Welcome to the JKA of
Washington
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Japan Karate Association of Washington is a non-profit club which practices and teaches traditional style Shotokan Karate. We are a member of the Northwest-Region of International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF), with headquarters in Philadelphia, USA, and affiliated to the Japan Karate Association (JKA), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Currently, we are two clubs rolled into one: a club for the general public and a club for the Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) students. We are located in Tacoma, Washington, USA.
The often heard words "Karate-do" is of Okinawan/Japanese origin and has a modern day translation in English of "Empty Hand Way". Karate is thought to have evolved from a mix of Chinese and native Okinawan and Japanese martial arts. Some historians even believe that the history of these oriental arts go all the way back to a Buddhist monk called Bodhidharma who came from India. Unfortunately, historical evidences and documentation regarding the evolution of most of these arts are sparse since a lot of information was handed down through generations by word of mouth and has been shrouded in an aura of secrecy and mysticism. Also, much by way of written documentation has been lost over time due to the ravages of wars - the last significant one being the World War II.
Today, Karate as a martial art and sport has evolved into numerous schools and styles. Shotokan, which is one of the most widely practiced style of Karate around the world, was created by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957). 'Shoto' was his pen-name in Japanese, which translates to 'Pine Waves'. Gichin Funakoshi is generally accepted as the Father of Modern Day Karate and is largely credited for implementing an organized and progressive system of learning, bringing the world of Karate out of Okinawa into Japan and later out to the rest of the world.
Shotokan as a martial art consists of blocking, punching, kicking and striking techniques. It is characterized by strong, linear movements and the maintenance of a low center of gravity. Generally, the emphasis is on getting from point A to point B using the shortest path and with economy of movement. Generally speaking, training in Shotokan is made up of learning kihon (basic techniques), kumite (sparring) and kata (forms). True to the words 'empty hand way', traditional Shotokan Karate does not involve using or training with weapons, though some of the techniques built into the katas are intended to train the responses/counters to attacks with weapons like the stick and the sword or knife. Shotokan at JKA of WA, is practiced as a non-contact system. Sparring is point based - the objective being to execute a perfect technique at a target at full speed and have the control to stop it just short of contact.
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In today's world of Information Technology, there is a hoard of information available at your finger tips regarding martial arts, Karate, Shotokan etc. There has been a lot written about the different aspects of it. We will not attempt to duplicate the information that is already out there and waste your time and ours. Another legitimate concern is potential violation of copyright laws when we start hosting parts of text, pictures and videos that rightfully belongs to somebody else. So we will attempt to keep such to an absolute minimum. Instead, given below are links to some relevant websites. There are lots more out there that can be found by regular Internet search engines like Google. Please feel free to browse them at leisure.
- About eminent masters like Gichin Funakoshi, M. Nakayama and ISKF instructors
- About Dojo Etiquette, Dojo Kun, Niju Kun
- About commonly used Japanese words and phrases in the dojo
- About Books, Videos and Recommended browsing (re: Articles on Karate and Japan, More Articles, Stretching)
People approach Karate-do for many reasons. For learning the art and the underlying culture, for self defense, for fitness and mental/physical well being, for developing focus and discipline etc. Often times, the individual ends up embracing the 'way' for life. The adage of 'seek and thou shalt find' is quite applicable here.
Karate is an art that is non-discriminatory. It's for people of all ages, gender, body type, fitness-level, race, ethnicity and political or sexual orientation. We all practice the same techniques and learn the same lessons. That is not to say that persons with a particular body type and fitness level will not have an advantage in learning one specific technique or movement over another - they will. But to excel in the art of Karate over the long run, all the ingredients you need is dedication and discipline, regular attendance and diligent practice. The end will be yours. Stories that show up on national television along the lines of the 80 year old lady who got her black belt after training hard for years are testaments enough.
At JKA of WA, we are like the members of a family. Of course, minus the bickering! We try to address the specific needs of each individual member. Being a relatively small organization and not caught up in the web of commercial interests, we manage to achieve that target much better. Smaller class sizes also mean greater personal attention from instructors.
Imagine a club where you can ask "could we change the class time to start half hour later, 'cause I can make it down here only by then?" and the instructor turns to the rest of the class and asks "what do y'all think, is that do-able?"
Yes, it's something like that!
