karate techniques. Why don’t you show us your JKA techniques and kata applications. Seems to me your site is all words. Steve Alsop Hemel Hempstead UK.
Thanks Steve. There are plenty of web sites showing images (pictures and videos) of techniques, you should go looking for them. Our position is that Karate needs to be taught physically with the full attention of the student. People don’t learn to drive a car on the Internet but they do read and absorb enough information to do University correspondence courses. In the same way, we do not attempt to teach anything here, only to give visitors information.

19/06/05 - Thanks for a top site. There hasn’t been a new interview for a while. Will I see one soon? Amy G. Sydney
Thanks Amy. Yes you will, the Sensei Michael Connolly interview is not far away.

19/06/05 - Great June editorial. I always wondered what I was doing but now I know. Thanks Irwin T. Mascot NSW

19/06/05 - Greetings from Mumbai India. I found your website which I was saddened to read of passing of sensei Jeff Green who I met one time as a visitor/spectator in 1996 World Championships Ohsaka Japan. Please accept my late condolence. VB Ramesh ex JKA support, India

18/06/05 - I have 2 questions for your consideration. 1. My club-mate refers to his belt as his SHO-DAN. I told him the proper name is OHBI. Is it correct to say ‘tie your sho-dan like this…” or “I’ve lost my sho-dan” 2. Is Tamashiwari practiced in JKA classes all the time? Thank you. Anthony F, Elizabeth SA
Thanks Anthony. The answer is no in both cases.

17/06/05 - Hi. I do Kyokushin Karate. My seniors talk highly of your associations so I searched the JKA sites for a look. Funny how we take a certain view of the world depending on where we are looking. The Kyokushin view is to train train train and not worry about anything else, but reason tells us the world is full of interesting things so I must take whatever I see of good and use it. I like your tradition of true budo, good to read Kyokushin is not alone. In the Spirit of Ossu, Silvio Periera ex IKK Sao Paulo Brazil

15/06/05 - Thanks for the sound byte of the JKA Dojo Kun. I was surprised to find out what I had been saying was nothing like the proper Japanese pronunciation. Your articles and tributes etc are first class it’s always great to come back here. Kyle D. Mount Florida UK

14/06/05 - Oss. I enjoy reading Master Shojis book, the last instalment was very sobering. I wonder how the master would approach his training these days? Lutz Zacharia Bremen Germany
Thanks Lutz. Glad to hear you like it.

12/06/05 - Hallo Sensei, I hope you get my request. I’m doing a school project on karate and judo. Do you know who is the oldest karate person in Australia to get a black belt? Romy. Eaglemont Vic
Thanks Romy, that’s a good question but there are many Karate groups - we can’t answer for every school.

09/06/05 - Hi I like your technical tips they help me a lot even though I don’t do JKA. Where do you get them? Leah Macrae Ascot Vale VIC
Thanks Leah, they’re our own tips - just some small points that are passed onto students in JKA classes.

08/06/05 - Oss to JKA Victoria. My name is Owen Francis shotokan ryu 2nd Kyu from England. I will be visiting Aussie for the second time in August and spending about 3 weeks in each state touring all major cities starting with Sydney. I would like to train with JKA and follow a schedule to visit your main dojos. Could you please send me details of all your Dojos and contact email addresses. I look forward to meeting you soon. O. Francis Lincoln UK

08/06/05 - My name is Will Cairns I trained in Wado Karate in Scotland with Sensei Hamish Adam in the 1980’s. I worked in the middle-east for many years tried to get into it again in 2003 at age 50 but with chronic back problems I would be a liability to any club. I now spend my karate time reading and surfing the web which is hard because there is a lot of rubbish around. Good luck and thanks for this pleasant website. W. Cairns Hobart TAS

05/06/05 - I just found out JKA kicked the entire KUGB out of the world JKA federation. Wow, big news. I trained with a KUGB club in England before coming to Australia and it was far better training than anything I've done here. Why did this happen? Yours in Shotokan Ken Baird, Ivanhoe VIC

03/06/05 - Good afternoon. I am trying to find a resputable is karate-do-shoto-kan doju in the West Meadows area it is for sincere new trainer in desparate state. E. Sateen. West Meadows VIC
Thank you. Let us know how you go.

