The Japan Karate Association is the official organization to teach Shotokan Karate in Japan. Founded in 1949 by Sensei Nakayama and Sensei Masatochi Hidetoshi Nishiyama, both direct students of the founder of Shotokan style, Gishin Funakoshi, the JKA was to train experts among students of Japanese universities with the aim to disseminate in Shotokan Karate the world. Today, the JKA is intended to promote the benefits and values related to the practice of karate. JKA karate is the style at the origin of the forms of Shotokan Karate practiced in the world today.

In the 60s, after the multiple championships in Japan revealed that the great masters such as Kase sensei, Kanazawa sensei, sensei Enoeda, Shirai sensei ... the JKA sent worldwide experts to provide their view of Karate. So What the school trained all the instructors who developed the Shotokan Karate in Europe and worldwide. The JKA is headquartered in Japan (Tokyo) and is now represented in over 100 countries.