A Brief History of the Japan Karate Association* 

Originally, the martial art Te (“Hand”) developed in Okinawa as a system of self-defense. Due to Okinawa’s frequent contact and exchange with China, it is certain that the Okinawan martial art was influenced by Chinese kempo at some point during its development. However, with only oral tradition and no formal contemporary written records, it is not certain exactly when the art called Kara-Te first emerged in Okinawa. It is believed that it developed roughly 500 years ago, when the dynastic ruler King Shoha unified the region after decades of warfare and issued an edict banning the possession of weapons on the island.

According to conventional accounts, a similar law forbidding the possession or use of weapons was re-issued and enforced by the Satsuma clan, who had invaded Okinawa in the early 1600’s and brought it under the rule of the Japanese Shogunate. It is believed that in this environment karate developed as a form of unarmed combat for protecting oneself and one’s country, and it was taught and practiced in secret.

Then came the birth in 1868 of Okinawan karate master Funakoshi Gichin. He dedicated his whole life to promoting the values of the art, and introduced the way of karate-jutsu to Japan, where it spread across the country. By 1949, his followers had established an association for the promotion of karate; they called it Nihon Karate Kyokai, or Japan Karate Association. It was the beginning of the JKA…

More on the history of the JKA can be found on the JKA Website: http://jka.or.jp/en/

*(extract from the JKA Website)

The JKA/WF Australia was founded in 1991 under the name of Australian Shotokan Karate-do Association and operated as an independent Shotokan organization till 2009 when it became an affiliated member of the JKA in Tokyo, Japan and started using the name JKA/WF Australia.

JKA Townsville as a member of JKA/WF Australia seeks to uphold these traditions and Preserve the soul and spirit of the art of Karate-do based on the ancient Japanese tradition of Bushido (the way of the Samurai)

 
JKA WF Australia Chief Instructor 
Shihan 7th Dan JKA

JKA Townsville is also affiliated with Karate Australia and Karate Queensland

Karate Australia is the national governing body of karate in Australia recognised and endorsed by the federal government, the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission.

Karate Australia is a member of the World Karate Federation (WKF). The WKF is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as representing the sport of Karate.

Karate Queensland is the peak body for Karate in Queensland with 35 member schools/associations, training in over 40 dojo location across the state with around 2000 active students.