Latest Articles
Rika Usami: 10 astonishing facts about the Queen of Kata
Rika Usami is by far one of the most famous contemporary Karateka world wide. She is best known for her Kata victory at the World Championships in Paris 2012. In this article, we present you 10 astonishing facts about her life and Karate career. by Dr. Christian Tribowski Rika Usami trained Goju-ryu first and moved […]
Dojo: 3 Definitions of the most Favorite Place of Karateka
Dojo (道場) literally means: the place (jo 場, Japanese reading: ba) of the way (道 do, Japanese reading: michi), the place where the “way” (e.g. a martial art) is practiced. A correct transliteration of the term dojo must include two circumflexes: Dōjō. They indicate that the below must be pronounced in a long way. For […]
To Keiko Gi or Not to Keiko Gi?
A Keiko Gi is “a symbol of your preparation for life” writes our columnist TD McKinnon in his latest article for Karate Essences. Like many traditional elements the Keiko Gi has also become challenged in recent years. However, there are many good reason why we should stick to the classic plain white Karate Gi for […]
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Kihon | Kata | Kumite
Violence Prevention: More Fight in the Dojo, less Fight in the Street
Violence prevention is a major part of Karate. The one who trains in Karate becomes less prone to be violent. The reason for this is that Karate comprises of two aspects other sports usually do not offer: The experience of controlled violence as an attacker and defender as well as the regulated setting for learning […]
Relaxation: Kime and Ki Revisited
Relaxation has long been underestimated in Shotokan Karate. Kime, understood as muscle tension, was the major aim. However, recent developments call to revisit Kime and Ki in the light of relaxation. Relaxation before and after a technique should be the focal point of Shotokan Karate. By Dr. Wolf Herbert When you have learnt Shotokan Karate […]
How can Sport Karate Become Respected Again?
Sport Karate has lost the respect of the global budo karate and combat fighter community. The reasons for this has been the sanitizing of karate to make it more attractive for the Olympic Games. But this project has failed. Now it is time to consider reforms of Sport Karate, to make it respected again. A […]
Deai: How to Train Counterattacking in Shotokan Karate?
Deai is the most sophisticated fighting tactic in Shotokan Karate Do. Some karateka even deem it as the ultimate goal in a fight. However, many karateka only partially know the concept or how to train it. In this article we are going to show you what it is and how to train it. By Keigo […]
Seiken: About the Karate Fist and Ki
Seiken is the “standard” way of making a fist in Karate. However, most karate practitioners consider it less relevant than it actually is. The way of rolling the hand to a fist has a huge effect on the power of a Tsuki and on the Ki flow within the body. Both are interconnected and also […]
Is Karate Effective for Real Fights? A Martial Arts Comparison
Is Karate Effective in Real Fights? Many karate practitioners and non-practitioners ask this question. Our columnist T.D. McKinnon tries to give an answer reflecting on his 50 years of experience in multiple martial arts which he compares and juxtaposes. He also illuminates what distinguishes a real fight from sports competition. Read another exciting part of […]
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Hojo Undo | Goshin-jutsu
Correct Breathing in Karate: Kokyu, Techniques, and Exercises
Breathing in Karate plays an odd role. On the one hand, every Karateka agrees on its importance for vitality, great technique, speed, and power. On the other hand, most Karateka do not know much about breathing in Karate or how to breathe correctly. Neither do they know much about how to train it and what […]
Knife Defence: Is Karate Training Useful?
Knife Defence is a very controversial topic and Karateka seldom train it. However, it is important to know what it means and how Karate can be utilised to defend against a knife, if one has no other chance to remove oneself from a situation. By T.D. McKinnon in his column Karate Essence This is a […]
Ki and Karate: From Science to Experience
Ki has always been a central concept for karate and other East Asian martial arts. However, especially in the West Ki has also been condemned as an esoteric idea. While some claims hold some water others do not. In the following article I am going to define Ki as a psychosomatic regulation capacity of the […]
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Budo | Dojo
What Makes a Genuine Budoka?
In this month’s ‘Karate Essence’ column, as I answer the question, ‘what makes a Budōka?’ I will be revisiting some of the philosophical Budo themes I have previously examined in depth. While I allude, briefly, to an aspect of a Budōka I will reference a previous article or column for those readers not fully conversant […]
Souji: Why you should clean your Dojo regularly!
Cleaning: A Japanese Habit and Ritual Souji (掃除, also Soji, Sōji) literally means “cleaning”. Everybody, who dives a little bit into the Japanese culture, realizes that cleaning, cleanness, and tidiness are of utmost importance. This also applies to Karate and Budo. Cleaning shall teach virtues like respect, humbleness, mindfulness, diligence, and a sense to be […]
TAISEI: Most famous Karate Gi in Japan in The Dojo Shop
TAISEI belongs to the most popular Karate Gi brands in Japan. However, the premium Karate Gi manufacturer is almost unknown in the West despite famous brand ambassadors like Tadashi Ishikawa (8th Dan) from JKS. The Dojo is going to change this now. “Together with our distribution partner SaikoSports are we going to offer three of […]
How Karate@Home makes Online Karate Possible
Karate@Home has filled a void. Online classes have long been a taboo in Karate – especially in traditional Karate. Serious instructors did not teach online. That was the common sense until recently. Karate would need physical contact and online classes would lead to the McDojoization of Karate. The result was a wide field of dubious […]
Karate Do: The Path to oneself?!
