Jokukai Martial Arts

01/09/2026

Jokukai training is about to start again.

I’m looking forward to seeing how much you have improved and how much you have worked on the tasks I gave you before the summer break.

I also went to Japan this summer to train and learned many new things.

When we restart training, I would like to begin by updating what I have taught you so far.

Jokukai is a martial art that is always evolving.
If we find a better way to develop our techniques, we will not hesitate to update what we have already learned and continue to raise the level of our skills.

Let’s learn, improve, and become stronger together.

I look forward to seeing you on Monday.

I returned to the UK yesterday after completing six weeks of intensive martial arts training in Japan.
I apologise for not being able to share my travel plans publicly in advance, for security reasons.

During this journey, I travelled to many parts of Japan, including Sapporo, Aomori, Sendai, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji and Kagawa. I met many people and had many valuable experiences.
I would like to sincerely thank all the Masters who gave me their valuable time and shared their skills with me.

What I learned during this journey was not only martial arts techniques. From martial artists, I learned techniques and ways of using the body that have been developed through many years of training. I also learned a great deal from Sensei who are not martial artists, including the flow of energy between people, how to connect with others, and the structure of the human body.

These six weeks have helped me grow greatly, both technically and mentally.

And now, I have another three weeks ahead of me.
I will spend this time reviewing and organising the many techniques and experiences I gained this summer, and developing them into the system of Jokukai.
This is not simply about adding new techniques. I will combine what I have learned with the ideas and principles of Jokukai, and continue to develop our training into something deeper and more practical.

What I have learned and experienced in Japan this summer will become part of the next stage of Jokukai.

The evolved Jokukai training will restart on 7 September.

I am very much looking forward to training with everyone again. See you at training.

Jokukai Martial Arts
Mas

15/08/2026

I returned to the UK yesterday after completing six weeks of intensive martial arts training in Japan.
I apologise for not being able to share my travel plans publicly in advance, for security reasons.

During this journey, I travelled to many parts of Japan, including Sapporo, Aomori, Sendai, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji and Kagawa. I met many people and had many valuable experiences.
I would like to sincerely thank all the Masters who gave me their valuable time and shared their skills with me.

What I learned during this journey was not only martial arts techniques. From martial artists, I learned techniques and ways of using the body that have been developed through many years of training. I also learned a great deal from Sensei who are not martial artists, including the flow of energy between people, how to connect with others, and the structure of the human body.

These six weeks have helped me grow greatly, both technically and mentally.

And now, I have another three weeks ahead of me.
I will spend this time reviewing and organising the many techniques and experiences I gained this summer, and developing them into the system of Jokukai.
This is not simply about adding new techniques. I will combine what I have learned with the ideas and principles of Jokukai, and continue to develop our training into something deeper and more practical.

What I have learned and experienced in Japan this summer will become part of the next stage of Jokukai.

The evolved Jokukai training will restart on 7 September.

I am very much looking forward to training with everyone again. See you at training.

Jokukai Martial Arts
Mas

23/06/2026

The class on Monday, 29 June next week will be the last class before the summer break.
Classes will start again on Monday, 7 September after the summer break.

16/06/2026

To learn body mechanics that do not rely on muscular strength, it is sometimes necessary to push your strength to its limits.

14/06/2026

The movement of the hips is one of the most important points in Jokukai body mechanics.

During our training, I use a skeleton model to explain it. However, the model cannot fully reproduce the movement of the joints, so it can sometimes be difficult to understand the image of how the hips actually move.

The video below may help you better understand the movement of the hips and pelvis. Please take a look if you are interested.

世界初、体幹部が動く骨格模型の仙腸関節可動モデルです。興味のある方、ぜひ、http://www.ninja-anatomy.jp ...

13/06/2026

I would like to briefly share Jokukai’s background.

My name is Mas Kikuchi, and I am the head of Jokukai Martial Arts. I was born in Japan. From an early age, I was exposed to long-term violence in different environments throughout my life.
In order to cope with this reality, I began studying Karate in 1982 at Goju-ryu Seigokan. After the passing of Kancho Seigo Tada in 1997, I continued to explore various martial arts. Through both training and my work, I gained extensive practical experience, while continuing to focus on practical application, ongoing research, and the development of my martial arts system.

In 2008, I moved to Washington, D.C., USA, and began teaching under the name Kikuchi Karate, as a branch of Goju-ryu. Later, in 2011, I relocated to the United Kingdom.

In 2012, I presented the skills I had developed to senior members of Seigokan, but my methods were no longer accepted as Karate. During this period, there was also a proposal for me to abandon my original style and establish an official Seigokan branch in the UK, serving as its branch chief.
I went through a period of personal struggle. After this, and with respect for senior practitioners who have devoted themselves to the development of traditional Karate, I decided no longer to refer to my style as Karate.

From that point, I founded Jokukai Martial Arts, and I have continued to develop my system through research, practical application, and ongoing evolution.
I am still actively training and refining my martial arts today.

※ The attached image shows the individuals who have had a significant influence on my karate journey: Chojun Miyagi, Seigo Tada, Hiroaki Kakiuchi.

12/06/2026

12/06/2026

Only what is necessary for developing skill is kept.

12/06/2026

After 37 years of traditional karate training, followed by a further 5 years of intensive practice of Sanchin, Tensho, and Naifanchi, Joku Sanchin was formed by selecting and integrating techniques from them.

12/06/2026

Not resisting gravity. Using the fall to gain speed.