JKA Columbia University

The Japan Karate Association at Columbia University offers training in Shotokan karate. We are affiliated with the Japan Karate Association (JKA), a world-wide organization dedicated to encourage the growth and development of traditional Shotokan karate, and Shotokan Karate-do America, which operates out of New York and serves as the headquarters for many JKA clubs in the Pan-American region. We train under the auspices of Sensei Masataka Mori, 8th dan, chief instructor of Shotokan Karate-do America.

Sensei T.J. Stiles, 4th dan, founded the club as a Columbia student and was its only instructor for 20 years. He is a graduate of Sensei Mori's B and A (advanced) instructor courses. In addition, he is a JKA-certified class C instructor, class C tournament judge, and class C examiner.

Currently, we have two instructors. Hiroshi Kariya, 5th dan, teaches on Tuesday evenings. He is a graduate of Sensei Mori's B and A (advanced) instructor courses, and also trains regularly with Sensei Mori at the Main dojo. He also teaches regularly at the main dojo, and at the Japanese Children's Society in New Jersey. In addition, he is a JKA-certified class B instructor, class B tournament judge, and class C examiner. For more information, see hiroshikariya.com. Jacob Levitt, MD teaches on Thursday evenings. He is a 4th dan, having trained with Sensei Mori for just under 20 years. He is a graduate of Sensei Mori's B Class instructor course. When at Yale, Jacob was president of the Yale Shotokan Karate Club (1992-6). Outside of karate, Jacob is a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center as well as a vice president at a pharmaceutical company.