02/06/05 - Oss. On the subject of grades. Grades in your style are easy thankyou. Renae. Rye VIC

31/05/05 - Shane you are a typical 2nd rater! You could persist with streching all you like even get down to full splits, but with an attitude like that next time you would be complaining about somebodys punch being snappier. Mate us Aussies are the best sportsmen in the world karate included - don't ever say that you will never be as good as an Asian or any other race for that matter. Cole P. Dandenong VIC.

29/05/05 - I'm 19 and done shukokai karate for 3 years. I was stiff as at the beginning but getting a bit better. Can you tell me if asians are automatically more supple than westerners. We have about 8 chinese and 4 or 5 japanese in our club and they can all do the splits. It's depressing to think I'll never be as good. Shane W. NSW
Thanks Shane. "as good" at what? Don't confuse suppleness and Karate ability. Being loose helps - but it's not everything. Good luck with your training.

27/05/05 - Congratulations on an intelligent, well presented site. Some of your articles are of similar quality to ones that appear in magazines I would pay money for (and that's not easy) Keep up your balanced view. Andrew Smallacombe.
Thanks very much Andrew. We're tempted to write more and more but there'd be no time left for training.

25/05/05 - Does anyone in your organisation know where an instructor with the surname "Sakkis" trains in Melbourne. I've tried a couple of websites without any success. Thanks for any help you can offer. Cheers Geoff Rohde.
Thanks Geoff. Is this person a JKA Instructor? there was an Instructor called George Sais some time ago, that's the only name that comes close.

25/05/05 - Would like to thank Nishimura Sensei & Mark & Paul Sensei from NZ for an excellent gasshuku held at Burra south aust. We continue to learn. Paul Brown Gawler JKA, South Australia
Thanks Paul. We've heard great reports, glad you enjoyed it.

24/05/05 - Hi, I spent a while here there's some interesting reading and I liked all the talkbacks. Seems a lot of traditional people drop by but not many have a sensible thing to say. Keep up the good work. H. Percival, Eltham VIC

22/06/05 - The JKA website of Tokyo says JKA is the keepers of karate's highest tradition. What about all the okenawan styles and the other shotokan groups - are they by deafinition now innferior to JKA? Eric Paton - Ipswich QLD
Thanks Eric. If you read anything on the JKA Honbu website about other groups being inferior, let us know. By the way, learn to spell.

21/05/05 - Oss. I heard the next Shoto-kan world cup is being held in Australia - is this correct? V. Dobson Manly NSW
Thanks Vern. We haven't heard but that would be terrific if it were true.

20/05/05 - Thank you for a wonderfully informative traditional Karate website. I am always looking for good JKA stuff and I find most of the online information repetitive and self-promoting. You are to be congratulated on a very intelligent format, OSS Mal Kagan ACT Australia.

17/05/05 - It was with fond memories that I read Fujita's article, 'memories of Australia in 1984'. Both Fujita and Kami stayed with my family at Castle Hill during that visit to Australia. Both men were not only fine karateka but also great ambassadors for JKA. Great site, full of good memories and familiar names. Good to see Sensei and the JKA family still going strong. All the best. Bill MCKENNA, Lennox Head New South Wales.
Thanks for writing to us Bill. We caught up with Fujita at the World Championships in Japan last September, he loves Australia and he has very fond memories of all the JKAA homestay families.

16/05/05 - Thank for putting my email up last month. Good to know you agree. T Liddell Philip ACT
Thanks. Talkback emails get to air for various reasons, but that doesn't mean we agree with any of them.

14/05/05 - In your opinion what is there a limit to how much of force can be generated by the human body and will it reach to the point where humans can do things we see in the hollywood MA movies? This is a serious question for your wise people. Many ragards Hassan Oktur Turkiye

11/05/05 - Hello. Is JAK KARATE an Olympic sport? I never seen it as such. Jay, Belvedere NSW
No Jay, neither is JKA Karate.

09/05/05 - Uh oh, bad hips from Karate I’ve heard that before. Painful joints are a common complaint from too much unnatural kicking, so is arthritis. You have to wonder why people want to make a weapon out of there body when they can buy a gun or a knife if they are so inclined. Jake Harvey Prestonpans UK
Thanks Jake.