“Karate Do is a path to oneself” argues TD McKinnon in his latest column Shotokan Essence. However, most of the people who start this path do not seek to arrive at themselves. Other motives are more relevant for them. That is explains a high number of dropouts. The ones who stay on the path are […]
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Women of Karate
Komazawa University reports about Portrait of Miki Suetsugu
We are very happy to announce that Komazawa University in Tokyo, Japan, has reported about our portrait of Miki Suetsugu in our Women of Shotokan series. Miki Suetsugu: Associate Professor at Komazawa University The short report covers our feature of Miki Suetsugu because she is an associate Professor at the Sports and Health Sciences Department […]
Miki Suetsugu – Women of Shotokan
Miki Suetsugu is a real powerhouse. As karateka she prefers kumite and has won the kumite title at the All Japan Championship 2001. She likes shobu Ippon because it comes close to self-defense. On the other hand, Miki-san has an incredible intellectual and academic record. She holds a position as associate professor at the sports […]
Hiromi Hishiki – Women of Shotokan
Hiromi Hishiki is an extraordinary Karateka in many respects. She started her training under Masatoshi Nakayama and Tetsuhik Asai. The unprecedented spirit of this time coined her whole later life. Hiromi Hishiki belongs to the pioneer women, who dared to brake through cultural norms and customs. While Japanese society excepted from her to get married […]
The Kumite Queen From Malta: Yuki Nocilla and Her Best Fights
Yuki Nocilla belongs to the highly talented karatekas of her generation. Just last weekend, she proved again her class and won the German Championships. We take this as an occasion to portray Yuki Nocilla and to explain to you why we will see more of her in the future. By Dr. Christian Tribowski Yuki Nocilla […]
Women of Shotokan: Carol See Tai
Carol See Tai reminds us about the importance to be a warrior and to develop a strong character. However, one cannot achieve both by staying within ones comfort-zone and to dodge every bullet. Thus, she also reminds us that we have to train hard, fight tough, and except the challenges life confronts us with. Carol […]
Women of Shotokan: Sandra Hoogerdijk Joannes
“There is something magical about Shotokan Karate!” says Sandra Hoogerdijk Joannes, SKIF Kumite World Champion Masters 50+ of 2019. We could not agree more. However, Sandra lost this magic once. After being a very successful competitor in very young years, she felt a lack of sense in her karate. To many competitions gave her the […]
Karate Masters | Karateka
Japan´s new Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, holds 2nd Dan in Goju Ryu Karate
Yoshihide Suga did succeed Shinzo Abe as prime minister of Japan on September 16, 2020. He was sworn in by the Emperor of Japan Naruhito in the Imperial Palace as 99th prime minister. Before taking over office as PM Suga was the Chief of Staff of Shinzo Abe and prior to that hold several cabinet […]
Breaking News: Teruyuki Okazaki has passed away
Another sad news hits the global karate community: Teruyuki Okazaki passed on April 21st 2020. According to the official announcement by the International Shotokan Karate Federation, which founder he was, Okazaki Shihan passed away due to an infection with the Coronavirus. The karate world mourns with all ISKF members. Our thoughts are now with his […]
Mikio Yahara: His Way of Traditional Karate
The life and practice of 10th Dan, Mikio Yahara, is an inspirational story worth knowing for any serious karateka. By Patrick Donkor and Dr. Jeff Christian Mikio Yahara is one of the most dynamic practitioners of Shotokan Karate to come out of the Japan Karate Association. Early on, Masatoshi Nakayama described him as the best […]
Hirokazu Kanazawa Soke: A personal Obituary
The year 2019 ended with a tragic event for the global Shotokan community: the passing of Hirokazu Kanazawa. The Karate world mourns since then. In this personal obituary Prof. Dr. Wolf Herbert reminisces the extraordinary life and personality of Soke Kanazawa. On December the 8th 2019 Kanazawa Hirokazu passed away “peacefully”, according to the official […]
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Karate History | Karate Associations | Karate Events
Karate-Do Kyohan Facsimile Reprint – Book Review
Karate-Do Kyohan is one of the foundational works about Shotokan Karate Do by Gichin Funakoshi. Last year, Laurent Poliquin published a new facsimile reprint. Gichin Funakoshi expert Henning Wittwer reviewed the book for us. Karate-Do Kyohan Facsimile Reprint Some time ago I was asked by The Dojo to review a “new” book by Gichin Funakoshi […]
How the Samurai Art Bujutsu influenced Shotokan Karate
Bujutsu, the martial and military arts of the samurai, had a great influence on the evolution of Shotokan karate do. Especially Gichin Funakoshi was highly impressed by Jigen-ryu, a bujutsu style from the south prefecture Satsuma in Japan. Later, Gigo Funakoshi enriched Shotokan with elements from kendo and other types of Japanese fencing. The following […]
