Shotokan is a style of karate brought to Japan by O’ Sensei Gichin Funakoshi.  He is known as the father of modern karate.  Funakoshi was a teacher from Okinawa and a student of several karate and kobudo styles.  You can see the elements of Shorei-ryu, Shorin-ryu, and Kobudo in its movements.  Training is usually divided into kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).  Shotokan can be recognized by its deep stances, strong basics, fluid kata, and its fast kumite.

Funakoshi was a great philosopher as well as a great technician.  In 1929, he established the Twenty Precepts of Karate and the Dojo Kun.  These principles are based on Bushido and Zen, and form the guiding principles to practice the art.  Funakoshi wrote: “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant.”

In 1924, Funakoshi adopted the coloured belt ranking system and gi of Judo and awarded the first Shodans in the system to Tokuda, Hironori Ōtsuka, Akiba, Shimizu, Hirose, Makoto Gima, and Shinyō Kasuya. In 1949, Funakoshi and his students, formed the Japanese Karate Association. In 1956, the JKA started the Kenshusei (instructor intern) training program.  In 1958, to improve and expand karate in America, the JKA sent many instructors overseas to America, Europe and the Middle East, to teach seminars and estsablied.

In 1949, Master Masatoshi Nakayama helped establish the Japan Karate Association.  Nakayama was appointed Chief Instructor, under the direction of Funakoshi. By 1955 he had reached the rank of 5th and 8th dan by 1961. In 1956, along with other senior instructors, he formed the JKA Kenshusei program.  In collaboration with Teruyuki Okazaki, he restructured the training program to follow both traditional karate and modern sports science methods. Nakayama established kata and kumite as tournament disciplines. 

Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, helped establish the Japan Karate Association in 1949.  Nishiyama was appointed to the JKA Board of Directors in 1951.  He was responsible for the JKA’s training program for instructors, which he continued to oversee until the late 1950s.  By 1955 the JKA honbu dojo was built in Tokyo.

In 1960, Nishiyama published his first book, Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting.  This book has been recognized as one of definitive texts on Shotokan karate, selling over 300,000 copies.  In 1961 he moved to the United States and founded the All American Karate Federation (AAKF).  In 1974 he became Executive Director for the International Amateur Karate Federation.  In 1985 the IAKF became the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) and Nishiyama was its first president.

Through the ITKF Nishiyama Sensei was able to keep the budo aspect of karate in competition.  He made a profound distinction between traditional karate and sport.  Conventional rules changed the spirit of karate: to defeat your opponent, rather than act in self-defense.  Traditional karate rules were formed utilizing the practice of “Shiai”, where practitioners test and learn from each other.  The traditional karate rules require that each technique is demonstrated with enough power to deliver a “finishing blow”, but with enough control not to injure the opponent.  These standards are not required in other sports.  Keeping this aspect in competition allows for the training methods taught in the dojo to be carried over into competition.  Master Nishiyama was able to create new tournament categories using this philosophy, such as en-bu, fuku-go, and kogo-kumite.

Master Teruyuki Okazaki began karate training in 1947, under the Japan Karate Association (JKA).  He studied under both Master Gichin Funakoshi and Master Masatoshi Nakayama.  In 1953, he graduated from the JKA instructor training program. He taught at Boei University, Takushoku University, and Tokyo Toritsu University. He also instructed the Kenshusei. In 1961, He was sent to the USA by Masatoshi Nakayama. He established a dojo in Philadelphia and founded the East Coast Shotokan Karate Association in 1963. In 1977 he founded the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF).  Master Okazaki received the rank of 10th dan in October of 2007.  He published two books on karate, The Textbook of Modern Karate and Perfection of Character – Guiding Principles For The Martial Arts & Everyday Life.