05/05/05 - Hi, I’m researching the history of fighting across the globe. The Eastern arts have a written tradition that is fairly easy to follow if you study the military but if you look at non-military such as common man or peasant history, it is extremely hard to get any substantiated information. There is not much recorded especially in the period before and just after the Chinese arts were imported to southern Japan. My question is, are the archives of JKA able to be accessed? Do you provide information to researchers? And would you be interested in matching your understanding of the history of fighting with my findings? Please let me know, I am building a big file and I would appreciate any help you could give me. R. Tanner Exeter UK.
Thanks. You could try the JKA Honbu Dojo in Japan, it has a website link on our links page.

01/05/05 - I have been told that the ancient masters of your style were actually able to penetrate through a person's midsection with punch or toe kick using a mysterious power called KIMI that they developed in the mountains of Japan. Please confirm this. Thanks in advance, Matt Chalkalski SKS Saskatoon, Canada.
Thanks Matt. You're absolutely right!

30/04/05 - we are argueing about where JKA is the strongest. i say Yugoslavia but my friend says USA. where is it? could it be aussie? Trent Biddle Portsmouth UK
Thanks Trent. The answer is Japan, by a long way.

29/04/05 - What is a female sinsei called/addressed as? Sjon Das Aust.
See what we mean Jade!

27/04/05 - FD Miller is drawing a very long bow to say that a short stint of jka karate in the 50's caused his hips to deteriorate to the point they needed replacing. Honestly the rubbish I read on these forums. Jade Elvers Toronto Canada.
Thanks Jade, read Mr Millers Talkback again. He didn't say JKA Karate, nor did he say Karate caused anything, the word he used was 'contributed'. Nor did he say hip replacement, only surgery.

25/04/05 - Thank you to Nishimura sensei for taking time out in his recent visit to Sydney to conduct a special training with the Taipans at Kirrawee Dojo. I greatly appreciate all of your time and effort. Also congratulations on the birth of your first grandchild Louis. Oss and Regards Raymond Morcomb JKA Sydney Northern Districts Dojo NSW

24/04/05 - I would like to thank my sensei Lloyd Baggott for helping me and supporting me with my first tournament. He has also given me a understanding of Karate and as I train it becomes so much more to me than a sport. So all my thanks go to Lloyd Baggott. Chase Sannaghan MSAC Dojo JKA Victoria.
Thanks Chase. Yes, we heard that you did really well at your first competition. Keep training and listening to everything Baggott Sensei has to say, he's a very good Instructor.

23/04/05 - Oss!!!... You have a wonderful website. My sensei, Neeraj Dhawan of the JKA in India, has a lot of praises for the top seeds in the JKA Australia, and Sensei Takahashi and Nishimura. I am glad that the JKA family spreads all over the world. Rahul Khanna JKA INDIA NOIDA
Thanks Rahul, great to hear from you. Best regards to everyone in JKA India.

22/04/05 - Please send me address and phone numbers for dojo in Narre Warren, Melborne. Students emigrating. Regards ANAIKER, JKA DURBAN, AFRICA.
Thanks. You can check our Dojo Directory or the students can contact us when they arrive, but there is a 2 year waiting list to join.

19/04/05 - I'm 68 years old and right now recovering well from hip surgery. I did Karate as young man in Japan in the 1950's for the 4 years I was there and I believe that the kicking and stretching we did has contributed to my condition. I liked the training but it was never ending. We were young in those days so we didn't realise what harm we could be doing to our bodies. I found your fine site in a search on shoto kan my old style. Humble regards. F D Miller US Army retired San Diego USA

16/04/05 – Is skipping a good exercise for karate? I mean as a warm up. I need a good exercise for my calf muscles because there always tight. Tan. Mulgrave VIC
Thanks Tan. If you mean skipping with a rope, yes, but there are plenty of ways to warm up without props.

15/04/05 – Thanks for all the information at this site and aren’t you guys lucky to have a Japanese master living right there in your state. I was in Melbourne at Christmas but I didn’t have my Gi so unfortunately I couldn’t come along to visit your dojo. I used to train JKA but it was conflicting with my studies and the choice to leave was hard. I’m over that now but I don’t think I could go back in a serious way like before. I better go before I give you my life’s story. Osu Graham M. Rhode Island USA

15/04/05 – Does Omer Cukavic still train there at the JKA Honbu? George, Footscray VIC
Thanks George. Sensei Omer trains privately nowadays.

