Shotokan JKA Academy
Karate Self-Defence & Fitness
est 1979
For Your Best Karate Learning Experience Ever
About Us - Our Story
At the Shotokan JKA Academy, Our mission is to inspire & motivate people of all ages from the age of 6 years and above to reach their fullest potential in the art of Shotokan JKA Karate by our professional and unbeatable very best high level instruction. At the same time developing their essential life skills, such as respect,focus, resilience, confidence, character etc,whilst embodying our spirit of indomitable spirit, courage,generosity, experiential learning, teamwork, supportive community and growth.
Our Mission
Through easy to follow step-by-step high quality karate instruction,and personalised attention in a supportive community learning environment, we help & encourage people of all ages from the ages of six years upwards to achieve their full potentials through the art of JKAWF karate, thereby helping to build better communities. By emphasizing karate self-defence, health, fitness and life skills in a friendly, safe, & positive environment, we inspire our students to become more confident, successful, contributing,& responsible members of our community, and great Black Belts too.
Transforming lives through high quality karate instruction since 1976
As a child Sham Aktar 7th Dan has had a passion for learning & mastering Karate & martial arts. Currently he is a 7th Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate JKAWF,awarded by Kawasoe sensei, 8th Dan JKAWF in 2024 . A present he is a member of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), Japan Traditional karate Institute,(JTKI) World Shotokan Institute,(WSI) and past recognised member of Shotokan Karate International (SKI). He has been very fortunate in his life to have trained with some of the highest level original karate masters and experts to have emerged from the JKA,( Japan Karate Association)Japan, the old school original JKA masters. He started Karate & martial arts in 1973. He was promoted to 4th Dan by Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa in April 1990.
Shihan H. Kanazawa's 10th Dan Kata books autographed and given to Sham. Aktar , by Shihan Kanazawa,after the training & grading in April 1990.
Grandmaster H. Nishiyama 10th Dan, signs his master textbook , after a training seminar in the early 1990's and gives it to Sam Aktar.
Sensei Masahiko Tanaka, 8th Dan, signs his book called, Karate-do Perfecting kumite, in the 1990's for S.Aktar after a gruelling training seminar on Kumite. He was graded 5th Dan by Sensei's Shirai & Kase of World Shotokan Institute in 2002, He was promoted to 6th Dan by Kawasoe Sensei of Japan Traditional Karate Institute & JKAWF in 2010, and to 7th Dan in 2024.
Back In 1976 he had a vision to teach the art of karate self defence & fitnesss with life - skills to people of all ages to help improve their health & their lives positively. Now after over 50 years of karate teaching experience, incorporating the best Karate skills he learned from all his karate masters and mentors,over several decades and through innovative trial, research, and refinement,he has been able to devise an ultimate comprehensive course of Black Belt Excellence for the students at Shotokan JKA Academy which is a life-changer and which provides man positive benefits & an experience of a lifetime. By staying true to the founding fundamental karate spirit & principles of his karate masters, Sham Aktar remains a true role model in karate & martial arts education in his community.
His course of Black Belt excellence, is like receiving instruction directly from his great old school veteran karate masters of Japan. Gaining mastery & proficiency to the highest level in the art of Shotokan JKA Karate is guaranteed for all ages that train at the Shotokan JKA Academy.His students have gone onto winning many final placings in national karate tournaments.
Meet Our Team
We’re proud of our diverse and experienced team. Our instructors, coaches and staff have years of karate experience, each possessing their own unique style and skills. We strive to create a learning environment that is both fun and challenging for our students. Our coaching team is here to help our students reach their goals and become more confident, successful, and contributing members of the community.
Sham Aktar 7th Dan
Head Coach of Shotokan Karate JKA Academy
Personal Statement of Sham Aktar :
"I love my family. I am passionate about karate & martial arts. There is something great in every true martial art style. I love what it does for people & how it changes them positively.I am excited about karate & martial arts now as I was when I first started over 50 years ago!. My aim is to bring this excitement to others too so they too can enjoy their life more positively like myself".
