About the Organization

The Shotokan Karate Association (SKA) was founded in 1968 by William Hodgkiss in Bucks County, PA. The organization is now one of the oldest traditional Japanese karate-do organizations in the United States and, with over 1,000 active students and senior members, one of the largest Shotokan organizations.  All member clubs are led by 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation students of William Hodgkiss and Assistant Director (now retired) Al Shea.

The Shotokan Karate Association has remained independent of the major national and international karate governing bodies and neutral in the organizational politics of the Shotokan world. As a result, our students and instructors have been welcomed as guests wherever they have traveled to visit and practice over the years. Our members have trained and competed around the world with nearly all of the major karate organizations, including the JKA, SKIF, KUGB, ISKF, Shotokai, Shotokan Karate of America, and many, many others.

As a result of this open philosophy each SKA club reflects the unique perspective and experiences of the instructor. We feel that this is one of our organization’s greatest strengths - there is no dogma, no effort to eliminate the curiosity, analysis, and innovation that led to the development of our art in the first place. We learn from each other’s experiences, we add to our foundation, and we push our students to develop the art beyond what we’ve been able to share with them. We are a community of students and instructors who are all linked through our senior teachers. Our organization provides community, support, and guidance as we each come to discover what this art means to us individually and collectively.

Membership in the SKA comes through training with one of our existing clubs. New SKA clubs can only be chartered by members of one of our existing clubs. We do not solicit outside clubs as members, although we welcome the opportunity to exchange ideas and practice with other clubs whenever possible.

If you are interested in studying Shotokan karate and you are near one of our member clubs we hope you will visit and practice with us. We welcome adults and children (age limits may apply) with or without prior martial arts experience.

If you are not located near an SKA club but are interested in the Shotokan style of karate, please look into one of the organizations listed above; each offers excellent training and each provides a slightly different view of Shotokan. Our advice is to find an instructor that you feel comfortable with and a club environment that you feel will support your development and just jump in. Keep an open mind, be patient with yourself, work hard, and have fun.