The Empty Hand

Wilfred Seerattan is a 5th dan from the Japan Karate Association (JKA) and the Head Instructor of the Toronto JKA. An accomplished competitor and very successful in adaptive teaching.  Check out his website at: https://tsk2.com

Marc Jacobson moved to Japan from the United States and is one of the few non-Japanese regular members of the JKA HQ in Tokyo. For more than five years he can be seen every morning training at the HQ learning from the top instructors in the world.

Ryu Goto is an internationally renowned violinist and highly skilled karateka. As early as the age of seven, he played Paganini’s Violin Concerto No.1 at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. Check out his website at:https://www.ryugoto.com/eng/

Don Sharp is the most decorated JKA Kumite Champion in the Americas having successfully competed in all levels of competition.  He is the first North American to have won the JKA World Championships in 1996 in kumite.

Thomas Chin is a dedicated healthcare professional & multi time national kata champion. Having taken his talents to Japan, he has qualified for the JKA All Japan Championships in both Kata & Kumite representing Tokyo Prefecture.

Ray Tio is the most decorated JKA Kata Champion in the Americas. His team was the first to reach the podium representing Canada at the 8th Shoto World Cup held at the Nippon Budokan. He is currently the Owner and Head Instructor at World Class Karate in Canada.

Roisin Akimoto is the only woman outside of Japan to have completed instructors training at the JKA Headquarters.  She is a highly decorated karateka and the only non-Japanese to reach the podium in Kata at the JKA All Japan Championships.

Minoru Saeki is a 7th dan from the Japan Karate Association (JKA).  He is a karate pioneer in North America and has received the Prime Minister’s Award for his contributions to community development.