W.J.K.A.

Dear Instructors, Members and Affiliates,

Newsletter

No. 1

Word from the President

I am proud to present the first edition of the WJKA Newsletter. WJKA is growing and during this process the Board and the Shihankai found it necessary to keep you all updated by means of our own Newsletter. The Newsletter is not only HQ business, meaning that you all can be a part of this bulletin. We expect from our members feedback, event schedules, topics and stories. We expect our member Organizations to send in a profile of their Organization and its representative. Whatever you think is important enough to share, please feel free to send it to HQ. Our aim is to publish this Newsletter at least 4 times a year, so be a part of it. In this 1st Edition we start with presenting our Shihankai and profile one of the Shihankai members. Sensei Don Owens will be the first Shihankai member in this profile. The idea is that not only the President and the Technical Director are known to you, but also the other very important Shihankai members. You will also find the Schedule of the year as far as it is known to us. Please we like to have a Worldwide schedule and not only Europe and the US, so send in your schedules as soon as possible. If necessary an extra schedule will be send to all members. There will be an update about country Representatives. As you known each country has a Representative who is the spokesman for that country. They are/will be appointed for one year. After that time evaluation will follow and action will be taken if replacement is demanded. A very important part is the medical items send in by Sensei and Shihankai member John Turnbull. We owe him thanks for putting these topics together and have them send to HQ. We hope and expect that Sensei Yokota will contribute to the Newsletter by publishing some of his writings, as well as technical as historical. In conclusion the Newsletter is WJKA and WJKA is you. Ossu Jan Knobel President WJKA

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Shihankai

Jan G. Knobel 8th Dan WJKA President

Kousaku Yokota 8th Dan WJKA Technical Director

Donald Owens 8th Dan Member WJKA Shihankai

Tadeusz Lebida 7th Dan Member WJKA Shihankai

John Turnbull 6th Dan Member WJKA Shihankai

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Shihankai member " Don Owens " Karate History

I was still in high school when I first started looking into the martial arts. I lived in Vancouver where there was a big Chinese Community so I first started looking at the Kungfu clubs that were around. I found Kungfu didnt fit my personality at the time so I started looking into Karate. There were only a few Karate dojos around at that time in Vancouver. The first one I looked at was a Kyokushinkai dojo and although it was more in line what I was looking for it still wasnt quite right for me. I looked at another dojo that was run by a Filipino Sensei and although the Kumite was good there was no kata and again it also didnt fit my personality. I tried Judo for a while and of course wrestling and then one day a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to see his Karate dojo. That is where I met my Instructor Yamashiro Sensei. It was the only Shotokan School in Vancouver at the time in 1965. The students training there trained very hard and I liked the dojo itself and it definitely fit my personality. Yamashiro Sensei was a typical Japanese Sensei having arrived from Japan only a short time before. I was in excellent shape but still I was pushed to my limit and beyond. Yamashiro Senseis dojo not only was the only Shotokan dojo locally but also was JKA affiliated through Yamashiro Senseis instructor, Sugano Jun the Vice President of JKA at the time. The dojo attracted many visitors from Japan and other Countries Worldwide. Whenever Shotokan practitioners visited Vancouver and asked where they could find a Shotokan dojo they were directed to Yamashiro Senseis dojo. As a result I got to train with many Karateka from around the world many of course were high ranking Senseis as well. Yamashiro Senseis dojo was located in the heart of the skid row are of Vancouver, the notorious 100 East Hastings where there were numerous nefarious people about, however we only occasionally were challenged by these people. I continued to train with Yamashiro Sensei until 1981. During this time Yamashiro Sensei encouraged me to visit and train at other dojos. I trained not only in Karate but in Kungfu, Judo, Jujitsu and many other styles of martial arts that began popping up in Vancouver. I also had the good fortune to have two Aikido 4th dans living with me for 4 years and we trained in Aikido for hours every day. Of course I continued my Karate training with Yamashiro Sensei as well. In 1981 I joined the Vancouver Police Department. The following year I started the Vancouver Police Dojo. It was during this time I met Nakayama Hiroshi the nephew of Nakayama Masatoshi and it was through him I was able to sponsor a visit to the Police Dojo by Nakayama Masatoshi in 1986. Due to my karate experience I became what ultimately became known as a force options instructor for the police department for a short time as well. I also helped a friend who was a Sheriff force options instructions for the Sheriffs at the Justice Institute of BC. It was during the early years in my career as a police officer I found the many benefits of karate for the police. In short my karate experience was put to work right away as a police officer. It became

