The International Master's Autumn Camp was held at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan from 6th October to 9th October 2011. JKA India Tech. Director Mr. Anand Ratna. The opening address to the participants of the Autumn Camp was made by Shusheki Shihan Masaaki Ueki and after that the Vice Chairman of the of the JKA spoke to the gathering. This time the participation at the camp by foreigners was less as most of the regular attendees had attended the recently concluded World Cup.
From the first day of the Gasshuku, the participants were divided 4 groups according to the Dan grades with 6th,7th & 8th Dan in one group and 5th as the second group, 4th Dan as the 3rd group and , 3rd & 2nd Dan into the fourth group.
During this gasshuku Katas Bassai sho, Sochin, Nijushiho and Gojushiho dai were conducted for the senior group which was taught by Imura Sensei, Imamura Sensei, Taniyama Sensei Ogura Sensei & other JKA HQ Sensei. supervised by Ueki Sensei. The emphasis was on the counting, the pauses in the kata and the general flow of movements. Applications of the important movements were shown.
On the first day after the training there was a meeting held for all the foreign participants where the issues raised in the JKA W/F directors meetings were discussed.
On Day 2 the training was as per the groups divided into various Dan grades as before and Ueki Sensei conducted this session of basic Kihon in the Morning for the Roku Dan above Group using the rubber bands for understanding the need for the usage of the different groups of muscles during the movements and for increasing speed.The kihon session was followed by Kumite taught by Oishi Sensei and other JKA Hq Instructors. In the afternoon session the 6th, 7th & 8th dan group were given Judges training and this was followed by the renewal of the Special Rights Examiner's licence examination. Former JKA India Instructor Mr. Karl Naoroji also participated in the camp from JKA New Zealand and successfully passed the Special Rights Examiner's grade for New Zealand.
On Day 3 During the morning session, there was training for examinations during which 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 Kihon with Kata training where every single kata in the shotokan school was practiced after some rigorous kihon taken by Kumeda Sensei and Okuie 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 Kumite training was conducted
The day after the Gasshuku, the JKA Headquarters took some of the foreign participants on a tour of the historical places in Tokyo. The group visited the graves of both Dai Sensei Funakoshi Gichin and the great master Masatoshi Nakayama. The tour ended with a river boat cruise with dinner where all the Instuctors of the JKA HQ were present.

The Funakoshi Gichin Cup 12th World Karatedo Championship were held in Pattaya, Thailand from the 15th to 21st August, 2011.
A large Indian Contingent was represented in both the Senior and Junior Events. Members from the JKA India contingent entered the Last 8 in 4 categories with 2 finalists in the Under 10 yrs Boys kata event. It as also for the first time that we entered the final round in the senior division.
The finalists from India were:
1) Girls Under 9Years Kata : Michelle Esteberio - Goa
2) Boys under 10 Year Kata: Ayan Lall - Chattisgarh & Nealon Dcruz -Maharashtra
3)Boys under 13 years Kumite Siddhant Mundapat - Maharashtra
4) Women's Team Kata Wandashishi Warjri, Anidahun Warjri & Ester Lyngdoh
A lot of the credit for the performance must be attributed to Kobayashi Sensei from the JKA Headquarters who conducted a 2 week training camp that ended just a few days before the Championships and the results should serve as an inspiration to other members to train for the next World Championships that are scheduled to be held in Paris, France in 2014.
Congratulations to the above members

The International Master's Autumn Camp was held at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan from 7th October to 10th October 2010. JKA India Tech. Director Mr. Anand Ratna and JKA India Instructor Mr. Neeraj Dhawan participated in the camp. The opening address of the Autumn Camp was made by Masaaki Ueki Sensei as the Shusheki Shihan of the JKA who 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, was conducted for the senior group in the morning session which was taught by Ueki Sensei & Oishi Sensei. This was followed by Kata Training where the Heian Kata and Tekki Shodan, was taught was taught by the JKA HQ Instructors supervised by Ueki Sensei. The afternoon Session again had Kihon training and Kumite training. There was also a meeting held for all the foreign participants where the various rules and regulations of Dan grading were explained.
On Day 2 the groups were divided into their individual Dan grades and Katas Sochin and Unsu were taught in the Morning for the Roku Dan Group,and the Yon Dan & Go dan group were taught kata Hangetsu and Tekki Nidan. In the afternoon session the 6th, 7th & 8th dan group were given Judges training and this was followed by the renewal of the Special Rights Examiner's licence examination. Mr. Ratna who could grade up to shodan level, passed the examination and his licence was upgraded to grade up to Nidan.
On Day 3 During the morning session, participants were divided into 6thdan above and 5th Dan below.for training for examinations during which 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 Kihon with Kata training where Gankaku and Tekki Sandan was taught.. In the Evening, the JKA HQ hosted it's usual gasshuku party for all the participants of the training camp. The highlight of the party was the presentation of the Ninth Dan to Ueki Sensei by the former Chief Instructor of the JKA, Sugiura sensei.

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 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

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)