Sensei Kawasoe
Sensei Masao Kawasoe, 8th Dan – a short biography

Sensei Kawasoe
Masao Kawasoe was born in 1945, his father was a Japanese businessman and he has two brothers. His parents stay in Kyushu in the south of Japan. Sensei Kawasoe now resides in London and has done for over 19 years. He began his martial arts training in judo and at the age of 15 saw a karate demonstration. This so impressed him he started looking to find a dojo to train. One of his first instructors was the world famous Sensei Tysuama, who’s home was in the same town, Saga City. Training through his high school and then going to the famous karate University of Takushoku, he continued to train with Sensei Tysuama
This training took the form of 6 days per week, 3 hours per day for 4 years. During this time he was spotted by the Japan Karate Association and invited to take full time JKA instructors course under Sensei Nakayama. He successfully completed this over the next 3 years. Upon graduating as an international JKA instructor, Sensei Nakayama said of him:
“Through his mastery of karate basics he has come to reach a level few achieve, his technique inspires all who see it to strive for the ideals of Shotokan Karate.”
High honour indeed from the head of the JKA. He then taught in Taiwan and Madagascar before coming to Britain in 1974. His dedication to tradition, quality and manners is universally acknowledged, with few able to perform the physical demands he makes of himself. He has a world-wide following of senior students who have been with him and followed tradition by developing and teaching excellent Shotokan Karate. Long may this continue and, in his own words:
” I am lucky to have good karate, but even more I am lucky to have good students to carry it forward. My wish is to leave something worthwhile behind for everyone. My life is then complete.”
Sensei Kawasoe Open Courses
Sensei Kawasoe holds courses throughout the U.K. on regular basis, our organisation welcomes visitors (non members U.K.T.K.F.) for training at these events.
As we have a large membership we must consider our members first, this includes number of classes, size of venue, type of training, etc. therefore if anyone wishes to attend any of our events please contact our Chairman Mr. Ken Taylor as a courtsey on 07766953067 or e- mail : kenneth.taylor6@sky.com for details, times etc. and permission to attend.You can also contact him via our contactpage above.
This enquiry will be transmitted to the local Club Instructor for his approval and therefore ensuring no disruption to our membership.
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Kawasoe Sensei has lived in London since early 1970 how do I know,well I trained with him and graded under him and he has become part of our family along with his family 😎👍🥋
October 27, 2018 at 9:29 am
Sensei I like verymuch take Affiliation from you
November 13, 2015 at 11:52 pm
Contact sensei via our contacts page please 😉
February 6, 2016 at 2:20 pm
I want to learn Shotokan
February 5, 2014 at 11:28 am
Well, sign up to a club near you. You find quite a few links under our Related clubs pages. 😉
March 1, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Master Masao Kawasoe and the Foundations of Shotokan Karate Technique
Master Masao Kawasoe and the Foundations of Shotokan Karate Technique by Dr. Clive Layton. This book is an engaging, highly informative, thought-provoking and interactive read that could well prove to be the most important in-depth technical treatise on Shotokan karate ever written. Master Kawasoe, 8th Dan, a world-renown Shotokan technician of fifty years experience, describes, using just one stance, two variations of one type of punch and two types of block, what he believes underpins all Shotokan technique. The book details a bio-mechanical five-step sequence of inward actions that pick-up, momentarily store and channel energy, and the outward process of delivering and focussing that energy – all in about one-fifth of a second!
Master Masao Kawasoe and the Foundations of Shotokan Karate Technique will surely last the test of time, for not only is it a wonderfully innovative work, but because it clearly explains, in a reader friendly manner, the very essence of what makes Master Kawasoe’s karate so special.
From the world’s leading writer on Shotokan and author of such classics as Shotokan Dawn, Funakoshi on Okinawa, Kanazawa, 10th Dan, and, The Liverpool Red Triangle Karate Club, comes another brilliantly constructed and researched work.
ISBN 978 0 9555122 6 1
http://www.monabooks.co.uk
January 8, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Great photo of Kenny in Sensei’s latest book. Didn’t know Kenny took flying lessons?
Page 81 The Foundations of Shotokan Karate Technique.
Available from http://www.monabooks.co.uk
April 20, 2011 at 3:36 pm
MASAO KAWASOE, 8th DAN
Recollections of a Shotokan Karate Master
The early years ( 1945 – 1975 )
This book covers the fascinating story of the first thirty years of the making of a world-class karate master. Masao Kawasoe was born in Korea in 1945 and, after studying judo, began training in Shotokan under Master Katsunori Tsuyama, in 1960, before successfully grading for his black belt under Minoru Miyata in 1963. Awarded a full karate scholarship to the infamous Takushoku University, upon completion of his degree, Kawasoe was then invited to attend the JKA Instructors Course for a further two years under Masters Nakayama, Kanazawa and Shoji.
Available from http://www.monabooks.co.uk
Code: KAW01
March 24, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Made a mistake with website. Left an a out of karate
website is
http://www.karatecymru.com
Please amend on my link
Thanks
January 13, 2011 at 10:51 am
Welsh clubs avilable on website
2011 calendar:
March 4th 2011
Training with Kawasoe Sensei – Arfon Leisure Centre – Caernarfon. 7pm
March 5th 2011
Training and then Grading with Kawasoe Sensei – Arfon Leisure Centre – Caernarfon. 09:30 am
July 8th 2011
Training with Kawasoe Sensei – Arfon Leisure Centre – Caernarfon. 7pm
July 9th 2011
Training and then Grading with Kawasoe Sensei – Arfon Leisure Centre – Caernarfon. 09:30 am
November 11th 2011
Training with Kawasoe Sensei – Arfon Leisure Centre – Caernarfon. 7pm
November 12th 2011
Training and then Grading with Kawasoe Sensei – Arfon Leisure Centre – Caernarfon. 09:30 am
January 13, 2011 at 10:47 am