13/04/05 – hi, my teacher makes us do bunny hops as a warm down after classes finished. my friend from another style says this is rubbish I will hurt my knees. who is the correct? BD Cranbourne VIC

11/04/05 – I agree your site is not a chatroom. Can you believe some of the stuff on Martial Arts forums? If students put in half the effort they give to stupid email threads we’d have a nation of experts. Poohoo chatrooms, stick to the intelligent stories JKA Victoria. Liam, Croydon VIC.

10/04/05 - this is a magic site!! you should start a forum. i found about a dozen Talkbacks i wanted to make a comment about. visitors don't see threads this way and good emails from months ago get forgoten. anyway good luck at jka of vic! stan v Melbourne VIC
Thanks Stan, you may have a point there, but Talkback was set up as a feedback channel for comments about articles etc., so we'll keep it that way.

09/04/05 - Hi. amazing to read about Shoji Sensei's early days and thanks for the tributes pages and articles, well done this site is tops. I want to start JKA again but I'm overseas until August, can I visit a Dojo when I come home? Jacob Settman Caulfield VIC
Thanks Jacob. Yes anytime.

06/04/05 - Why doesnt your site have kata animations or Karate tutorials? I like the details but you should do book reviews and sell merchandise, videos etc, just a suggestion. Peter T Orange NSW
Thanks Peter, books are OK but there's much more to Karate than what you will ever read. As for reviews and merchandise, not here, we're too busy training.

02/04/05 - Oss. I've trained with nearly all the JKA and Shotokan top instructors such as Nakayama, Kanazawa, Osaka, Yahara, Ota, Tanaka, Sato, Asano, Kase, Shirai, Enoeda, etc etc etc and I'm proud to say so. Of course it was only for a session or 2 and I got so much out of it but I don't advertise my acheivements. G. Fairclough Cambridge UK

30/03/05 - Just wondering if the JKAA website has been changed. I've tried to logon this afternoon and it appears to be out of action. W. Ball

28/03/05 – Hi, I’m glad I found this is very informative site where you actually go to the trouble of writing about Karate-do. Most Trad Shotokan sites are full of cheerios from kids, tired old Funakoshi bios, photos of posed moves and (this gets to me the most) credits about their instructors who claim big things such as “Sensei Fred has trained with some of the most renowned karate masters in the world such as….” - then goes on to name anywhere between 5 and 20 world class instructors. This misleads the public because it makes sensei Fred look like he has trained PERSONALLY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD with masters who may only have LED A CLASS HE WAS IN. But thousands of people could say the same thing! I’ve been in classes with some of the giants of karate but I don't kid myself, I was lucky to get even a passing glance from them. Reading this stuff, immediately turns me off. Being on a mere "course" with Master so-and-so is very different from TRAINING in private with him. Half of these internet guys wouldn’t last a crack if they had to do even a days personal training with a real master. T Liddell Philip ACT

28/03/05 – I like to visit your site. If you are part of JKAA, I tell you that website jkaa,com,au is down, why is that? V. Singhe Laverton VIC

27/03/05 – Hello JKA Victoria! I flashed passed a site called “Karate the Japanese Way” and saw a great review of your website which I totally agree with. It really is astonishing in its mass of material. So I did spend an hour or two cruising around it like Mark Groenewold suggested. All I can say is Well done! Excellent work! Gary Masterson Southport QLD
Thanks Gary.

25/03/05 – do you know the origin of the english word "karate" Gilbert B. Prahran VIC
Nice one Roydo

24/03/05 – It is very interesting & very much informative site. I am also practicing Shotokan last 20 years. Also i am very much interested to join with u. In this regard if u help me, I will be oblidge. thanking u, Oss, Subhanka Dasgupta. 4th Dan. India
Thank you Subhanka, if you are coming to Australia we can definitely help. If you intend to stay in India you should join JKA there. Go to the World Federation Honbu Dojo Website at www.jka.or.jp/ and look up your nearest Dojo.

24/03/05 – osss karate friends in aussie. Keep kickin anna punchin coz that’s all there is!! Troy (the boy) Coen Montreal Canada

21/03/05 – In response to P. Williams from Belfast's query (17th March). I would like to say that yes you can warm up and stretch at the same time. I believe that yoga also has strength components to their training that are incorporated into the flexibility exercises. I simply broke the article into two sections to try to make it easier to read. I am working on the next section now. David Owen JKA Melbourne

20/03/05 - Dear sir, I am looking to start training again after 10 years away from karate. I live in Fitzroy and would like to visit your dojo if this is possible. Thankyou. Miles Callahan Fitzroy VIC
Thanks Miles. It would be great to have you back, one of our people will be in touch.

