About Japan Karate Association--Virginia
The Japan Karate Association (JKA) Virginia offers traditional Japanese shotokan karate training. The dojo emphasizes effective and powerful strikes, blocks, and kicks, helping students develop speed, strength, flexibility, and concentration. Students also learn valuable self-defense techniques. JKA Virginia is a branch of the Tokyo-based Japan Karate Association, founded in 1948 by Master Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate. It is now the world's largest shotokan karate organization. Under the instruction of Sensei Hanjani, classes are energetic and thoughtful, incorporating varied exercises based on the fundamental principles of traditional Shotokan. Sensei Hanjani provides high-quality instruction for all levels, from beginners to black belts. While some students choose to compete nationally, the focus is on rigorous and careful training that includes basics, kata, and sparring. Students describe the dojo as a place for lifelong learning and improvement, where hard work and dedication are valued.
JKA Virginia is an excellent dojo teaching traditional Shotokan karate. Sensei Hanjani's classes are energetic and thoughtful; with varied exercises that are grounded in the fundamental principles of traditional Shotokan.
This is a review of my experience training under the JKA instructor Sensei M. Hanjani, which I did for many years. To put it simply, this is excellent, dedicated, and traditional training in JKA Shotokan Karate, in a group with decades-long links to JKA New York, one of the premier JKA organizations. My own JKA black belt credentials stretch back to 1970, so I have had numerous instructors (all JKA). I can say based on my decades of experience that Sensei Hanjani provides the highest quality, top-flight instruction, carefully calibrated to your own skills, from beginner through black belt. This is not a “black belt mill”. Although a few of his students have chosen...read full review
Sensei Hanjani is an excellent teacher grounded in the fundamentals of Shotokan Karate. He strikes a balance between correcting his students and giving them space to learn and develop on their own. His classes are usually a strenuous work out, giving plenty of opportunity to better oneself.
Classes include children through high ranked black belts, and the dojo is continuously growing. This is a place to train for life into your older years - yes, testing for higher ranks is important but not as important as improving yourself and continual effort. Highly recommend.