Taiji Kase
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese master
of Shotokan
karate
who was one of the earliest masters responsible for introducing this martial art into Europe. He taught his style of karate, Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha, in France from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. In his later years, he travelled across the world teaching karate, but Paris remained his home. Kase held the rank of 9th dan
in karate.
, Chiba Prefecture
, Japan. His father was Nobuaki Kase, who held the rank of 5th dan in judo
. He began learning judo before he turned 6 years old, and later in boyhood also studied aikido
and kendo
.
In 1944, at the age of 15 years, Kase attained the rank of 2nd dan black belt
in judo. That same year, he read a book on karate by Gichin Funakoshi
, and was inspired to begin studying that art under Funakoshi himself. He also trained under Funakoshi's son, Gigō Funakoshi, before the latter's death in 1945. Genshin Hironishi took on most of the teaching duties from that point. Along with Hironishi, Tadao Okuyama also influenced the young Kase's development in karate. Of his four instructors, Hironishi taught him the longest—six years. Kase had been due to be tested for his 3rd dan in judo, but elected to focus on karate instead.
and joined the Kamikaze
corps. The war ended, however, before he was required to give up his life for his country. One of his biographers, Martin Fernandez, wrote: "[Kase] usually says that since he could have died in the war and is alive, he never has a reason to be sad. And this is so, because you can always see him smiling or with a special inner mood" (p. 4). The Shotokan dojo
(training hall) had been destroyed by bombing, and he was unable to find another karate dojo, so he returned to training in judo for a while. When the Shotokan students regrouped under Funakoshi, however, he rejoined them.
In 1946, Kase was promoted to 1st dan in Shotokan karate. He began studying economics at Senshu University
and, in 1949, became captain of the university's karate team. That same year, he attained the rank of 3rd dan. He graduated from Senshu University in 1951. Kase joined the newly-formed Japan Karate Association
(JKA) with the aim of becoming a professional karate instructor, and would later become Chief Instructor for the European branch of the JKA. One of his duties in the JKA was to train instructors in kumite
(sparring); amongst his students were Keinosuke Enoeda
and Hiroshi Shirai. Following Funakoshi's death in 1957 and a subsequent division in the JKA, Kase maintained ties with both factions.
In 1964, Kase left Japan to introduce karate overseas. That year, he taught for three months in South Africa, and continued teaching there the next year with Enoeda, Shirai, and Hirokazu Kanazawa. From 1965 to 1966, he taught in the United States of America, West Germany
, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In 1967, he taught with Shirai in Italy for several months, and then travelled to France, where he settled in Paris. In 1968, Kase was coach of the French Karate Federation. He went on to teach karate there for almost 20 years in France before deciding to close his dojo in the mid-1980s. Amongst his European students was Steve Cattle, who founded the English Shotokan Academy. He then began travelling around the world to teach karate. Kase was frequently a guest of the former Yugoslav Karate Association, and almost all of the senior Yugoslav karate instructors gained their dan ranks through examinations in which he was involved.
During his time in France, Kase wrote books on his martial art, including 5 Heian: Katas, Karaté, Shotokan (1974), 18 kata supérieurs: Karate-dô Shôtôkan Ryû (1982), and Karaté-dô kata: 5-Heian, 2-Tekki (1983).
. Following his recovery, he returned to teaching karate.
On 6 November 2004, Kase became critically ill, and was hospitalised. He returned home later on, and appeared to be recovering, but on the morning of 19 November his wife was unable to wake him. Kase had lapsed into unconsciousness, and was brought to hospital, but his condition only deteriorated. Kase died at 5:25 PM on 24 November 2004, leaving behind his wife and two daughters, and his mother (then 101 years old) and two brothers. His funeral was held at the crematorium of Père Lachaise Cemetery
, Paris, on 30 November 2004. Kase held the rank of 9th dan at the time of his death.
In June 2005, Kase's widow, Chieko Kase, became honorary President of the Kase Ha Shotokan Ryu Karate-Do Instructors' Academy. One of their daughters, Sachiko, was in attendance at the ceremony.
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
of Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
who was one of the earliest masters responsible for introducing this martial art into Europe. He taught his style of karate, Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha, in France from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. In his later years, he travelled across the world teaching karate, but Paris remained his home. Kase held the rank of 9th dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
in karate.
Early life
Kase was born on 9 February 1929 in ChibaChiba, Chiba
is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
, Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, Japan. His father was Nobuaki Kase, who held the rank of 5th dan in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. He began learning judo before he turned 6 years old, and later in boyhood also studied aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
and kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
.