20/03/05 - hey ray great website and congrats on your australia day award.sal. Sally Welsh Australia
Thanks Sally. Not really sure what you mean but thanks anyway.

20/03/05 - Hello again JKA Melbourne, terrific site you've got but I notice you didn't do a report on the course late last year of Kanazawa Sensei in Melbourne. I thought it would at least get a mention. T Meekin Brisbane QLD
Thanks. We're very happy to cover anything to do with traditional Karate but JKA is our priority and it always will be. We've checked and there were no JKA people present at the course to submit a report.

18/03/05 - Oss again, I wrote in January about the chances of re-unifying all Karates and you didn't answer. Come on, you must have an opinion, can all worlds masters came together again? is it possible? TJ McLaughlin Wales
Thanks TJ. There would be some chance of bringing together again the ones who parted company in the last several decades, but today's Karate world is a very broad and diversified community and some organisations and individuals have histories that are not common, so it would be practically impossible.

17/03/05 - good to visit your site again but i'm confused, can you warm up and stretch at the same time? P Williams Belfast

14/03/05 – What are the chances of kartate becoming a olimpic sport? Zoe Miles Brisbane QLD.
Thanks Zoe, there's probably a better chance of your spelling improving.

12/03/05 - i need a copy of the gkr world cup video or dvd that was held in bimingham 2002 or 2003. Gary Ashby UK

11/03/05 – I’m an average shotokan karateka. Last week I faced a blackbelt from a new system introduced in England from Australia called GKR. I was able to spank the hell out of him. My instructor has a saying about many of the black belts he’s met, "He's well trained in bad karate" He says they are flawed not because of what they do, but what they don't do or what is missing from them. Facing someone like this is an embarrassment and a waste of time. Glen Cooper, Exeter UK.
Thanks Glen, it can also be dangerous.

11/03/05 – Hi, I’m a 2nd kyu in JKA. I watched the Shoto World Cup from Japan on DVD and found it very motivating. The whole world competitors were so good I couldn’t tell the difference. The judges impressed me very much being able to make those decisions. I liked your report. Good luck, Paul Toronto.

11/03/05 – Good evening. I finally found a reputable JKA dojo after doing “karate” with a bunch of pirates. I was totally ripped off financially, emotionally and physically. I am going to write my story and tell people how to recognise pirates as opposed to karateka who really know what they are talking about. I was disgusted to find guys my instructors pushing their barrows at every opportunity to take advantage of novices and seniors alike. Your JKA association is no-frills but it does very good karate. Thanks. Yvonne Ayers London, UK
Thanks Yvonne. Martial Arts are unregulated in Australia, many people will be interested in your experience.

09/03/05 – Very good site. Great stories. C.L. Morwell VIC

06/03/05 – Thanks for the website. I’m interested in your follow-up article about WARMING UP. Karate people definitely have a lot to learn before the can teach how to do it properly. Example; The one where your feet are together, knees bent, hands placed on the sides of the knees and roll them in a circular motion is not safe. This caused an injury to my knees. I was told to focus on a point to keep your head, shoulders and hips centred which made it worse. Also, I had teachers who stood on my legs when I was stretching causing pain every time I trained. I managed to get through but I just know it was wrong. A. Blake Sussex UK

06/03/05 – Hi. I am due to visit Australia (Sydney) for a business convention in May. Can you put me in touch with your JKA in Sydney please? Will Haines UK
Thanks Will, we will get someone from JKA in New South Wales to contact you.

05/03/05 – Good site. Every major styles your included, and most of the old guys claim to be the inventors of karate competition or formed the rules. I’m writing a histry of combat sports for a college paper but the best I can come up with is an all-styles unified event which definately started in the mid 1960’s under ippon rules using Bogu protection. Kata seems to start a few years later after the rules got standardised. S. Fenning Hughesdale VIC
Thank you. Click on Results and you will find the winners and place-getters of every single JKA All-Japan Championships in Kata and Kumite since 1957. Don’t you need to be able to spell to go to college?

