Karatenomichi World Federation

Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF) is a major international traditional Shotokan karate organization that was founded by Mikio Yahara. Yahara was a leading Shotokan karate competitor, kata exponent and instructor of the Japan Karate Association. The KWF claims members in over [http://www.kwf.jp/eng/affiliate.html 40 countries] . The organization's stated goal is the pursuit of technical excellence. It attempts to distinguish itself from other organizations by proclaiming a return to the traditional values of the Japan Karate Association of the 1950s through to the 1980s.

The KWF is focused on the development of extremely effective and powerful punches and kicks from the low and long stances that are a feature of Shoto Ryu in general, and the development of flexibility and strength in the hips, back and leg muscles to create the movements necessary to deliver attacks that will severely impair, knock down or injure or kill opponents. According to YaharaFact|date=June 2008, many (although by no means all) Shotokan Karate organizations have redeveloped Shoto Ryu to be a competitive martial art and so have lost the focus on Budo that became a strong feature of JKA Karate in immediate post-War Japan.

The focus of the [http://www.kwf.jp/eng/kwfkarate.html philosophy] of the KWF is explicit: the target is to train to achieve "Ichigeki Hissatsu" (a single killing punch/kick). This, according to the KWF, is achieved by unleashing the power of the hips, back and inner muscles and ligaments to produce explosive power.

KWF Training and Techniques.

In many ways, KWF training represents a return to traditional JKA training as was experienced by the few dozen elite instructors generated by the JKA during the 1960s to 1980s. However [http://www.kwf.jp/eng/archive.html black belt seminars] focus on techniques that are favored and developed by Yahara himself. KWF training follows the traditional pattern of kihon, kumite and kata. In kihon, the emphasis is on perfecting the form of each technique, developing the maximum power and speed of individual punches, blocks and kicks. The KWF thinks it is more important to keep the correct form and develop speed and power through body dynamics rather than through repetition.

Kumite is performed traditionally without masks or gloves or padding. During jiyu ippon kumite, the attacker is expected to knock his or her opponent down with a single blow, and this is only to be stopped by a very strong block. Opponents are however expected to exercise control at every point as injuring yourself or your opponent is considered symptomatic of poor technique.

New Shoto-Kan Dojo, The Oshima-Yahara Friendship Memorial Dojo

On March 31 2007 the KWF opened a major new purpose-built dojo that was donated to the KWF by Mr. Kenshin Oshima, a KWF student. The dojo is situated in Shibuya Ward's exclusive Shoto district, five minutes walk behind the Bunkamura cultural center in Shibuya, Tokyo. The new dojo features purpose-built accommodation for visitors, a lounge, and is designed to be a cultural center to showcase Japanese Budo, as well as acting as a regular training dojo. In addition to a supplimentary timetable for black belt classes, the new dojo timetable features special stretch and karate classes for women, children's classes that are conducted in English that are designed to promote cultural exchange, and special classes for non-Japanese and Japanese executives.

ee also

*Karate
*Shotokan
*Yahara Mikio

External links

* [http://www.kwf.jp/ Karatenomichi World Federation]
* [http://www.kwf.jp/shotodojo_e.html New Shoto-Kan Dojo]