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The JKA of Chicago has been teaching Shotokan karate in Chicago since 1963. Shotokan karate is a traditional Japanese martial art focusing on empty-handed fighting and self-defense.

The dojo was established by Walter Nakamoto in 1962 as the Chicago Karate Club. The name was changed in 1963 when Shojiro Sugiyama was invited to come to America from Japan to become head instructor. JKA of Chicago is the headquarters of the Great Lakes Region (Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio) of JKA International.



Shojiro Sugiyama was born in 1929 in Japan and studied Judo during his early years. After training in two other styles of karate, Sensei Sugiyama began studying with the Japan Karate Association at the main JKA dojo in Yotsuya, Japan in 1954. Sensei Sugiyama moved to the United States to teach in 1963, at the request of the Chicago Karate Club. Over the years, Sensei Sugiyama has established himself as one of the best teachers that the JKA has produced. His unique ideas on how to develop students have produced some of the highest-quality karateka in the JKA worldwide.

As part of his efforts in developing karate practitioners, Sensei Sugiyama has authored several books on karate:

25 Shoto-kan Kata (1984, revised 1989)
Basic Principles of Karate (1991)
Kimite-gata (1993)
Kitoh Karate (1996)
Aura, Ki and Healing (2000)



Choyokan

In 1979 Sugiyama Sensei invited Yutaka Miyazaki Sensei to teach Kendo at Sugiyama Dojo. Miyazaki Sensei founded the Choyokan Kendo Dojo and Sugiyama Dojo was the home of the Choyokan until the mid-eighties.

Miyoga Kendo Club

The Miyoga Kendo Club is a small and dedicated group of Sugiyama Sensei’s senior karate students and instructors who practice and enjoy Kendo as a supplement to karate training.