05/03/05 – One of your Technical Tips says to breathe naturally in training but I find it hard to settle my breath when doing so much fast cardio type exercise, then theres the kiais where we yell our lungs out. Are you sure you are talking from karate experience? Adrian McL. Sunbury VIC.
Thanks Adrian. Just because your heart rate increases doesn’t mean your breath needs to become unsettled. The point we made was simply not to put more strain on your body by forcing the breath or holding it.

05/03/05 – Instructors and members of JKA Victoria send their congratulations to Sensei Russell Smedley of Melbourne Honbu Dojo on achieving the rank of 3rd Dan. Ranks of Sandan and above issued by the Japan Karate Association are very prestigious and we are proud to welcome another JKA Instructor to our group. Oss, Walter Stark JKA Vic Honbu.

04/03/05 – I was a shotokan lad in the 1980’s but fell away. I was shocked to read that so many great instructors had passed away. I suppose these men were not as indestructible as I thought. Keep up the good work, Jason Peiter. Lewisham UK

02/03/05 – We are looking at ideas for the design of a website for our new club. We are Shotokan JKA and we just wanted to tell you we like your club symbol. Derek Cregan, Ireland
Thanks Derek. Our logo is the symbol of the whole of JKA Victoria, ie all JKA dojos in the state, not just one club. Good luck with the site.

01/03/05 - for G. Reddin, prince Andrew learned Karate in the Royal Navy and it was JKA by one of Enoedas senior guys. Not sure if he got any ranks or anything though. T. Home, Kent England.

27/02/05 - HI, I VISIT YOU AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS IS JUST TO SAY YOUR SITE IS EXCELLENT. YOU HAVE SO MANY GASHUKKAS TO READ ABOUT - LUCKY KARATE IN THE LUCKY COUNTRY DOWN UNDER. BEST WISHES TO ALL INSTRUCTORS AND KARATEKAS - ROB. Rob Zachary Michigan USA

26/02/05 - salut sportif je voudrait affilliér quelle sont les document mes seinceres salutations sportives. les dates des stages de mois de mars 2005. hannachi mohamed France
No Worries.

22/02/05 - Roy McKearn is right. Dynamic Karate was released under more than one name. When I read these emails I was tempted to have a look at the book that started it all for me. The material in that book is still relevant today I'm glad to say. C. Lonnigan Humberside UK

22/02/05 - I heard on a TV show that certain members of the royal family had done traditional karate. Do you know if it was shotokan JKA? G. Reddin, Reading, UK
Thanks, we have no idea.

19/02/05 – Good evening. In relation to the question about Nakayama Sensei’s book. You correctly answered that it was published before the Best Karate series but I think Karate-do Shinkyo-tei and Dynamic Karate were one and the same book, can you confirm this is true? Roy McKearn Barnsley UK

16/02/05 – Ossu I’m Fabian from Luxembourg. I’m doing JKA for 3 years I getting ready for shodan test in April in Switzerland. The JKA Victoria site is inspire for my karate which I hope is a good standard after April thank you very much. Fabian Mersch Lux.
Thanks Fabian, good luck with your test.

16/02/05 – Hi, I can’t find either of those books by Nakayama Sensei on amazon. Do you know where else I could look? Andy R. Fitzroy VIC

15/02/05 – I just came by looking for karate and some JKA stuff, thanks for the great stories and the opinions. I trained in Melbourne many many years ago I remember Mr Takahash was just released from Japan to teach oversea. He was based in Brisbane at the time. Could you please give to him my good wishes. Stavros (Steve) Apostolidis Melton VIC
Thanks Steve, yes we will.

13/02/05 - Hi, what about an article on JKA karate and Body Mechanics? Tom Chelsea VIC

12/02/05 - great site wondering how many are left from our first training camp in sydney castle hill not many can probaly have a photo can remember a few names and certianly can remember the weeks grueling training spider jumps Omar was there and i remember Dragon dropping to his knees after Sensei sorting him out for dragging the chain the training was probabily a touch hard then if someone has photos of the Indoneasion team i would like to trade Thanks, Steve Andrews JKA QLD

09/02/05 – Hello. I’m new to Victoria. I was a blackbelt holder and member of Tera Kai in England and UKKW (Wado) in the 1980’s, after that I did some shotokan with Sensei Bob Rhodes in Leeds reached 2nd kyu but it’s been about 7 years since I put on my gi. Could i train with you and get your opinion of me please? R. Naismith Yarraville VIC.
Thanks. You’re welcome to apply to join.