Sense's : Naito, 8th Dan, Kawasoe 8th Dan, Aktar 7th Dan
Quick Biography :
Over decades of training, spanning over 50 years,including many trips to the far east to China, Japan,Malaysia, & Singapore,to train with the world's best masters of Karate & martial arts in his younger days,Sham Aktar has trained with the world's very best & original Karate masters, for over 50 years.These masters include the world's top karate experts such as : Master Kase 10th Dan, Nishiyama 10th Dan, Asai 9th Dan, Kanazawa 9th Dan,Shirai 8th Dan,Enoeda 8th Dan,Tanaka 8th Dan, Yahara 8th Dan,Kawasoe 8th Dan,...and many others.
Sham Aktar 7th Dan is still very much active in his own Karate training every day. This is in addition to taking karate classes & passing on his vast over 50 years of karate experience to his dedicated & commited karate students. Together with his great coaching team that he has developed, he tries to simplify all his teaching concepts for his students with much patience & enthusiasm at every session of his original JKA karate training method. So what took many years of practise by trial & error in the past, is simplified and taught in a systematic easy to follow format at professional world - class level at the Shotokan Karate JKA Academy by Sham Aktar as the head coach. To ensure his students' karate journey is the best that it can possibly be. Incorporating the very best of the fundamental skills & techniques of all the best Shotokan Karate Masters, like a road map for them to achieve their ultimate success,in their karate training.
Sham Aktar's unique teaching point is to be able to take an average dedicated karate student way past his/her inner potential to the ultimate level of karate technique, skill, & mastery together with the development of their mind & body by simplifying the essential key points of the original JKA Karate masters & pioneers.
You can be guaranteed an improvement in your physical & mental state when karate training with Aktar sensei over a period of time, as he always pushes you beyond your limit to find your true hidden potential in training to your personal best levels. This is his advice to all his dedicated students of karate :
" The impressive, dynamic, techniques, moves and skills of karate cannot be mastered overnight. They can only be acquired through day after day of hard work, effort & training in the basic techniques of karate. Without a physical & mental commitment to self-discipline & training, one cannot hope for improvement. Effective training can only be realised when the guidance and advice offered by qualified instructors & coaches is fathfully carried out both in the dojo and outside the dojo too. Because such advice has been derived from valuable practical experience acquired over a long period of time ".
"Bearing in mind that in our original karate we must be ready to defend & attack in an instant. This is where the correct practise of basic techniques of karate is essential. By forging our basic techniques (Kihon) to the ultimate level through practice and in Kata,we develop our Kihon to the ultimate extreme level. When this is mastered this Kihon becomes an effective Kumite (sparring) Waza (technique). Therefore first and foremost is the importance of mastering Kihon. We should aim to develop good Kihon & Kata, which over a course of time will produce effective Kumite. "
If you are above the age of 6 years and wish to learn the best Karate ever, then call us now for your first FREE trial lessson!!
Call: 07956 553417 .
Meet our coaching team
Student Creed :
At the Shotokan Karate JKA Academy, we believe in the power of a strong student creed to remind us of our commitment to growth, respect and discipline. Our Student Creed & Dojo Code are as follows:
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I intend to develop myself in a positive manner and avoid anything that would reduce my mental growth or physical health.
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I intend to develop self-discipline, in order to bring out the best in myself and others.
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I intend to use what I learn in class constructively and defensively, to help myself and others, and never be abusive or offensive.
Dojo Code :
Principles of Black Belt
As a dedicated student of Karate, I will live by the principles of Black Belt:
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Modesty
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Perseverance
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Courtesy
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Courage
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Integrity
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Indomitable Spirit
Our Dojo Rules :
Respect: Treat everyone in the class with respect, especially your sensei, who should be respected both inside and outside the dojo.
Self-Discipline : Work on yourself in class rather then critisizing and/or finding faults in others. Let the coaches do that.
Sickness : If you are sick it is best to stay home until you recover rather than coming to the class and infecting others.
Washrooms: Use the washroom before the class. Don't keep going to the washroom persistently unless there is medical reason.
Be on time: Arriving late to class is disrespectful, and you should do the appropriate number of push-ups,sit - ups & dorsal raises for the minutes you are late, then wait kneeling by the entrance until the sensei allows you to enter.
Be clean: Practice good personal hygiene, wash your hands before and after class, and keep your fingernails and toenails trimmed. You should also avoid wearing strong scents, perfumes, or colognes.
Be tidy: Take responsibility for the cleanliness of the dojo by throwing away your garbage and arranging training equipment and your belongings neatly.Don't keep interrupting the class. Any questions should be asked at the end of the session .
