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JKS Americas Chairman – Sensei Kousaku Yokota Yokota Sensei has extensive martial arts experience. Not only does he have over forty years of Shotokan Karate experience, he has also studied other styles of Karate such as Goju-Ryu and Kyokushinkai, Judo and Ki. He has experience with weapons as well, and has studied the ways of Nunchaku and Sai to deepen and supplement his knowledge and experience in Karate-do.
Yokota Sensei started his martial arts training in 1960 when he was just 13 years old. He began his training in Judo by taking lessons at the Hyogo Prefecture Police station. At this Judo dojo, there was a student who also practiced Karate - he was practicing Judo to further improve his fighting skills. This practitioner impressed Yokota Sensei so much that even though he had been training in Judo for two years, Yokota Sensei switched his martial arts training to Karate. He joined the JKA affiliated Kobe YMCA Karate Club.
In 1973, Yokota Sensei moved to Philadelphia, PA and became a full time instructor at the ISKF headquarters as well as a personal assistant to Master Okazaki, 9th dan, ISKF Chairman.
Yokota Sensei was one of the top competitors in the East Coast Regional tournaments in the 1970's. He returned to his hometown Kobe in 1981 to complete his instructor's training under the late Master Sugano, 9th dan, JKA Vice Chairman. As soon as he returned to Japan, he entered the Prefecture tournament and became the champion that year, and again in the following year. He also represented his prefecture in the JKA All National Championship in Tokyo in 1981 and 1982.
After completing the JKA instructor's training, Yokota Sensei moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1983 to teach at an ISKF dojo in Mountain View (now defunct). He has also taught at UC Berkeley, San Jose State and De Anza College, as well as at a dojo in Redwood City (now defunct). He attained Go-dan (5th dan) from JKA in 1994.
Yokota Sensei returned to Tokyo with his family in 1997. While he was living in Tokyo, he trained in Ki under Master Nishino, Grand Master of Nishinoryu Kokyuho for two and a half years. In 2000, he returned to the bay area and started the current dojo in San Jose. Yokota Sensei switched his dojo's affiliation from JKA to JKS in 2004. He is a certified instructor as well as a certified examiner of JKS under Asai Sensei. Yokota Sensei received Roku-dan (6th dan) from Master Asai in 2005 that made him one of the highest ranked JKS instructors in the USA.
Sensei Yokota is one of the senior advisors of WJKA-USA or World JKA Karate Alliance, a large international JKA style Shotokan organization.
Yokota Sensei has been interviewed by The Shotokan Way, an online magazine. The interview is available in 2 parts, click here for Part I and here for Part II.
Yokota Sensei has also been featured in Karate Masters II by Jose Fraguas (2006, ISBN 1933901209). The book is available on Amazon.
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JKS USA Technical Director – Sensei Charles Lee (Hawaii). Sensei Lee has been training and teaching Shotokan Karate for 37 years and has been studying Asai Sensei’s karate for over 23 years. Sensei Lee started his karate training in September 1969 as a student at the University of Hawaii. The University of Hawaii Karate Club was an affiliate of the Karate Association of Hawaii (KAH). The Chief Instructor was Kenneth Funakoshi. Kenneth Funakoshi became Chief Instructor of the KAH after Sensei Tetsuhiko Asai had returned to Japan in 1969.
In 1971, soon after attaining his shodan in the KAH, Sensei Lee was given his first regular branch dojo to teach while still a university student. After graduating from the University of Hawaii in 1973, Sensei Lee taught full time for one year teaching at the main dojo and two other branch dojos. In 1976 Sensei Lee attained his sandan from the KAH. During the 1970's Sensei Lee was one of the KAH top instructors and tournament competitors.
In 1970 the Karate Association of Hawaii left the Japan Karate Association but would rejoin the JKA in 1983. In the summer of 1983, Asai Sensei made a trip to Hawaii and conducted classes for a week. This was the first time Sensei Lee had met and trained with Asai Sensei. From that year on Asai Sensei and his wife made annual trips to Hawaii for vacation and Asai Sensei would teach regularly at a KAH dojo.
In 1988 Sensei Lee left the KAH with Sensei Edward Fujiwara, and other members. Together they started the Japan Karate Association of Hawaii. Sensei Lee also started the Waiau Dojo in Pearl City. Sensei Lee through Sensei Fujiwara re-certified his dan and dan certification with the Japan Karate Association. From 1988 through 1999 Asai Sensei continued to come to Hawaii to gave classes and seminars. During this period Asai Sensei allowed Sensei Lee, Sensei Fujiwara and other members to train with him in the early morning. During these early morning training, Sensei Lee received extensive training from Asai Sensei. Sensei Lee also traveled through out Japan to attend the JKA All Japan Tournament and Seminars.
