Traditional Karate in Mesa AZ
JKA Shotokan Karate is a traditional Japanese style of martial arts founded by Master Gichin Funakoshi in 1938. Shotokan is the most widely practiced style of karate-do today.
Master Gichin Funakoshi, often referred to as the Father of Modern Karate, introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of Japan.
A Sensei is is a person who has knowledge and is willing to teach that knowledge to another. We have a great tradition of teaching and learning that comes from Japan and has spread worldwide.
Sensei Gichin Funakoshi passed his knowledge to Sensei Masatoshi Nakayama who passed his knowledge to Sensei Shojiro Koyama who passed his knowledge to Sensei Chuck Coburn.
We invite you to become the next link in the chain of traditional Shotokan Karate by joining our Japan Karate Association!
Master Gichin Funakoshi
1868-1957
Gichin Funakoshi was born in 1868 and at an early age begin studying martial arts. His masters where Anko Itosu and Yasutsune Azato. It was Funakoshi who gave the name of Karate to this martial art since Kara was the term often used to describe the martial arts of Okinawa and Funakoshi gave it the alternative meaning of "empty" as Te means "hand".
In 1922 Funakoshi was invited to Tokyo to give a demonstration of Karate at the First National Athletic Exhibition Hall, organized by the Ministry of Education. Funakoshi decided to stay in Japan and worked in making Karate part of the educational curriculum in Japan.
Funakoshi enjoyed writing poetry and "Shoto"(pine waves) was the pen name he used. The term for school was "Kan" and those who trained under Master Funakoshi were known as "Shoto-Kan" students.
In 1949 Funakoshi established the Japan Karate Association and remained the head of the JKA until his death in 1957.
Master Masatoshi Nakayama
1913 - 1987
Masatoshi Nakayama was an internationally famous Japanese master of Shotokan karate.
Nakayama entered Takushoku University in 1932 and began learning karate under Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka (also known as Gigō).
In 1949 Nakayama helped establish the Japan Karate Association. Funakoshi was the formal head of the organization, with Nakayama appointed as Chief Instructor.
He develop a logical way of teaching Karate and documented the proper way of practicing Shotokan. He wrote many textbooks on karate, which served to popularize this martial art. Nakayama worked to spread Shotokan karate around the world for nearly 40 years, until his death in 1987.
He was the first master in Shotokan history to attain the rank of 9th dan while alive and was posthumously awarded the rank of 10th dan.
Master Shojiro Koyama
Master Shojiro Koyama trained under Sensei Masatoshi Nakayama in the Japan Karate Association.
JKA instructor Shojiro Koyama moved from Japan to Arizona in 1964 to teach karate and established the Japan Karate Association of Arizona and the Arizona Karate Association.
In 1988 Master Koyama published his book, Shotokan Karate: Traditional Karate for a Richer Life.
He holds the rank of 9th dan with the Japan Karate Association.
Master Koyama officially retired in 2019.
Chuck Coburn, Sensei
Mr. Chuck Coburn began training with Sensei Koyama in 1969 and he began teaching at Koyama Sensei request in 1971.
He first started teaching the karate club at Phoenix College while attending there in 1971. Later that year he started teach in Mesa and was known as JKA of Mesa. In later years the club was name was changed to JKA Karate of Arizona.
Upon Master Koyama’s retirement in 2018, Sensei Coburn assumed the name of Japan Karate Association of Arizona. Upon Master Koyama blessing he is now assuming and carrying on the tradition that Master Koyama established in 1964.
Join the next generation of Shotokan Karate!
