I started my karate organization, Japan Shotokan Karate Association
on 10th February 1999. It is, of course, based on one of the shotokan styles in Japan but also includes "Abe style" within
it.
Let me introduce you to the years preceding this.
I started Karate and Judo training at 15 years old. When I was
4th dan I entered the Japan Karate Association in 1958 where I met Sensei Masatoshi Nakayama who became my grand master, along
with many other sensei. Sensei Nakayama told me that he was taught not only by Sensei Gichin Funakoshi but also by Yoshitaka
Funakoshi his son. So my style of karate has a lot of influence from Sensei Yoshitaka too. The wide foot stances presently
used and low stances reflect this.
After I became an instructor at the JKA in 1965 and belonged
to the instructors section at the JKA. In 1985, I became Director of Qualification and from 1990 Technical Director of the
JKA Matsuno section, from which I retired on 31 January 1999. During my active Karateka years, I took 3rd place in the first
JKA National Championships and participated in the 2nd World Championships in Paris, as captain of the Japanese team. I won
first place in the JKA International Friendship Tournament in 1973, and first place in the 2nd and 3rd JKF National Championships
as representative of Tokyo.
I have always thought that competition was one form of practice
of Budo and was useful for improving techniques. I feel however that Karate nowadays is centered only on winning competitions
and that everybody trains forwards this end. This is far from the truth. I believe that the true purpose of Karate lies in
daily training and the goal is to develop a strong mind and body through this training, and furthermore to contribute to society
in General. I came to establish the JSKA to realize this true karate purpose.