In 1944, at the age of 15 years, Kase attained the rank of 2nd dan black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in judo. That same year, he read a book on karate by Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, and was inspired to begin studying that art under Funakoshi himself. He also trained under Funakoshi's son, Gigō Funakoshi, before the latter's death in 1945. Genshin Hironishi took on most of the teaching duties from that point. Along with Hironishi, Tadao Okuyama also influenced the young Kase's development in karate. Of his four instructors, Hironishi taught him the longest—six years. Kase had been due to be tested for his 3rd dan in judo, but elected to focus on karate instead.
Karate career
In March 1945, during the closing stages of World War II, Kase enlisted in the Imperial Japanese NavyImperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
and joined the Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
corps. The war ended, however, before he was required to give up his life for his country. One of his biographers, Martin Fernandez, wrote: "[Kase] usually says that since he could have died in the war and is alive, he never has a reason to be sad. And this is so, because you can always see him smiling or with a special inner mood" (p. 4). The Shotokan dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
(training hall) had been destroyed by bombing, and he was unable to find another karate dojo, so he returned to training in judo for a while. When the Shotokan students regrouped under Funakoshi, however, he rejoined them.
In 1946, Kase was promoted to 1st dan in Shotokan karate. He began studying economics at Senshu University
Senshu University
is a private university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Former "Senshu College" was founded in 1880, the first school in Japan comprising Economics and Law Departments to systematically offer a specialized educational curriculum in the Japanese language....
and, in 1949, became captain of the university's karate team. That same year, he attained the rank of 3rd dan. He graduated from Senshu University in 1951. Kase joined the newly-formed Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association is one of the most influential Shotokan karate organizations in the world...
(JKA) with the aim of becoming a professional karate instructor, and would later become Chief Instructor for the European branch of the JKA. One of his duties in the JKA was to train instructors in kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
(sparring); amongst his students were Keinosuke Enoeda
Keinosuke Enoeda
was a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He was a former Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain. Enoeda was ranked 8th dan in Shotokan karate, and was widely renowned as a formidable karateka . Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded the rank of 9th dan.-Early...
and Hiroshi Shirai. Following Funakoshi's death in 1957 and a subsequent division in the JKA, Kase maintained ties with both factions.
In 1964, Kase left Japan to introduce karate overseas. That year, he taught for three months in South Africa, and continued teaching there the next year with Enoeda, Shirai, and Hirokazu Kanazawa. From 1965 to 1966, he taught in the United States of America, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In 1967, he taught with Shirai in Italy for several months, and then travelled to France, where he settled in Paris. In 1968, Kase was coach of the French Karate Federation. He went on to teach karate there for almost 20 years in France before deciding to close his dojo in the mid-1980s. Amongst his European students was Steve Cattle, who founded the English Shotokan Academy. He then began travelling around the world to teach karate. Kase was frequently a guest of the former Yugoslav Karate Association, and almost all of the senior Yugoslav karate instructors gained their dan ranks through examinations in which he was involved.
During his time in France, Kase wrote books on his martial art, including 5 Heian: Katas, Karaté, Shotokan (1974), 18 kata supérieurs: Karate-dô Shôtôkan Ryû (1982), and Karaté-dô kata: 5-Heian, 2-Tekki (1983).
Later life
In 1989, Kase and Shirai founded the World Karate-Do Shotokan Academy (WKSA). Kase has called his style of karate "Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha," meaning Shotokan with Kase's personal touch. Although he was travelling around the world promoting his style of karate, Paris remained his home. Kase suffered a heart attack on 31 May 1999, but recovered at the American Hospital of ParisAmerican Hospital of Paris
The American Hospital of Paris, founded in 1906, located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, is a private, not-for-profit institution that is considered agréé/non-conventionné under the French system of healthcare. It has 187 surgical, medical, and obstetric beds....
. Following his recovery, he returned to teaching karate.
On 6 November 2004, Kase became critically ill, and was hospitalised. He returned home later on, and appeared to be recovering, but on the morning of 19 November his wife was unable to wake him. Kase had lapsed into unconsciousness, and was brought to hospital, but his condition only deteriorated. Kase died at 5:25 PM on 24 November 2004, leaving behind his wife and two daughters, and his mother (then 101 years old) and two brothers. His funeral was held at the crematorium of Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris, France , though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs.Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement, and is reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the...
, Paris, on 30 November 2004. Kase held the rank of 9th dan at the time of his death.
In June 2005, Kase's widow, Chieko Kase, became honorary President of the Kase Ha Shotokan Ryu Karate-Do Instructors' Academy. One of their daughters, Sachiko, was in attendance at the ceremony.