Karate

UK KDS Karate-Do Shotokai

Practising and teaching karate as taught by Master Mitsusuke Harada

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Find out more about our history, style and Master Harada.

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Our history

The name “Shotokai” means Shoto’s group (Shoto being the pen name of Gichin Funakoshi).
 
The Shotokai were officially formed by the Funakoshi family, in order to take care of Gichin Funakoshi’s funeral arrangements. It contained his closest and most senior students, to whom he trusted the continual development of his Shotokan Karate.
 
As a result of political and personal disputes after the passing of O’Sensei, the Shotokai remained as a group that taught and developed Karate-do, as Gichin Funakoshi had intended.
 

about

Mitsusuke Harada

Mitsusuke Harada

The KDS was established in 1965 by Mitsusuke Harada. With his own organisation now formed, Master Harada distanced his organisation from the many political wranglings of other martial arts groups at that time. Harada Sensei, as he is referred to by his students; could now focus on the KDS, without outside influence. 

Master Harada was awarded a 5th Dan (1956) personally by Gichin Funakoshi (O’Sensei) the founder of modern day Karate-do on mainland Japan. Master Harada has sought no higher grade since then. The grade of 5th Dan is the highest award given by the KDS. A tradition which was inherited from O’Sensei who accepted no higher than this.

 In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Master Harada as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to karate.

Master Harada receiving his MBE

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