Soke Takeshi Kitagwa
Soke Takeshi Kitagawa was born in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan on 8th January 1957. He Graduated in Electronics from Kyusyu Sangyo University 九州産業大学. He started his martial arts journey with Aikido and Kendo, Later joined Masatoshi Nakayama Sensei’s Dojo. In the year 1987 when Nakayama Sensei died he continued the Journey of learning Shotokan Karate following the footsteps of Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei till in the year 2006 when Asai Sensei died.
He is the Shuseki Shihan of Nihon Shotokan Karate Do SANKUKAI currently holding 9th Degree Black Belt
He actively participated in many of National event and international events with the guidance of his teacher Asia Sensei. He was one of the 6 Japanese master selected by Government of Japan to participate in Japan – Germany cultural program. A month long program was organized in various cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Gottingen, Amberg and Berlin. Event for Public school he demonstrated the Shotokan Skills.
TEACHING HISTORY
Founder and head instructor: Princeton Shotokan Sankukai, 2012-present
Instructor, Union City Karate Program 2011-present
Karate Specialist: Jewish Community Center of Princeton Mercer-Bucks Abrams Day Camp (grades K-6), July 2013-Aug. 2013
Instructor: “Karate for Kids” at Princeton Center for Yoga and Health, 2011-2013.
Instructor: West Windsor afterschool program and enrichment classes, 2011.
Head coach: Japan Karate Shotorenmei (JKS) division, Union City Karate, Union City, New Jersey, 2010-present.
Head instructor: Princeton University Shotokan Karate Club, 2009-2011
Founder and head instructor: Sankukai Shotokan Karate Club, Japan, 1995-2009.
Founder and Chairman: Nihon Shotokan Karate Do SANKUAKAI 1985- Present.
Shuseki Shihan: Nihon Shotokan Karate Do Sankukai
Chairman : SANKUKAI World Organization.
LICENSES, AND QUALIFICATIONS, PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
6th degree black belt, awarded by Master Kagawa Masao, Japan, 2007
7th Degree Black Belt in 2011
8th Degree Black Belt in 2015.
Referee license A (both kata and kumite)
Instructor license A (children and adults)
Licenses registered with the USA Karate (the national governing body of the sport of karate) and the New York Traditional Karate League
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AWARDS: Award of Commendation, Union City Karate Recreation, New Jersey State Senate, 2014 -2015. Certificate of Appreciation, awarded by the New York Traditional Karate League, 2013. Best Referee of the Year, awarded by the New York Traditional Karate League, 2011. Recognized by the New Jersey Senate for service to the community, 2010. 4th place in kata, World Competition, 2007. “Certificate of Merit,” Awarded by the state government in recognition of service to the community, 2004. 2nd place All-Japan Karate Championships, 2004. Japan Representative to Germany in a Youth Sports Workshop and Exchange, selected by the state government, 2003
ONGOING ENGAGEMENTS
Self-Defense Seminars for the Princeton Japanese Community, 2016-present. Referee for the Ozawa Cup, 2014-present
Monthly seminars at Union City Karate, Union City, New Jersey, 2010-present
ADDITIONAL SEMINARS TAUGHT
2017
Shotokan Workshops, Ehime and Hiroshima Prefectures, January
2016
Technical Seminar and Children’s Class, San Francisco, CA, March
Technical Seminars, Cleveland and Youngstown, OH, November
2015
Technical Seminar, Cozumel, Mexico, June
Series of Technical Seminars and workshops, England, Scotland, Ireland, November
2014
Shotokan Workshops, Ehime and Hiroshima Prefectures, Japan, September & Technical Seminars, Cleveland and Youngstown, OH, November
2013
Technical Seminar, Detroit, MI, March
Shotokan Workshop, Ehime and Hiroshima Prefectures, Japan, September
Technical Seminars, Sri Lanka, September
Technical Seminars, Cleveland and Youngstown, OH, November
2012
Series of Technical Seminars and guest Examiner, Nottingham, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Dublin, Ireland, November-December
2011
Technical Seminar, Youngstown, Ohio, November
Summer Shotokan Workshop, Detroit, Michigan, June
Technical Seminar and Children’s Class, Queens, New York, April
2010
Technical Seminar, Cleveland, Ohio, December
Technical Seminar, Youngstown, Ohio, December
Children’s Seminar, Detroit, Michigan, December
Technical Seminar and Children’s Class, Ehime, Japan, May
2009
Technical Seminar, Cleveland, Ohio, September and November
2007
Guest instructor for regional practice, Columbus, Ohio, February