08/02/05 - Hi, I have a 7 year old son who is very keen on taking up Karate. Can you please provide details of the best way to get him involved? I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience Kind regards Rob McKenzie
Thanks Rob. One of our Instructors will be in touch.

05/02/05 – Hi I liked the story of Master Shoji’s introduction to karate. Its amazing his memory of the details, I look forward to reading more, thanks for that. L. Davies KUGB member, UK
Thanks, the next part will be up soon. It should make interesting reading for the forseeable future.

05/02/05 – Just rolled in from freezing Canada where it’s far too cold to even think about training. The site is great. Best wishes to JKA Victoria. Claude Polmert Quebec
Thank you.

05/02/05 – Oss. I read to very nice words of my deceased Master Kase and also of JKA Master Shoji. Thank you so much, you have all nice pages in this website. Herve, Madrid Spain.
Thanks Herve.

05/02/05 – Hello. I saw the posting about a “match” between the Sumo champion and Royce Gracie which made me check it out. It actually happened, the weight difference was an incredible 140kg in the Sumos favor and the big lug lost in 2 minutes to an arm lock. I would have bet money that Akebono could crush most people. I think they should fight again in a Sumo rules fight to determine the real winner. As for Karate, you guys would not have a hope in hell against either of them. Sal Cohen, Minneapolis USA.

02/02/05 – At Christmas I was driving from Melbourne to Sydney and I saw a guy on a weighbridge in the middle of nowhere doing karate. At first I thought it was a paramedic or something but he had a bag with JKA on it and he was serious about what he was doing. He wouldn’t speak to me when I stopped so I thought it must be a stunt or promotion of some kind. He was about 25 quite short with jet black hair, is he one of your guys?? Ken, Eltham Vic
Thanks Ken, not that we know of.

02/02/05 – Greetings from Brazil!!! Do you know where can I find the Japanese version of Nakayama's book "Karate do Shinkiotey"? I am also looking for "Karate do-Seishin no Kihon" by Nakayama Masatoshi. Thanks. Roberto Sant'Anna Brazil
Thanks Robert. Nakayama Sensei wrote a book entitled 'Karatedo Shinkyotei" before the Best Karate series was published, but we’re not sure about "Karate-do Seishin no Kihon”. Sorry, we can’t help you to find the Japanese versions of either – try Amazon.com

29/01/05 - Oss. Thank you for the tribute to Master Kase. He was a gentleman with enormous knowledge. E. Peters Crewe, UK

27/01/05 – Hello, you have an interesting site. It looks like you only follow the Japanese way so I wont convince you that I have seen a standard of Karate in eastern Europe that is better than Japan. I trained with the Russian army for 2 years and did Karate in Minsk Belarus with guys who I could only describe as lethal. They use military tactics in training and boy is it effective. In that dojo only the strongest survive the sessions which last up to 3 hours at a time. I’m convinced they are tougher than the toughest Japanese JKA karateka. Jan Shutteman Denmark
Thanks Jan. Assuming you also spent 2 years at the toughest Dojo in Japan, we’ll now all pack up and go home.

26/01/05 – I want to find out more about JKA in Melbourne. What is it, and could you please contact me with locations and times and details of Instructors. Michael R. Williamstown
Not another one! You’ll find most of the information you need on this site.

26/01/05 – Good afternoon. Do you know if there has been a challenge on a JKA master from Ju-Jitsu? I have heard that many challenges have been made on traditional karate since Sumo grand champ Akebono was easily defeated by a Gracie brother in late 2004. Andy Healy Ascot Vale VIC.
Thanks Andy, we saw a report on the Akebono/Gracie match but haven’t heard anything about a challenge against the JKA.

25/01/05 – I know that JKA has a syllabus but some Dojos in the UK have heaps of colour belts all doing seriously long combinations and black belt Katas. Is it OK to learn bassai, enpi etc if I am only a blue belt? George F. Aldershot UK
Thanks George. That would be up to your teacher.

22/01/05 – Hi me and my brother do JKA karate we are 8 and 11 and we are 6th kyus, our favourite katas are heian yondan and tekki shodan. My brother won our club championship in colts kata and 2nd in free sparring. We are totally dedicated and hope to visit japan some day. Our instructor is very strict and also very kind. Josh and Matthew, Milton Keynes England.
Thanks boys, good luck with your Karate.

