Sensei Taiji Kase - A Shotokan Master

Sensei Taiji Kase was born in Chiba (Tokyo), Japan on February 9th, 1929. In his youth, he trained with Yoshitaka Funakoshi, the son of Gichin.

His father was a judoka and by the age of 16, Kancho Kase was already a Nidan in Judo. In 1945, during WWII, he started to practice karate at the Shotokan Dojo in Tokyo. Shortly after the war he became the youngest 3rd Dan karateka in Japan.

As one of the most qualified instructors of the Japan Karate Association, he got the honour to lead and train the team of instructors sent to a mission in 1965 to present Shotokan Karate in South Africa, the USA and Europe. In 1968 he settled in Paris, where he lived until his death in November 2004

The development of competitive sport karate, as well as many turbulent changes in the world karate policy, has often poisoned the international karate community. Sensei Kase always remained devoted to his choice in life - to practice and teach Shotokan karate as it was taught to him, free from any sport's or political conditions.

Kase Sensei had reached a level of absolute control, depending on a state of harmony between mind and body. His amazing ability to generate and control his inner energy, gave to us a new and unique dimension to Shotokan karate as well as for life itself.

This deep humanity made Sensei Kase a perfect reference to everybody who loves karate and are willing to follow the way of Shotokan karate as it was passed on from Gichin and furthermost Yoshitaka Funakoshi to Sensei Kase more than 50 years ago.

Sensei Kase 9th Dan died on 24th November 2004. He's buried in the famous Pére Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• sensei
• taiji
• kase
• shotokan
• karate
• do
• jka

[M21MrChristian]

'Karate is like trying to start a fire with wet matches, after a few attempts you might get the odd spark, but if you are patient engough you will get a fire that lasts forever.'

Quote from Taiji Kase

Osu.

[Sundome1]

I have this quote on my wall! :-)

[Sundome1]

NOTICE: If you have an understanding of Shotokan Karate-do please feel free to leave a comment, otherwise time wasters are not wanted. Thank You

[DonalPhelan]

I trained with Sensei Kase once in 1987 after the death of Nakayama. Like yourself I believed my youthful speed and technique would allow me to catch him with an attack (this was my first time seeing Kase and he seemed overweight to me). But when I faced him for a demonstration he easily avoided my attack and went behind me to counter on the back of my head, laughing at me in good humour. He was without doubt the fastest person I have ever seen in the flesh in a karate suit, despite his weight!

[markoki92]

Sensei Kase Taïji a beaucoup fait pour le Karaté Dô Shotokan, voila bientôt sept années qu'il nous aura quitté..............Regrets et respect.

[1453adana]

Je viens de débuter le karaté dit: technique Shotokan; c'est une question de mémoriser les katas et ce n'est pas toujous évident...ça vas trop vite

[jvcdotnet]

Respect to an old time master. An entire lifetime in his art. Looks like he'd knock your head off in a fight and pat you on the back after a hard class. Hard as stone and gentle as water. Love these clips

[Gman6755]

he does seem overweight but his moves are very quick, accurate, and deadly! I am guessing he was absolutely strong as a bull too!

[IEKUKATAKA]

@Ibegrasshopper at my impudence yet study of JKA history, who they were as people and what karate really is will prove the objective truth.

[IEKUKATAKA]

@Ibegrasshopper There is no understanding of Shotokan period in terms of karate, it is extremely corrupted. There is great understanding to be had of the JKA version of Funakoshis art if some things are kept perfectly clear, it is not karate, it is a sport the JKA devised, it makes little combative sense, it has JKA introduced contrived and unnatural techniques and they indented it that way. Shotokan karate does exist, it is small in Japan and it is NOT in the JKA. Hordes will kick and scream

[IEKUKATAKA]

@Ibegrasshopper Oss is actually "osu" and IS a Japanese military term from long ago. Zenkutsu dachi does not mean front stance either, it refers to the way the body is being used. Many terms in the Japanese language have been applied to karate because the Japanese, primarily the JKA, have told the world they are the keeper of karate and they are not. Many Okinawan terms are different simply because it is they that really are the keeper of karate.

[Ibegrasshopper]

There is no understanding of Shotokan unless you have practiced 30 to 40 years and then there are about 20 students who start to understand. If you were to play as Fritz Chrysler or Hendrix in Little Wing or to write as in King Lear perhaps one could gain insight. Others just imagine. BTW. Oss is not a karate term. It started in the late 70's. It is an embarrassing expression from a cultural point of view.