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readily apparent the self control and calmness it brings to a situation where there is great hostility and a possibility that a life and death struggle could erupt at any moment is without a doubt one of the most beneficial aspects of karate. Of course there are many other aspects that I am sure everyone already knows about. Needless to say over the years as a police officer I have had hands on experience in pretty much all aspects of using Karate in combat and potential combat situations. In many cases there were situations where the aspect of using physical force was avoided by the fact I knew karate. This of course was the best result. In others where force was used although I didnt come away unscathed I was able in most cases to subdue the offender without hurting him. After Nakayama Masatoshis death in 1987 I was looking for an association to belong to when I was invited to meet Asai Sensei and ultimately joined Asai Sensei in 1992. It was at this time that Asai Sensei gave me the right to the name of Canada JKA. Asai Sensei visited the Vancouver Dojo a number of times as did Kagawa Sensei. I was always astounded by Asai Senseis karate abilities and Kagawa Sensei as well. Also in 1992 I started the North Langley Karate Dojo as I had moved to live in Langley which was quite a distance from the Vancouver Police Dojo. The Vancouver Police dojo is no more but the North Langley Dojo is still going strong. I still have many friends in different Karate Associations and we still train together. I have been fortunate throughout the years to have people from different Martial Arts disciplines visit my dojo over the years and continue to have this. In the early 2000s I had the Chinese National Wushu team visit me and exchange ideas. I am fortunate enough to continue to be able to train without politics getting in the way. In 2010 I met Yokota Shihan and after considerable thought to the future of Karate for me and my students I joined the WJKA on the invitation of Knobel Sensei and Yokota Sensei. I am now a member of the WJKA Shihankai. I find the WJKA allows me the freedom that I expect from an organization and that is to train without worrying about politics. There I find is the biggest detriment to Karate. You are not allowed to train where you want because the big organization wont let you on fear of expulsion. This goes away from what Karate was originally about. On a final note I would like to point out that I still see my instructor and friend Yamashiro Sensei and I still train and teach Karate. Karate is indeed a lifetime study.

North Langley seminar 30-01-2013

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Country Representatives

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Country Representatives

Country Representatives act as liaison officers between WJKA Headquarters and national WJKA affiliate organizations of the particular country or region represented. These one year appointments are evaluated by the President at the end of each term and may be extended depending upon the outcome of the review process and interview between the President and the Country Representative. Should Representatives under review be required to make adjustments or corrections in the execution of their duties, a three month probationary extension will be granted before a re-evaluation is conducted and a final determination made. All Country Representatives serve as appointees at the pleasure of the President.

Requirements for Country Representatives are as follows: Representatives must commit to WJKA as their primary and most significant organizational allegiance if not sole affiliation. Representatives are required to convert all yudanshas in their organizations to WJKA dan ranks within the first year. This mandate is also for existing dan ranks and not only for those passing examinations to new grades. Representatives must promote WJKA through a dedicated and independent WJKA website linked to the WJKA HQ website (the site should be up within 3 months after the assignment). Representatives must organize national and international tournaments, seminars and events, host or participate in a minimum of one WJKA event per year, and invite Shihankai members whenever possible to seminars and examinations. Representatives must recruit and register new organizations and register dans from those member organizations. Representatives must communicate frequently and productively with affiliate organizations. Representatives answer to the President of WJKA, and are under his direct supervision.

Organizations and dojos Organizations/Dojos with only one registered member will have that membership filed as an individual membership. Those in this category with current WJKA Instructors' Licenses will not be invited to renew them after the current two-year registration period closes.