Be aware: Be aware of your surroundings and devise a way to avoid unsavoury situations. No talking in the class is allowed.
Be calm: Refrain from violent behavior and use your karate knowledge for justice.
Be respectful of others' needs: If you are a more experienced karateka, be sensitive to the needs of your partner, especially if they are a beginner.
Remove jewelery: Remove or tape over any jewelry that could cause injury.
Start and end with a bow: Sessions should begin and end with a formal bow of respect.
Note: Any member found breaking the above rules may be cautioned,or their membership may be terminated.
Karate Terminology -With English Meaning
Numbers: When counting for class, just pronounce the first syllable of bisyllabic numbers (i.e., ich, rok, shich, hach), for shorter, sharper counting.ichinisanshigorokushichihachiku (kyuu)juu
Stances:
hachinoji-dachi – ready stance- zenkutsu-dachi – front stance kou-kutsu-dachi – back stance kiba-dachi – horse stance / saddle stance
neko-dachi – cat stance sochin-dachi / fudou-dachi – sochin stance / “immovable” stance sanchin-dachi – “hourglass” stance-
hangetsu-dachi – “half moon” stance
Arm attack stsuki – punch:
oi-zuki – lunge punch gyaku-zuki – reverse punch kizami-zuki – jab punch nukite – spear-hand (thrust) ura-ken – back hand (strike)
empi – elbow (strike)
Leg attackskeri: – kick:
mae-geri – front (snap) kickmawashi-geri – round house kick(yoko-geri) kekomi – side thrust kick(yoko-geri) keage – side snap kick-
ushiro-geri – back (thrust) kick
Attacking levels:
jou-dan – “upper level” / face chuudan – “middle level” / stomach / solar plexus gedan – “lower level” / groin
Blocks:
age-uke – rising block ude-uke – “arm block”, often used to mean outside block soto-uke – outside block (see above) uchi-uke – inside block gedan barai – down block / “lower level sweep” shuto-uke – knife-hand block nagashi-uke – “flushing block” / deflecting block kakiwake-uke – two-handed “separating” block juuji-uke – two-handed “cross” block
Kata Translations are approximate transliterations of the Chinese characters used to “spell” the kata names.
kata – form(s):
heian shodan – “stable and secure” / “stable peace,” “first level”heian nidan – , “second level” heian sandan –, “third level”heian yondan – you get the idea heian godan
tekki shodan – “iron horseman,” “first level”
bassai dai – “destroying a fortress,” “greater” version *
empi – “flight of the swallow”
jion – “compassion and favor” (This is a Buddhist term and possibly the name of some temple.)
kankuu dai – “observing the sky/emptiness,” “greater” version
*jutte / jitte – “ten hands”
hangetsu – “half moon”
tekki nidan tekki sandan
nijuushiho – “twenty-four steps”
gankaku – “boulder crane” (the bird on a rock)
sochin [sou-chin] – “strength and control”
bassai sho [shou] – “destroying a fortress,” “lesser” version *
kankuu sho [shou] – “observing the sky/emptiness,” “lesser” version *
unsu [unsuu] – “cloud hands”
gojuushiho (dai) – “fifty-four steps,” “greater” version *
gojuushiho sho [shou] – “fifty-four steps,” “lesser” version *
meikyo [meikyou] – “bright mirror
”ji’in – “compassion and shadow” (Possibly another temple.)
chinte – “rare hands”wankan – “king’s crown”* Kata with “lesser” or “greater” attached (“sho” or “dai”) don’t really mean “lesser” or “greater” in any quantitative sense. It’s just a way of distinguishing two different kata.
Kumite:kumite – sparring
gohon kumite – (basic) five-step sparring, sanbon kumite – (basic) three-step sparring, (kihon) ippon kumite – (basic) one-step sparring, jiyuu ippon kumite – semi-free one-step sparring, (jiyuu) kumite – free sparring
Other words:
kihon – basic(s)
ki-ai – “spirit focus” / a focusing yell
kime – “decision” / focus
rei – bow
youi – “get ready” / often a command to stand in hachinoji-dachi
yame – stopyasume – rest, relaxmaware /
mawatte – turn
hajime – begin
mokusou – “quiet meditation”
dojo [dou-jou] – “way place,” the place where you train
dojo kun – dojo desiderata
seiza – “proper sitting” / kneeling
sempai – senior student
kou-hai – junior student