IMA Web page-What is Shotokan

The International MartialArts Association invites you and your family members of all ages to join us and develop the highest level of technical proficiency in Shotokan karate, a traditional Japanese martial art. IMA also welcomes dojos, clubs, and other organizations to learn about our methods for teaching karate-ka of all ages and abilities, for training effective teachers, and for operating successful dojos. Our structure and large number of advanced instructors allow us to support all levels of Dan grading. IMA also provides full access to our resources, including success manuals for students and for dojo principals, to dojos and clubs that establish more formal relationships with us. These affiliate organizations are an important part of the family, representing IMA in Shotokan communities nationally and internationally. Thank you for your interest in IMA. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and look forward to hearing from you.

“The right decision will affect rest of your life”

Cyrus Madani

IMA Chief Instructor

44 years of karate experience

artialarts Association

Congratulation to all I.M.A new Black Belts

who passed their test on Feb. 6, 2010.

Congratulations to three members of I.M.A. (Taylor Kiyota, Miya Holley and Jax Martinelli)representing USA in the Jr. World Championships for their outstanding perfomrance.

Special Congratulations to Miya Holley to be the 1st I.M.A. World medalist (Bronze medal) and one of only three US team members who placed in recent WKF championships.

Miya in WKF

More pictures coming soon!

NEXT EVENT

I.M.A. Kyu Testing

Feb. 20, 2010 starts at: 9:00am

What is Shotokan

What is Shotokan?

Gichin Funakoshi is widely considered as the 'father' of modern day karate. He was born in Shuri in Okinawa in 1868 and at the age of 11 began to study Karate under two of Okinawa’s top masters. In time sensei Funakoshi became a master in his own right and in 1922 he was invited to demonstrate karate to the Japanese public for the very first time. The demonstration was such a success he was invited to stay in Japan and teach, which he did with great success.

For Funakoshi sensei, the word ‘karate’ eventually took on a deeper meaning synthesising, into what was to become karate-do, the 'way of the empty hand’. He was to modify the Okinawaan art by taking inspiration from traditional Japanese budo (kendo, judo, etc) and emphasising their philosophical aspects. This became a total discipline, which represented a synthesis of Okinawaan and Japanese schools and in 1936 he established the ‘SHOTOKAN’ style of Japanese karate which was to be greatly influenced by his son Yoshitaka (Giko) and Masatoshi Nakayama, first headmaster of the Japan Karate Association.

Whereas his father was responsible for transforming karate from a mere fighting technique into a philosophical martial ‘do’ (way of life), Yoshitaka was put in charge of developing, helped by other important martial artists, a karate technique that definitively separated Japanese karate-do from the local Okinawaan art, thus giving it a completely different and at the same time notoriously Japanese flavour.

It is upon these concepts that in 1948, the Japan Karate Association (JKA) was founded. The establishment of the JKA lead the way to the spread of Shotokan karate throughout the world. Master Masatoshi Nakayama, one of Funakoshi's greatest students, succeeded him as the headmaster of the JKA and during his time there he further developed Shotokan, based on his own research, into the style we know today. It was through master Nakayama's vision, that Shotokan has spread throughout the world by enriching many people's lives in many countries, while other senior instructors stayed in Japan at the Sohonbu to teach the next generation of Shotokan masters.

Mission Statement:

To provide a friendly, safe and positive environment in which students can learn the philosophy and the skills of Martial arts.
To have a strong, supportive martial arts family which builds positive role models within the surrounding community, demonstrating exceptional character and the philosophy of non-violence.
To enable each student to achieve a life long commitment to martial arts and to become a successful individual in every day life through the practice of the Dojo Kun.

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