Chief Instructor
Chief Instructor
The Traditional Shotokan Karate Federation of Australia maintains strong links to the origins of Karate through our Chief Instructor Shunsuke Takahashi Shihan. Through his regular visits to Australia for over 50 years we have kept ourselves at the forefront of Japanese karate teachings. As the Karate Instructor for Aoyama Gakuin University, Takahashi Shihan established the special relationship between Traditional Shotokan Karate Federation Australia and Aoyama University providing the opportunity to train regularly with the best Shotokan Karate students in Japan either through their visits to Australia or through invitation to the Aoyama University Gasshuku. This special relationship has continued following his nomination of Nemoto and Hirata Sensei as his assistants.
Shunsuke Takahashi OAM 9th Dan
Takahashi Shihan, our Chief Instructor, has lived his life guided by the teachings of the Masters Funakoshi and Nakayama. Karate is his life, and always will be. As we reflect back on 46 years of sharing the teachings of the Grand Masters of karateka in Australia, we cannot help but be impressed as to Shihan’s tenacity, perseverance, dedication and strength of character.
After graduating Komazawa University, he did not hesitate to enter the JKA Instructor School graduating from it in 1967. In 1972, Shihan had a desire to teach karate abroad, as with most of the young graduates of JKA Instructor School, spreading the Shotokan teachings. Shihan Nakayama told Shihan that an instructor was needed in Australia. Shihan tells the story of how he was given a one-way ticket to Australia, packed up his young family and moved to Sydney for a year, then to Brisbane.
After returning to Japan, he gave up his vacation time from his work at Komazawa University, to come to Australia for 2 extended visits each year to conduct training and grading seminars in all the dojos – this commitment was to continue without fail for over 40 years.
In 2003 Takahashi Shihan’s commitment was acknowledged by the Australian Government when he was awarded an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) by our then Prime Minister, John Howard, for services to Sport and Culture.
2018 once again brings change to our Association with Shihan appointing Assistant Instructors in former Aoyama Gakuin students Takechiyo Nemoto Sensei and Ryozo Hirata Sensei to undertake the rigours of the Australian Dojo tours twice annually. Takahashi Shihan will remain as the Chief Instructor with a firm hand on the wheel that drives TSKF Australia. We thank him and his family for 46 years of sacrificing vacation and family time to share his wealth of knowledge with the members of TSKF Australia.
