WELCOME TO KARATE NO MICHI SOUTH AFRICA

Gichin Funakoshi

Karate was first formally introduced to the Japanese in 1922 by Okinawan school teacher and karate master, Gichin Funakoshi. He studied under Shuri-te masters Anko Itosu and Yasutsune Azato. Funakoshi demonstrated his art for Japanese dignitaries, instructed at the Butokukai Military Arts College in Kyoto and at Keio University in Tokyo. In the early 1930's he established his own school in Tokyo.

In the 60's JKA (Japan Karate Association) was established in South Africa. The organisation prospered as a single body until the death of the Chief instructor of JKA in Japan, Nakayama Sensei.

A leadership dispute arose in Japan and the organisation was divided into two groups, both claiming the legal right to the JKA organisation rights. In South Africa the original JKA organisation also divided into

two organisations aligning themselves with the respective Japanese groups. The dispute in Japan was not decided until June 1999, during which time Malcolm Dorfman Sensei was appointed joint Chief Instructor of the JKA group in South Africa by Asai Sensei.

Nakayama Sensei

After the Japanese court ruled in favour of the Nakahara group, Yahara Sensei and Asai Sensei each formed their own organisation.

Yahara Sensei founded the Karate no Michi (way of karate) World Federation (KWF) and appointed Malcolm Dorfman Sensei to the position of Chief Instructor for South Africa.

JKA origin of the Karate no Michi World Federation