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JKA Santa Monica Dojo

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Santa Monica, CA
JKA Santa Monica Dojo

Traditional Shotokan karate-do, direct-managed by the Japan Karate Association, Tokyo, Japan. He has been teaching traditional Shotokan karate in the U.S.

Sensei James Field is one of the top-ranking Shotokan karate instructors in the world, and a graduate of the Japan Karate Association's instructors program. and on all continents except Australia and Antarctica, for over 50 years. Before dedicating his life to teaching karate, Mr. Field was an internationally highly successful competitor and coach. He served in the United States Marine Corps and is a combat veteran.

08/24/2026

Huge thanks to Lynn Nakada Franco for another kata review! This session spotlighted Sochin.

We worked through partner drills designed to sharpen key Sochin techniques—from building a stronger, rooted stance to targeting jodan-level mikazuki geri. Online participants got in on the action too - using a wall, furniture or other creative targets at home!

It was great to reconnect with members we’ve missed over this busy summer—especially, to train for a great cause by supporting the U.S. team members in Sensei Field’s group.

📅 Save The Date: Our next kata review is Sunday, September 20 at 10:00 AM PDT, at Santa Monica Dojo and online. Watch this space for more details. Hope to see you there!

📸: Katie Chen, Miguel Franco, Michelle Paredes

08/21/2026

Here's a special opportunity to practice your kicking techniques with JKA Headquarter instructor, Ryosuke Shimizu sensei ! His "Friday Online Dojo" classes are always very popular and informative.

You can register and participate online from anywhere! The classes are listed in Japan Time. So to participate live, please convert it to your local time zone.

Training Topic:
Kicking Techniques: Mae-geri, Kekomi, and Mawashi-geri
Friday, August 28, 2026, 17:00–18:00 (JST, Japan Time)

Please register here: https://jkaonline.rsvsys.jp/reservations/subject/228

Registration Deadline August 25, 11:59 PM (JST, Japan Time)

08/20/2026

Are you ready for more kata practice together?!

On Sunday, August 23 at 10 AM to 11:30 AM (PDT), Santa Monica Dojo will offer a kata review on Sochin. We will also offer a live webcast of the class online for those who cannot attend in person.

This time, Lynn Nakada will review the details on kata Sochin. Open to all karate-ka 3rd kyu and up. Let's practice hard together again!

The registration fee and/or donations will go to support the JKA USA team members in Sensei Field's Group. Donations are fully tax-deductible. Please use the QR code or follow this link to register or donate:

https://fs19.formsite.com/communitykaratefoundation/3v8iabbjkr/index

08/18/2026

Santa Monica Dojo will participate again in JKA Headquarter Online Trainings. Especially with with Ueda Sensei's 上田大介 classes, since it takes place at the same time as our Friday evening class.

This time, it will be Friday, August 21 at 6 PM (PDT) at Santa Monica Dojo.

Whether this is your first time or a returning participant, we hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity to learn directly from a JKA HQ instructor. You can register and participate online from anywhere! The classes are listed in Japan Time. So to participate live, please convert it to your local time zone.

Date: August 22, 2026 (Saturday) (Japan Time)

• Morning Session: 10:00 – 11:00
• Evening Session: 19:00 – 20:00

The morning session will cover “Key Training Points from the Japan Championships - Kata,” and the evening session will focus on “Kumite”

Please register here: https://jkaonline.rsvsys.jp/reservations/calendar

Registration Deadline August 19th 11:59 PM (JST) (Japan Time)

08/16/2026

✨ We did it! We have successfully completed classes 4 and 5 of the JKA Headquarter's “Summer Break Online Camp" together! ✨🥋🔥

The energy from the Santa Monica Dojo floor—and from all our training partners logging in from Australia, England, Japan, and across the USA—has been absolutely supportive.

