About Us

The English Shotokan Academy (ESA) was founded in 1991, by the late Steve Cattle 6th Dan and a group of like minded instructors. For many years Steve had been a personal student of the late Taiji Kase 9th Dan and it was to pursue the teachings of Kase Sensei that the ESA was set up.

Shihan Taiji Kase

Taiji Kase was one of the last of the direct students of O'sensei Gichin Funakoshi and his son Master Yoshitaka Funakoshi. Many years prior to his death in November 2004, Kase Sensei had formed an Instructor Academy selected from talented and experienced karate-ka from around the world. This individual members group, in later years, became known as the Kase-Ha Shotokan-Ryu Academy (KSKA) and its members are dedicated to the continued development of this unique line of Shotokan Karate.

The senior instructors of the ESA are members of this elite academy and now lead the ESA with their technical skills and knowledge learned directly from Shihan Kase.

E.S.A. Today

Today the ESA is a fully constituted association, with democratically elected officers, dedicated to the continuation of the traditional values and practices of Shotokan Karate as passed on by Sensei's Cattle and Kase. The ESA maintains strong international links with the KSKA. Membership of the ESA provides a clear and well defined structure for all grades. Senior members of the ESA play the pivotal role in the education and training of more junior Dan grades, who in turn are tasked with the maintenance of standards at club level.

Grade Examiner status becomes available at Sandan level subject to successful completion of the appropriate training and assessment. All senior grades are actively encouraged to attend courses to ensure their continued progression and maintenance of standards. A group within the ESA dedicated to the study of advanced Shotokan karate, is by selection from ESA membership at Nidan or above and prepared for KSKA membership at Sandan or higher. All members, dependent upon grade, have access to Coaching Qualifications (Governing Body and NVQ), free Black and Brown Belt Courses, Squad Training Sessions, subsidised Regional Courses and National Courses under National and International Instructors.

The ESA is an Association committed to the furtherance of Traditional Shotokan Karate as originally taught by the World's recognised Masters. Membership of the ESA is on application by groups, clubs and individuals. Application forms and further information can be obtained from our General Secretary, details enclosed.