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New Affiliated Organizations

In the last 3 months we had the pleasure to welcome the next new organizations:

SWITZERLAND

WJKA Switzerland International WJKA Instructor Antonio Stifani 5.Dan WJKA

BRAZIL

ACPA Shotokan Karatedo Instructor J. de Oliveira

UKRAINE

Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Fed. Ukraine Instructor Anatoly Naumenko

BENELUX

WJKA Benelux International WJKA Instructor Kurt Verschueren 6.Dan WJKA

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KARATE INJURIES

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February '13 22-24 24 March '13 03 23 April '13 07 14 20 28 June '13 08 09 14-16 September '13 15 28-29 October '13 18-20 November '13 17 June '14 20-22

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Events 2013 - 2014

WJKA gashuku in Rhode Island - USA Open JKA championships in Terheijden - Netherlands

Int. WJKA course with sensei J.Knobel in Nijmegen, Netherlands Int. WJKA course with sensei J.Knobel in Halsteren, Netherlands

Dutch Open JKA Championships in Roosendaal, Netherlands 3. Int. karate course with sensei J.Knobel in Edegem Belgium Int. WJKA course with sensei J.Knobel in Remscheid, Germany Open Belgium Cup in Wevelgem, Belgium

Kata Marathon with sensei Yokota, sensei Knobel & sensei Lebida in Sandersdorf, Germany Int. WJKA course with sensei Yokota in Edegem, Belgium 4. WJKA World Championships in Remscheid, Germany

1. Nordhorn Open WJKA Championships in Nordhorn, Germany Int. WJKA seminar with sensei Knobel in Kent, United Kingdom

WJKA gashuku in New York, USA

28. Open Roosendaal JKA Championships, Roosendaal, Netherlands

4. WJKA European Championships in Edegem, Belgium

* For the last update view http://www.wjkahq.com/4-B-Events.htm

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WJKA KATA MARATHON - SANDERSDORF - GERMANY

Venue: Sporthall Ballsporthalle Am Sportzentrum 25 Sandersdorf - Brehna Germany Date: 08 June 2013 Schedule 10.00 - 16.00 hrs. Contact WJKA Germany Email: SLaser@t-online.de Website: www.wjka-germany.de For Flyer & Invitation view our website http://www.wjkahq.com/4-B-Events.htm

WJKA KARATE SEMINAR - EDEGEM - BELGIUM

Venue: Sporthall Kattenbroek Kattenbroek 14 - 2650 Edegem Belgium Date: 09 June 2013 Schedule 11.00 - 16.00 hrs. Contact WJKA HQ Email: info@wjkahq.com Website: www.wjkahq.com For Flyer & Invitation view our website http://www.wjkahq.com/4-B-Events.htm

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4. WJKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - REMSCHEID - GERMANY

Venue: Sporthall Neuenkamper Halle Neuenkamper Strasse 50 Remscheid Germany Date: 14 - 16 June 2013 Contact IKA Germany - Dojo Remscheid Email: mail@dokan-remscheid.de Website: http://www.dokan-remscheid.de For flyer & invitation view our website http://www.wjkahq.com/4-B-Events.htm

4. WJKA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS - EDEGEM - BELGIUM

Venue: Sporthall Kattenbroek Kattenbroek 14 2650 Edegem Belgium Date: 20 - 22 June 2014 Contact JKA the Netherlands Email: info@jkanl.com Website: www.jkanl.com For flyer & invitation view our website http://www.wjkahq.com/4-B-Events.htm

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BOOKS KATA KYOHON 1-2-3

Kata Kyohon no.1

Kata Kyohon no.2

Kata Kyohon no.3

Authors: sensei J.Knobel & K. Yokota Orders can be send to: WJKA HQ - email: admin@wjkahq.com Sensei Yokota USA - email: wjka_americas@yahoo.com

BOOK SHOTOKAN MYTHS & MYSTERIES

New - Soon to be published " Shotokan Mysteries "

Shotokan Myths

Authors: sensei K. Yokota Orders can be send to: WJKA HQ - email: admin@wjkahq.com Sensei Yokota USA - email: wjka_americas@yahoo.com

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Vol.1 Vol.2

Newsletter

No. 1

SHOTOKAN KARATE DVD Vol. 1-2-3-4

Vol.3 Vol.4

Author: sensei J.Knobel Orders can be send to: WJKA HQ - email: admin@wjkahq.com For information about the books & dvd's please visit http://www.wjkahq.com/4-C-Shop.htm

LICENSE AND RECORD

BOOK

Official WJKA License and Record book Price Individual Members 5,00 Special Price for Organizations Please contact WJKA HQ Email: admin@wjkahq.com

CONTACT To send in schedules, events, information etc. please contact : WJKA H.Q.: att.to. Mrs. J. Levink Email: admin@wjkahq.com Website: www.wjkahq.com

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