“There will be changes”: Stephane Castriques about Future of SKIF
Stephane Castrique, Chief-Instructor of SKIF-Belgium, sent us a detailed answer about the analysis our managing director and chief editor, Dr. Christian Tribowski, published on Monday. You can find Christian´s analysis here: Quo Vadis, SKIF? Strategy Desperately Needed. Following we have published Stephane´s full answer. Feel free to engage in the discussion in the comments. Dear […]
Quo Vadis, SKIF? Strategy Desperately Needed
How will the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF) evolve after the sad passing of Hirokazu Kanazawa in December 2019? Will SKIF maintain its position as the second biggest Shotokan association in the world? In which direction will and should Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa and Shuseki Shihan Manabu Murakami lead the organization? An analysis by Dr. Christian […]
Breaking News: Mitsuru Nagaki will be new Chief Instructor of JSKA
A few minutes ago, we received a press release from the JSKA Shihankai about the successor of Shihan Keigo Abe, who unfortunately passed away in December 2019. According to the announcement Mitsuru Nagaki will become new chief instructor of the JSKA. Find the full announcement bellow: IMPORTANT NOTICE Keigo Abe, Chief Instructor of our association, […]
WUKF Professional: A New Karate League to Counter the Olympics
The WUKF has started its new professional karate league called WUKF Professional. While the focus lies on making points, fighters are allowed to knock out their opponent. Hence, the fighters go full contact. The WUKF, therefore, offers a third way between the WKF-based Olympic Sports karate and Karate Combat. According to its president, Pawel Bombolewski, […]
Karate Events | The Dojo
Spirit meets Quality: The Shotokan Times and Saiko-Sports have partnered up
“Spirit meets Quality” is the motto of the newly forged partnership between German karate gi and equipment supplier SaikoSports and The Shotokan Times. Together both companies will offer karate gis and other equipment to the international karate community through The Shotokan Times Shop. With “Spirit meets Quality” the partnership expresses its desire to reach perfection […]
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Herbert joins Editorial Board of The Shotokan Times
We are delighted to announced that Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Herbert has joined our editorial board. Prof. Herbert is going to be senior editor and will reinforce pro bono Dr. Jeff Christian (senior editor) and Dr. Christian Tribowski (managing director & chief editor). “This is a great day for the readers of The Shotokan Times and […]
Support Board: Karateka help Karateka in Times of Corona
The Corona virus has spread over the whole globe. Many people are directly and indirectly affected. Some countries have been hit very hard by the virus. Other countries enforce strict measure on their citizens like social distancing etc. Karateka also Affected by Corona Among the victims are also karateka. Some have been infected by Corona […]
Andre Bertel Seminar 2020 Sadly Postponed
The Andre Bertel Seminar 2020, which was scheduled for April 4-5, 2020 in Bavaria, Germany, has been postponed. Andre Bertel is going to visit Bavaria on July 25-26, 2020. The Shotokan Times is the official media partner of the seminar. Many karate events and seminars worldwide have been canceled or postponed in order to limit […]
Dr. Jeff Christian joins Editorial Board of The Shotokan Times
We are happy to announce that Dr. Jeff Christian has joined the editorial board of The Shotokan Times. Dr. Christian will reinforce the website team and contribute as senior editor and regular author. Dr. Christian Tribowski, managing director and chief editor, said about this decision: “I am more than happy that Jeff offered to support […]
Shotokan Tiger Sneaker for Tatsuya Naka and Keigo Shimizu
The Shotokan Times always searches for the best and unique products for Shotokan karateka out there. With the Ft One Shotokan Tiger Sneaker by Better Brands House we found the item for karateka, who want to wear their passion also in their spare time in order to show what they love. Among our first testers […]
Shinji Akita in Malta: A Seminar Report
Shinki Akita hold a seminar in Malta. The focus of the course laid on efficient technique and mindful bodywork. A seminar report by Luke Rocco Between October 18 and 20, 2019, Shotokan Karate-do Association Malta hosted world-renowned Shinji Akita Sensei, 6th Dan, to lead a training seminar for the first time in Malta. Amongst the […]
Tatsuya Naka Likes The Shotokan Times
This weekend, our board member, Keigo Shimizu, and our managing director and chief editor, Dr. Christian Tribowski, took part in a seminar with Tatsuya Naka sensei in Munich, Germany. After the last class on Saturday, both overhanded Naka sensei a gift of gratitude: Our famous black The Shotokan Times hoodie. Naka sensei was very surprise […]