About the Instructor
The chief instructor of JKA of Washington is Sensei Marc Cordice, who holds a 6th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. He hails from St. Vincent in the Caribbean and has been practicing Karate since 1970. He is one of those few fortunate who grew up in Karate, training under the likes of Senseis T. Okazaki, Y. Yaguchi, T. Mikami, S. Takashina and even the late Chief Instructor of JKA, M. Nakayama. Marc is a Cartographer by professional training and holds a day job working on Architecture and Design of Construction Projects for a private company in Washington.
Membership, Rates and Training
JKA of WA has a membership of men and women, with ages ranging from 17 years to 55 years and spanning various ethnicities. We are a relatively small club, and stay away from the bustling commercial rat race. Classes are available for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Minimum age for students at our club has been set at 13 years.
Visitors are welcome to drop by and watch the classes. It is however requested that you do not talk or cause any other distraction while a class is in progress. Please introduce yourself to the instructor at hand either before or after the class. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Prospective new members are usually allowed two free classes to 'try out' and see if you like the club, before you are required to officially join.
There are no contracts to sign for joining the club and membership goes from month to month. There is however an application form to be filled out and the ISKF membership card ($20) to be paid for before you join. This ISKF Membership card needs to be renewed every year. An up to date membership card is a requirement for testing, seminars etc. and generally allows you to attend classes at other affiliated dojos around the world if you are traveling. Do keep in mind that individual dojos and clubs would have their own policies and regulations, which might require you to pay a 'drop-in' fee for an occasional training or a monthly fee for extended training. Please check before you travel.
Members are expected to pay the monthly dues upfront for each month. The monthly dues are due at the beginning of each month. Current monthly rates are: $30.00 for students with a valid student ID and $35.00, for the general public. Regardless, if you are strapped for money, please talk to the instructor ahead of time and more than likely, you might be able to work something out.
Fees for testing and seminars, camps, conferences, competitions etc. varies and is usually announced as specific to the occasion.
We currently train 2 times a week for an hour and a half each - Mondays and Fridays, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Members are encouraged to train on their own as much as possible and on a regular basis. This is vital for the continued improvement and learning of the art.
Belts and Testing
We use the belt system that is commonly encountered at martial arts schools for the purpose of ranking and measuring the progress of our students. Students start off with a 'White' belt and progresses through a range of colored belts to get to the 'Black' belt. There are 9 levels to the colored belts (Kyu) leading up to a Black belt (Dan) and then 10 more levels to the Black belt. The colored belts are: White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Purple (2 levels), Brown (3 levels)
Testing to get promoted from one belt to the next (belt exam) happens on the average of about once every four months, provided you satisfy all the requirements for that level, except when you get to the brown belt levels. Once a brown belt, testing is done on the average of once every six months until one gets to a Black belt. After that, exams are done in the order of years in between. Of course, these are all average numbers and could vary with each individual. Also, there is no pressure to test when the time is up. Generally, the instructor tells you when he or she thinks you are ready to test for the next level.
Belt exams are usually conducted by Sensei Cathy Cline (6th Dan), who is the North-West ISKF Regional Director or other eminent and senior instructors of ISKF like Sensei Okazaki (9th Dan) or Sensei Yaguchi (8th Dan). There are separate testing fees which will be announced when tests are scheduled.
Pacific Lutheran University Shotokan Karate Club
The PLU Shotokan Karate club (PLUSKC), which is part of the JKA of WA, was established in 1998.
The Staff Advisor for this club is Dr. Gerry Myers, professor in the School of Business.
Current President of the Club is Janelle Stavig. She has been involved in the club since her freshman year and always enjoys seeing new faces in the club. Janelle is currently a green belt (5th Kyu).
PLUSKC has the potential to provide PLU students with not only the option of mastering Karate as an art and for self-defense, but also the academic opportunity of doing an Independent Study on the topic for University Credits towards their respective degree programs.
You can contact the PLU Shotokan Karate Club at the following phone number or email id.
Contact information:
Email ID: karate@plu.eduOr, alternatively , you can contact the JKA of WA directly. Please see the information under 'Contact Us' section on this website.
By Phone:
(253) 686-1723
This is a voice mail only. Please leave a message with your name and contact number and an instructor will get back to you within the next two business days.By Snail-Mail:
JKA of Washington
1641, 121 St S, Tacoma, WA - 98444By E-mail:
International Shotokan Karate Federation
Western Washington Shotokan Karate Club
This website is Copyright © Japan Karate Association of Washington, 2004, All Rights Reserved
