SKDI MISSION

As a member of the Japan Karate Association World Fedreration (JKA WF), SKDI is committed to traditional shotokan karate instruction. With connectinos to North Atlantic Karate Karate Association since 1975, Shotokan Karate-Do International was founded by Masataka Mori in 2000 and has since flourished to many dojos under the leadership of our experienced Board of Directors and senior instructors.  SKDI instructors hold regional and international qualifications from the JKA Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan as Instructors, Examiners, and Judges.

JKA SKDI Board of Directors

​Shu Takahashi

7th Dan, ​Chairman

​Chief Instructor, Read​ More

Douglas Luft, 7th Dan

​Vice-Chairman

​Read More

Robert Jacobs, 7th Dan

​Executive Director

​Read ​More

Eiji Toryu, 7th Dan

​Secretary

​Read More

Margaret Thomas, 6th Dan

​Director

​Read More

FOUNDER SKDI: Masataka Mori, 1932-2018

Chief Instructor New York Dojo HQ, 1968-2018

Masataka Mori of Closter, age 85, born in Fukuoka, Japan, he attended Takushoku University and became captain of the Karate team. He came to the United States in 1963 as a karate instructor for the Japan Karate Association of Hawaii.   In 1968, he and his family moved to New York City, where he became the Chief Instructor of the JKA of New York and the Chief Instructor of JKA-Shotokan Karate-do International and attained the 9th Dan. In addition to teaching at his dojo, he had taught for years at New York colleges, including SUNY at Stony Brook, Columbia University, and CUNY, as well as a local schools, the Japanese Children’s Society. He often travelled abroad, acting as tournament arbitrator or judge, or teaching at various seminars.  This year marks his 50th year of teaching in New York City. He was an avid golf enthusiast and often participated in locally hosted Japanese American events.  Masataka Mori passed peacefully at his home in Closter, where he lived and gardened for forty years, surrounded by his devoted family. He is survived by Keiko, his wife of 61 years, his daughters Mayumi and Sayuri, their spouses Stephen and Alex, his six grandchildren, Allison, Kimiko, Andrew, Natalie, and Alexa and Kaitlin.
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For information about our founding instructor, please visit our memoriam webpage: 
Tribute to Mori-sensei
SKDI Intstructors have completed a two year long intensive instructor "B" Class training program with the Chief Instructor.  Following "B" class, Instructors may be invited to complete an additional two year long advanced training course for "A" Class level.  Past graduates are listed below:
"A" Class Graduates
​Douglas Luft
Robert Jacobs
Eiji Toryu
Noel Santella
Margaret Thomas
Adel Ismail
Marilyn Tressel
T.J. Stiles
Holly Danowski
Craig Elkin
Anthony DeCaprio
Thomas Hine
James Young
Hiroshi Kariya
John Seifert
Andrew Bakoledis
Cynthia Toryu
Peter Erfani
Jacob Levitt
Oleg Kobylevsky
Michael Jacobs
Edward Page
Mohammad Hanjani
Nikos Anerousis
Noriko Furuhata
Joseph Vincente
Edgard Nau
Angel Badillo
Liviu Coleasa
Nadia Hardy
Tina Ni Riain
Abigail Barrera
Wolfgang Haas
"B" Class Gradautes
​​Ashraf Ismail
Hiroshi Maeda
Aurelio Santoro
Shahrokh Hoghooghi
Mark Deschatelets
Margaret Lo
Carlos Medina
Robert Grady
Mohammad Hanjani
Gerry Gendlin
Lawrence Axelrod
Tina Chin
Denise Williams
Richard Santella
Lia Burnham
Edgard Nau
Michael Burnham
Mark Rollins
Robert Terikowski
Nadia Hardy
Maura Graham
Christopher Judd
Liviu Coleasa
Melissa Jacobs
Ryan Jacobs
Roberto Michelassi
Yutaka Wakai
Lawrence Khansmith
Andrew McClure
Andrea Jacobs
Helen Ling
Noriko Nagamoto
Chris Fiorello
Marcia Blanco
Michael Strauss
Craig Dickerson