Shotokan was brought to Newfoundland in the ’70s by the late Master Masami Tsuruoka.  Tsuruoka was a student of Master Tsuyoshi Chitose, founder of the Chito-Ryu style of karate.  He recieved his shodan from Master Chitose in 1949.  Tsuruoka opened Canada’s first karate dojo in Toronto in 1958 and organized Canada’s first karate tournament in 1962.  He was a founding member of the National Karate Association, which formed in 1964. In 1965, Tsuruoka sensei received his 5th Dan from Master Chitose. After running the Chito-ryu Karate Association since 1962, Master Tsuruoka created his own organization Tsuruoka Karate-Do Federation in 1974.  On May 27, 1998 Master Tsuruoka received the Order of Ontario from Lieutenant Governor, Hilary Weston.  Today, Sensei Wing Au 7th Dan is the head of Tsuruoka Karate-Do Newfoundland.

Shotokan Karate in Newfoundland

Under the guidance of Master Tsuruoka, Sensei Joe Gillies started the Newfoundland Karate Association in 1978.  At this time, the NKA was the organizing body for Karate in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and the sport-governing institution for Karate in that province.  The NKA spent 15 years (1970-1985) following the teachings of Master Tsuruoka.  The NKA spent another 15 years (1985-2000) following the teachings of the late Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, one of O’Sensei’s direct students.

In 2001, the NKA left Master Nishiyama’s organization.  The NKA continued on their own.  In 2007, the five NKA Senseis Bruce Lee, Wayne Lee, Ern Howell, Paul Bell, and David Bell, were awarded 6th Dan by Master Tsuruoka.  The NKA have taught thousands of students, hosted many tournaments, and promoted many students to black level and beyond.  The NKA is now an independent organization that holds its own seminars and awards its own ranks.

Today, Sensei Michelle Critch, 4th Dan, is the technical director and head coach for Nishiyama karate in Newfoundland.  After the departure of the NKA, Sensei Critch continued with the International Traditional Karate Federation under the direction of Sensei Rick Jorgenson, 7th Dan, chairman, and technical director.  In 2014, there was an organizational split within the ITKF and the World Traditional Karate-Do Federation was formed.  Now, under the direction of Sensei Avi Rokah, 8th Dan.  In 2022, a new organization was created, The World Budo Karate Association.  The WBKA, lead by Sensei Avi Rokah, is a non-political, neutral and non-profit organization.  It’s goal is to continue the teachings of the late Master Hidetaka Nishiyama by offering seminars, an instructors program, and tournaments.

Sensei Clinton Pynn 4th Dan, moved to St. John’s and opened the IKD St. John’s, in 2020.  Sensei Clint began karate training in 1983 with Sensei Robin Maheux under the ISKF.  He continued training with Sensies Paul Smith 5th Dan and Frank Saville 5th Dan, at the Northern Shotokan Karate Club.  In 2010, Sensei Clint began training with the Labrador West Shotokan Karate Club under the direction of the International Karate Daigaku. He achieved Shodan in 2004 and as well as Nidan and Sandan in 2014.  He was honored with the International Karate Daigaku National Medal of Service.  Sensei Clint relocated to St. John’s and started the IKD St. John’s in 2020. In 2022, he was promoted to Yondan and in 2023, he was awarded Instructor / Examiner / Judge Levels: D.

Shotokan Karate in Labrador

In 1981 a Quebec Provincial Police officer by the name of Robin Maheux, who had earned his 1st Dan from the JKA, opened a dojo in Fermont Quebec just 23 km from the Labrador boarder.  In 1983, he started instructing in Labrador City. Sensei Robin went on to earn his 6th Dan from the JKA.

In1985, Sensei Bert Alexander 1st Dan opened the Northern Shotokan Karate Club. Sensies Paul Smith 5th Dan and Frank Saville 5th Dan operated the club until it closed in 2010. Under the direction of the ISKF.

In 2010, the Labrador West Shotokan Karate Club was opened by Senseis John Morrissey 4th Dan, Steve Osborne 4th Dan, Clint Pynn 4th Dan, and Ron Ducet 1st Dan. This dojo closed in 2020. Under the direction of the IKD.

In 2020, Sensei Frank Saville 5th Dan opened a dojo in Wabush, the Carol Lake Shotokan Karate Club. Under the direction of the IKD. This dojo closed in 2023.

In 2024, Sensei Jacqueline Carre 3rd Kyu opened the IKD Lab West Dojo.