In 1990, Sensei Lee received his JKS sandan from Asai Sensei in Hawaii. In 1994, Sensei Lee received his JKA yondan certificate from Asai Sensei while attending a three day karate camp in Tokyo with his students. In 1999, Sensei Lee received his JKA godan certificate from Asai Sensei while attending the JKA All Japan Tournament and Asai Sensei Seminar held in Gifu, Japan.
In 2000 Sensei Lee became the Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Shotokai Hawaii. In 2004 Sensei Lee received his JKS rokudan certificate from Asai Sensei in New Zealand at a Asai Sensei seminar. Sensei Lee is a licensed JKS instructor, examiner, and judge. In 2003, 2004 & 2005 Sensei Lee has sponsored Asai Sensei for seminars in Hawaii and New Zealand.
Email – leec026@hawaii.rr.com
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JKS USA Director Eastern Region – Sensei Antonio Dato . Sensei Antonio Dato was born in Argentina in 1966. He started his training in 1983 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and holds the following ranks –
- 4th degree Karate (1996 by IKS in Buenos Aires Argentina, 1998 by AMAF)
- 1st degree JiuJitsu
- 1st degree Tae Kwon Do
- 1st degree Kobudo
Other accomplishments include –
- Owner and instructor Zenshikai Karate Dojo in Union City, NJ since 1993
- Program Director (Karate) Saint Francis Academy since 2002
- Program director(Karate) First Christian Pentecostal Academy since 2005
- Progam Director, YMCA, Newark, NJ since 2006.
- Certified by American Sports Education Program(ASEP) on Coaching Principles
- Technical coach and referee by the AAU National Karate Program.
- Coaching staff member of the AAU/USA Junior National Karate Team
- Goodwill karate tournament(Tokyo 2003)
- Goodwill karate tournament(Tokyo 2006)
- Osaka Intenational Karate Tournament(Osaka 2006).
- Member of the IMAF (Kokusai Budoin),and IKKF (International Karate-Kobudo Federation).
- Certified Shiatsu first level (Sensei Katsutoshi Kurata)
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JKS Latin America Director – Sensei Antonio Diaz. Sensei Antonio Diaz was born on Mar 25th, 1967 and obtained his shodan in 1986. His list of accomplishments is impressive, with some of the key milestones listed below -
- 1986 Shodan (ITKF)
- 1988 Nidan (ITKF)
- 1993 Sandan (USKIV, WSKF)
- 1993 Sandan (FVKD HOMOLOGADO)
- 2002 Yondan (WSKF)
Other accomplishments include -
- 2007 Instructor Course with FVKD (Caracas)
- 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 Seminar WSKF (Sensei Fouad Korban).
- 1996 Seminar with Sensei Jaime Noguera National Team.
- Course PanAmerican Arbitration (Sensei Julius Thiry WKF)
- 1993, 1992 Seminar with Sensei Alejandro Castro.
- 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988 Seminar with Sensei Rebor Hernández.
- 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982 Seminar with Sensei Katsuya Ishiyama.
- Athlete of Year ASVEKA 1986, 1985.
- Recognition best Karate athlete "Premio Miñoso Martínez" 1991, 1990.
- Athletic excellence State Anzoátegui 2004.
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JKS Mexico Director – Sensei Francisco Martinez Pasteur Started his karate practice in 1978 with Sempai Alejandro Martínez Muñoz, thereafter he continued his practice with Sensei Manuel Valencia Montoya at the Nakayama Dojo II. When he obtained his Shodan, Sensei Pasteur decided to dedicate his life to the Karate Way, and was successful in important regional championships.
In 2007, his karate organization – CEPKAM (Centro Profesional de Karate-do de Mexico) – was awarded the International Excelsis Award by the Global Quality Foundation, for the best karate institution in Mexico, after a thorough assessment performed at the national level.
Selected highlights of Sensei Pasteur's karate accomplishments
- 1992 – Awarded JKA Shodan by Asai Sensei
- 1993 – 2nd place kata and kumite in the JKA Mexico Karate Tournament
- 2002 – Awarded Nidan
- 2005 – Awarded Sandan
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