KDS Bethnal Green and KDS London would like to welcome you to the first all...
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UK KDS Karate-Do Shotokai
Practising and teaching karate as taught by Master Mitsusuke Harada
Latest news
News and events, including information about upcoming karate courses
Harlow, 20 – 22 Jan, Black Belt
Register and pay Times Friday19.00 – 20.30 Saturday11:00 – 13.0015:00 – 17:00 Sunday 10:00 –...
Read MoreWinter School, 2-4 Dec, all grades
Yet another year draws to a close, and a warm welcome awaits you and your...
Read More11 Nov, Essex, all grades
Essex Karate-do Shotokai warmly invites all KDS members to our all-grades weekend course from Friday...
Read MoreHer Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Karate-Do Shotokai, UK wish to express our heartfelt condolences on the death of Her...
Read More24 Sept, Oxford, all grades
Oxford University KDS invites you to an all grades one day course overseen by Marie...
Read MoreWant to learn karate?
Find a karate club
We have clubs across the UK, Europe and America.
Karate course calendar
Our courses take place regularly in the UK, Europe and America.
About
Find out more about our history, style and Master Harada.
News, events, upcoming courses, photos and vidoes.
Karate course calendar
About us
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
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.
Articles
Harada Sensei – biography
Story by Jonathan de’ Claire BSc (Hons) – with the...
Read MoreHarada Sensei – interview
Master Mitsusuke Harada, Principal Instructor of the KDS and former...
Read MoreHarada Sensei – MBE interview
Jonathan de’ Claire interviews Master Harada shortly after he received...
Read MoreThe concept of kiai
Master Mitsusuke Harada presents his opinion on the concept of...
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