The JKA

JKASV's affiliation with the Japan Karate Association is the tie that ensures that the karate we practice at JKASV is authentic, traditional Shotokan karate. The Japan Karate Association is the world's largest karate organization. In Japan it is the primary organization maintaining the heritage of Shotokan karate.

Training at the JKA's Honbu Dojo

JKASV's instructors have extensive experience training in Japan, so people often ask about the particulars of going there to train.

There are some very good karate instructors outside of Japan.  But nowhere else will you find as many high level instructors in one city as in Tokyo.

The Japan Karate Association's Sou-Honbu (general headquarters) Dojo is located about 12-minutes walk from Iidabashi Station, near the center of Tokyo. Classes are taught by some of the best karate instructors in the world. Almost all classes at the JKA Honbu are very physically demanding, so if you're able to train there, you'll be sure to get a workout.

For directions on how to get there, or for more details on training, read through the FAQ. You may also contact JKASV chief instructor Jon Keeling. The location of the Honbu Dojo has changed several times over the past decades. Today it is located at: 2-23-15 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Japan 112-0004.

For pictures of the new dojo, please see the Japanese version of the JKA's website.

The present class schedule
Mon-Fri:
10:30-11:30
4:30-5:30 + separate childrens' class conducted simultaneously - M/W/F
6:00-7:00 + separate women's class conducted simultaneously - Thu
7:05-8:05 + separate seniors' class conducted simultaneously - Fri
8:10-9:10 (Thur) Kata class; additional fee required.

Sat: 12:00-1:00, 4:00-5:30, 5:30-7:00 (Dojo closed second Saturday of each month)

JKA Champions
Because people sometimes ask, a listing of past JKA tournament winners is here.

For information on the official JKA exam requirements, please contact us.


Authentic JKA
To clarify, this page refers to the officially recognized JKA group (headed by Sugiura Sensei), where JKASV instructors have done their training.  In recent years, several new organizations have emerged: Asai Sensei's JKS, Yahara Sensei's KWF and Abe Sensei's JSKA. The organizational changes are unfortunate, but the people training in all of these organizations are worthy of respect. There are many groups now practicing JKA-style Shotokan who are not affiliated with the JKA in Japan. Among the largest are the AAKF, headed by Nishiyama Sensei (many AAKF dojo still use the name JKA) and the SKIF, headed by Kanazawa Sensei. Technique and training methods are usually very similar, often almost identical.

The Shotokan World website features more on the various JKA-style organizations and their relationships.