22/01/05 – What’s with the Rasta man? Is he a karate-ka? Callum Smythe Adelaide SA
We’re not sure Callum.

21/01/05 - Just a quick comment that is well over-due...on behalf of the Australian Taipans, we would like to thank JKA Victoria for all of their support, instruction and guidance leading up to, and through, the last Shoto World Cup. Our success is greatly due to the Senior instructors of JKA Vic. Oss!! Adam Pearce, Adelaide Australia

18/01/05 - Hi, Narasimhan here. I am from Bangalore-country:India. I and my friend really got impressed by ur institute and my friend is interested to undergo training in ur institute. Some two-three words about my friend: she is black belt holder in karate and currently she is working as senior karate instructor in a karate institute in bangalore-india. One more thing is that apart from learning your art, she is also interested to have a business association with u. In this regard, can u kindly guide me how to proceed further? You can communicate with me, I represent her. Please do reply. Thanks and Regards, Narasimhan Bangalore, India.
Thank you very much.

16/01/05 - O-Sensei Kase, " I doubt if the same can be said about your karate master. Con Iannis Brisbane QLD." - It can. Thank you for taking the trouble to write a fitting tribute. Dave, England
Thanks Dave, our pleasure. Kase Sensei's contribution to the Japan Karate Association is more than worthy of a tribute on this site.

16/01/05 – I have a karate dojo practically on my doorstep but I can’t build up the nerve to even go and watch. The shouting is very off-putting and the master looks too serious to be bothered with visitors. Is there a advice for approaching a karate master to enquire about classes? T. Hudd Wodonga VIC
Thanks. There must be phone number you can call. Remember, you’re a prospective student and maybe a prospective customer, most operators would be glad to see you. You should enjoy your Karate experience, there is nothing to be nervous about.

15/01/05 – Hello, I do Kyokushin Karate. I just found your articles page. Thanks for the great reads. Oss. Kevin S. Sandringham.

13/01/05 – Woo hoo. me again pyjama boys - whazzup! Ya didn post me last 3 mails man, is I’n’I annoying the men a dis here site? Jah Rastafari - wolfman det (an Internet Café somewhere in Australia)
Thanks Brother Det. This is the first we’ve heard from you for ages you idiot!

13/01/05 – Oss I Haven’t seen too many shotokan sites with this much contents keep up the great work. Allison, JKA England

13/01/05 – Con (31/12) If a style sees fit to call their master great sensei I think that’s fine and no-one should object. Everybody thinks their mother is the best mother in the world, so why can’t karatekas have the same affection for a man who means so much to them? Thanks Paul Brittain, Warwick England.

10/01/05 – I saw the tournament at Box Hill with the mixed Shotokan and Wado katas. I liked it a lot but kata is very hard to judge without confusing the judges by mixing them up. I don’t see any point in practicing katas from other styles just for competition sake. Grant Berry, Blackburn Victoria

09/01/05 – Hi. I’m trying to find an old training partner called Annette Culvers. She trained with JKA in Australia when she was out there on holidays in 1998, I think in Sydney. I’ve lost touch with her but she really liked Australia and said she was applying to stay. If you could put me in touch I’d be very grateful. Jackie Darby (email supplied) Birmingham UK
Thanks Jackie, I hope we can help.

07/01/05 – Happy New Year to the Aussie JKA, continued success from the USA. Ron Green Colorado USA

04/01/05 – Oss from Wales. What do you think the chances are of re-unifying Karate into one? I think it would be the greatest thing if all the worlds masters came together again, am I dreaming? TJ McLaughlin Cardiff UK

04/01/05 – Right. I’ve looked at your site now for months and other great Shot-kan sites. My new-year resolution is to get back to karate and STAY back in karate. E. Buck Elsternwick VIC
Thanks, good luck.

02/01/05 – George of Northcote – Hang in mate, all kinds of active people have had a battle with CFS, including top AFL players, cricketers and me, a lowly taxi driver. I stuck with karate, it was hard but it motivated me to keep going. Alistair Q. Thomastown VIC

01/01/05 - Please have Beverly Cook contact me. I am an old friend from Japan. Also, if there is anyone else there who has lived in Japan specifically for training in Shotokan, please have them contact me as well. Thank you. Jon Keeling JKA of Silicon Valley, California, USA
Thanks Jon, we will pass your request onto Sensei Bev. Anyone interested in this can reach Jon at jon@jkasv.com

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