Scottish Shotokan Academy : About the SSA

Scottish Shotokan Academy About Us

The Scottish Shotokan Academy was formed in 1989 by the then three main karate clubs; Cumbernauld, Kelty & Dumfries.

The desire to pursue a more traditional form of Shotokan Karate lead the S.S.A. to follow the instruction of Sensei Taiji Kase, founder of Kase-Ha-Shotokan Ryu Karate Academy. This was influenced by the late Steve Cattle 6th Dan, a regular instructor to the SSA & close friend of senior instructor Jim Martin 6th Dan.

To quote Steve:
"I intend to follow him, I simply want to get better"
(Steve Cattle 1947-1995.)

The SSA are members of the Scottish Karate Governing Body, our instructors are disclosure checked & hold SKGB coaches license.

The SSA hold regular kyu & dan grade instruction throughout the year & have special instruction from Sensei Dirk Heene president to KSKA and senior instructor for the Belgium Shotokan Academy &also technical advisor to the SSA.

Our senior instructor grades are recognized nationally& internationally and are members of KSKA instructor academy.

Members are:
J.Martin7th Dan Senior instructor
I.Fisher 5th Dan.
A.Fisher 5thDan.
M.Collins 4th Dan.
G.McGeoch 4th Dan.
P.Sammy 3rd Dan.

Some Principals & Distinctive Features

Kase –Ha Shotokan Ryu Karate –Do is not a sport , but Budo martial art.
Kase –Ha Shotokan Ryu Karate- Do emphisises on reality instead of formality as general target in both kumite & kata.
Kase- Ha Shotokan Ryu Karate- Do emphasizes the use of the Fudo dach as its basic stance, which satisfies equally defense &offensive ensuring @the same time ultimate stability & body control.
Kase- Ha Shotokan Ryu Karate- Do is based on a strong & highly developed defensive system involving a variety of blocking &sticking with closed &open hand techniques with different kamae(ready) positions.
Finaly,the KSKA symbol is the ideogram Gi, it means moral duty, dedication(Giri)& also stands for Gichin & Giko (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi ,founders of the Shotokan style.