The official announcement of the appointment of Ueki Masaaki Shihan as the Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association was formally made on the 15th of April 2010 at the Spring Camp. Master Ueki replaces Sugiura Shihan who stepped down from the post due to bad health tendering his resignation at the Shihan kai meeting in October Camp last year. He is the 3rd Chief Instructor of the JKA after Nakayama Sensei and Sugiura Sensei.
Ueki Sensei was born in Tokyo on March 24th, 1939. He attended the Asia University, the same university as former Chief Instructor Sugiura. Ueki Sensei started Karate from the 3rd year of high school. After attending University he entered the Instructor Course of the Japan Karate Association and graduated in the the year 1962. Like most of his peer group, Ueki sensei is known for his spectacular technical ability. He has won the ist place in kata in the 8th (1965) , 9th (1966), 10th (1967) , 11th(1968) 14th(1971), 17th (1974) & 18th (1975) All Japan Karate Championships. He has also won the 1st Place in Kumite in the 11th All Japan and was placed 2nd in the 8th & 14th at each of these champiosnhips he was proclaimed as the Tournament Grand Champion (viz three times in 1965, 1968 & 1971).
The JKA India humbly congratulates Ueki Shihan and looks forward to learning from him.

The International Master's Spring Camp was held at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan from 15th April to 18th April 2010. The weather in Tokyo was rather cold and to the surprise of everyone it snowed in Tokyo in April this year, something that had not happened in over 60 years. JKA India Tech. Director Mr. Anand Ratna and JKA India Instructor Mr. Neeraj Dhawan participated in the camp. The opening address of the Spring Camp was very distinct with the formal announcement of the appointment of Masaaki Ueki Sensei as the Shusheki Shihan of the JKA being made and Masahiko Tanaka Sensei and Yoshiharu Osaka Sensei as the Deputy Chief Instructors.The appointment was also made about the Vice Chairman of the JKA who addressed the participants. Ueki Sensei also addressed the participants.

On the first day of the Gasshuku, the participants were divided 2 groups according to the Dan grade with 6th,7th & 8th Dan in one group and 5th, 4th, 3rd & 2nd Dan into the second group. Basic kihon, and kumite was conducted for the senior group in the morning session which was taught by Ueki Sensei & Oishi Sensei. The The afternoon session consisted of Kata Training where the Katas Bassai Dai was taught by Kurasako Sensei , and Kanku Dai was taught Kawawada Sensei, supervised by Tanaka Sensei for the Roku Dan Group and the other group which Mr. Dhawan was in were trained in Bassai Dai by Imamura Sensei and Kanku Dai by Ogura Sensei.

On Day 2 the groups were divided into their individual Dan grades and Katas Bassai sho and Kanku sho were taught by Naka Sensei & Imamura Sensei in the Morning for the Roku Dan Group. The Go dan group were taught kata Bassai Sho by Ogata sensei and kata Kanku Sho by Kumeta sensei In the afternoon session the Roku dan group were taught Kata Meikyo was by Okuma Sensei & Kata Chinte was taught by Inokoshi Sensei and the Go dan group were taught kata Chinte by Hanzaki Sensei and Meikyo by Kawawada Sensei

On Day 3 During the morning session, participants were divided into 6thdan above and 5th Dan below.for training for examinations during wchi Tokui kata training was done. Mr. Ratna trained in kata Goju Shi Ho Sho with Imamura Sensei.The training was supervised by Ueki Sensei whose favourite Kata is also Goju Shi Ho Sho. The Afternoon session was devoted to Kumite with jiyu Kumite training along with training in reaction timing, strategy and methodology being taught by Izumiya Sensei . Mr. Dhawan did JKA India very proud by giving an outstanding performance during a reptition of training requested by Izumiya Sensei. The demo done by Mr. Dhawan received a huge ovation from the all the participants. In the Evening, the JKA HQ hosted it's usual gasshuku party for all the participants of the training camp.

On Day 4 there was Kata training again where groups were taught Kata Niju Shiho and Kata Gojushi do Dai. Kata Niju shiho was taught by Inokoshi Sensei supervised by Naka Sensei was taught by Nemoto Sensei
Former JKA India Instructor Mr. Karl Naoroji also participated in the camp from JKA New Zealand and successfully graded to Instructor B and Examiner C . Participants from Europe were greatly affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland with most of them having to stay on in Japan till their flights were cleared. pictures

The JKA HQ announced that the 11th Funakoshi Gichin World Cup which to be held in Tokyo but was postponed is now to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from the 19th to 21st August, 2011. Details of the Tournament will be announced later as per the announcement on the JKA website.

JKA India Chairman Mr. Anil Sinha along with Tech. Director Mr. Anand Ratna and JKA India Instructor Mr. Neeraj Dhawan participated in the Autumn Camp at the JKA Honbu Dojo from 8th October to 11th October 2009. Usually the Autumn camp is for 3 days, however this time the JKA HQ held the camp for 4 days.
On the first day of the Gasshuku, the participants were divided 2 groups according to the Dan grade with 6th,7th & 8th Dan in one group and 5th Dan & below into the second group. Basic kihon, jiyu kihon and jiyu kumite was conducted for the senior group in the morning session which was taught by Ueki Sensei. The afternoon session consisted of Kata Training where the four Sentei Kata Bassai Dai, Jion, Kanku Dai and Enpi were taught. This session was supervised by Tanaka Sensei andthe kata were taught by Naka Sensei, Imamura Sensei, Okuie Sensei & Nemoto Sensei.
On Day 2 the groups were divided into their individual Dan grades and Katas Goju shi ho sho and Unsu were taught by Naka Sensei & Ogura Sensei in the Morning. In the Afternoon session Kata Goju shi ho Dai was taught by Ogura Sensei and Kata Gankaku by Okuei Sensei.
On Day 3 During the morning session, participants were divided into 6thdan above and 5th Dan below.Each had training for judges. During the training, the participants were divided into groups of 7 individuals- where 2 would do kumite, 4 would be the corner judges and 1 the centre judge. Explainations were given for those who had difficulties or queries on various issues. The Afternoon session was devoted to Kumite with jiyu Kumite training along with training in reaction timing, strategy and methodology being taught by Izumiya Sensei and assisted by Inokoshi Sensei and Kumeta Sensei. In the Evening, the JKA HQ hosted it's usual gasshuku party for all the participants of the training camp.
On Day 4 there was Kata training where Kata Souchin was taught by Nemoto Sensei, Kata Meikyo taught by Okuie Sensei and Tekki San Dan supervised and taught by Naka Sensei. The opinion of the participants was that this was one of the best gasshukus attended.
Mr. Ratna's student , Mr. Karl Naoroji who currently instructs in New Zealand also participated in the camp as an instructor from JKA New Zealand and it was a happy reunion for him with Mr. Sinha whom he was meeting after a gap of nearly 25 years and with Mr. Dhawan after a gap of nearly 10 years. pictures

(report submitted bySensei Anand Ratna)

Other Chief referees for the final Days events were Ted Hedlund from Sweden, Peter Wewenkong from Netherlands , Yanos Krepz from Hungary, Yazawa Toshihiko, Mori Toshihiro and Takahashi Shunsuke (all from Japan)

An Invitation from Slovenia for training camp with Tanaka Shihan. Please follow the link for details