Last weekend, ten dedicated karateka from the JKS and KWF honbu dojos met for the first Ku Shi Kai (空志会) training of the new Reiwa era.

What an excellent way to usher in a new era — toiling together despite organizational differences in our collective pursuit of karate excellence and the Way. 

Established by members of the original honbu dojo of the old unified JKA, the Ku Shi Kai group still gets together monthly some 63 years later. With the imperative to “preserve real karate” and “raise the next generation” (according to the sempai I asked), we meet regularly to train together, especially in support of any members pushing themselves toward a test or competition. 

Now coming together from new, separate Shotokan organizations each with its own honbu and direction, the Ku Shi Kai gatherings are also a chance to share ideas and maintain old bonds. There is always a social event too, once we’ve finished battering each other! The training is led each time by a sempai from one or the other dojo and is often focused on tournament prep since most of us are active competitors. Reinforcing that bond, we still enter the Shibuya Ward Karate Championship together each spring and autumn as one team.

In the May session this year, I found myself one of the senior members present, and to my surprise was asked to run part of the session. One of our number gearing up for his 3rd-dan test wanted to cover the kata Meikyo. Anything can be asked at that level, and Meikyo is not popular in competitions so is sometimes neglected. I felt quite honored to teach kata in this historic group — doubly so as I was then asked for help with Nijushiho which I’ve been focused on lately.

Despite being my first time teaching an advanced class in Japanese, with no time to prep in terms of vocabulary, I think I did quite well. As usual, it was a pleasure to get together with everyone in a different setting, and of course to share a few drinks afterward.

Here’s to a new era of great karate and togetherness!