Japan Shotokan Karate Association. 

The Japan Shotokan Karate Association was founded in Japan on the 10th February 1999 by former JKA senior instructor Abe Keigo 8th Dan. It is one of the fastest growing Shotokan associations in the world. Abe Sensei was born on October 28th 1938 in the town of Iyoshi in Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoken. When he was 18 years old he was accepted into the famous engineering program at Nihon University in Tokyo. He moved from his small town to the big city and began his college education. He began training at the J.K.A. Honbu Dojo with a young and very powerful sensei named Nakayama Masatoshi who was to become his teacher and grandmaster. During his time as a student of Nakayama Shihan, Abe Sensei was told by him that he was taught not only by Funakoshi Gichin, Shihan but also by Funakoshi Yoshitaka his son. A situation which is reflected in the JSKA teachings of Abe Keigo, Sensei .

Abe Sensei is also accomplished in the tournament arena. He took 3rd place in the first JKA National Championships. He was the captain of the Japanese team at the second World Championships in Paris, France. Abe Sensei won 1st place at the JKA international Friendship Tournament in 1973, and took 1st place in the second and third JKF National Championships as a representative of Tokyo. A highly rated and dangerously competent JKA fighter in his younger days, he was also responsible for devising the original rules for Ippon Shobu competition in a manner which preserved Budo through the concept ‘killing with one perfect, decisive blow’. Abe Sensei is a karate-ka who appreciates and embraces Shotokan’s Okinawaan roots, which is reflected in his understanding and in his performance of kata.

Abe Sensei became an instructor at the JKA in 1965 and in 1985; he became Director of Qualifications and from 1990 Technical Director of the JKA (Matsuno section). A position he held until retiring from the JKA on 31 January 1999. Abe Sensei is quoted as saying ;

“I feel however that Karate nowadays is centred only on winning competitions and that everybody trains towards this end. This is far from the truth. I believe that the true purpose of Karate lies in daily training with a goal to develop a strong mind and body and furthermore to contribute to society in general”. He came to establish the JSKA to realise what he himself sees as the true Karate purpose. The JSKA Karate philosophy is: 1. Learn Self-defence as a martial art; 2. Improve technique as a sport; 3. Enjoy karate as a means for developing a healthy body and mind.