For these final online sessions, JKA Headquarter Instructor, Ogane Sensei covered Gankaku and Jitte respectively. We discovered that Jitte is one of Ogane Sensei's personal favorite kata! Because of his passion for it, he has done a lot of deep research into its applications (bunkai) and how to best express it in the kata. We are incredibly fortunate that he shared these details with us during class.

Now that the camp is complete, we want to hear from you.

✨ What is your favorite kata to practice and why? ✨ Leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us! 👇

08/14/2026

Night three completed at Santa Monica Dojo!! ✅✅✅

Last night’s online class at 10 PM (PST) was on Hangetsu.

Tonight, our challenge continues with Gankaku.

Let’s complete the JKA Headquarter's “Summer Break Online Camp"! We have two more nights to go! This series of online classes is taught by JKA Headquarter instructor, Ogane Sensei.

As you can see, Miyuki Kuroha almost managed to convince a new recruit, Mr. Ginley! 🐈🥋🐱

📸: Katie Chen, Miyuki Kuroha

08/13/2026

Please participate in our challenge to complete the JKA Headquarter's “Summer Break Online Camp"! This series of online classes is taught by JKA Headquarter Instructor, Ogane Sensei.

At 10 PM (PST) every night, we are participating live from the Santa Monica Dojo floor. Other students are joining from all over the world, including Australia, Japan, and different parts of the USA. Among them is Miyuki Kuroha, who is practicing at 11 PM in her time zone.

We are very fortunate that modern technology makes all this possible, and we are grateful for Ogane Sensei's commitment.

So far, we have completed two nights of training and have three more to go!

Ogane Sensei gave a detailed class on Tekki Nidan, followed by Tekki Sandan.

We hope to see you tonight for Hangetsu!

📸: Katie Chen, Miyuki Kuroha

08/12/2026

Thank you Lynn Nakada Franco for a great kata review on Nijushiho! We had a detailed and energetic practice. Especially when the dojo grab bars and partner exercises were added to our kata conditioning.

We appreciate the enthusiasm of all in-person and online participants! Also, special thanks to our donors for supporting this cause to help U.S. team members in Sensei Field’s group.

Please save the date for our next review on kata Sochin: Sunday, August 23 at 10 AM (PDT). As usual, practice will be held both at Santa Monica Dojo and online.

📸: Miguel Franco

08/10/2026

We have a visitor this month!

Dan Cook is part of Santa Monica Dojo's history. Long before moving out into the world, he started training here as a youth.

While visiting California this month, he is teaching all Saturday 11 AM adult classes: August 8, 15, 22, and 29. We hope that many of you and your students can take this opportunity to train with us!

If you paid your monthly tuition at Santa Monica Dojo, these classes are covered as a part of your tuition payment. Otherwise, please feel free to join by making single-class payments at the dojo.

As always, Sensei Field advises: please speak with your regular, direct instructor before taking any classes outside your home dojo or club.

📸: Katie Chen

04/15/2026

Today, with deep respect and gratitude, we commemorate the passing of Master Masatoshi Nakayama (中山正敏, Nakayama Masatoshi; April 13, 1913 – April 15, 1987).

Master Nakayama succeeded Master Funakoshi as as the head and chief instructor of the JKA. He presided over the JKA's establishment of a formal instructor training program, the creation of a standardized examination structure, the first formal tournaments, and the subsequent rapid growth of the JKA and Shotokan around the world. (For more details, see: "Mind And Body - Like Bullet", by Yutaka Yaguchi with Catherine Pinch, © 2008, ISBN 978-1-57833-4-00-1).

Sensei Field, our dojo's founder, was among those privileged to receive personal instruction from Master Nakayama in Tokyo. And later, when Mr. Field had started to teach in California, Master Nakayama came to visit and support the growing student body.

Master Nakayama continued to teach Shotokan karate until his death.

We will remain forever grateful.

From our archives, the pictures below show Master Nakayama on his visits to California, together with Sensei Field.

Address

1218 5th Street
Santa Monica, CA
90401

Telephone

+13103958545

Website

facebook.com

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