We seek tranquility
in the midst of conflict or danger, and
strive to control our bodies, minds, and emotions,
to be able to avoid conflict when possible,
defend ourselves when necessary,
and protect others when able.

• Administrative help for AKDS Instructors;
• Accurate details on KDS philosophy & practice;
• Historical & practice info for club members.

Because our practice is difficult to explain, locate a club and join us--no prior experience is necessary and all are welcome!

We are so grateful to Harada Sensei for trusting us to introduce KDS practice in America, and to those who have given of their time, talents, and means in training us here.

American KDS is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that exists to promote individual improvement and community safety. AKDS instructors are not paid, but give of their time and talents free of charge.

Mitsusuke Harada Sensei was born in Manchuria, China in 1928 and began his karate training in Tokyo, Japan at age 15. In 1948 he began his study of economics at Waseda University, where he was taught by the legendary founder of modern karate, Master Gichin Funakoshi at the famed Shotokan dojo. Shigeru Egami, a student of Funakoshi and pioneer in the martial arts, noticed ability in Harada and invited him to train with him one-on-one, daily, for a year and a half. In only eight years Harada received his 5th Dan (the highest grade possible) from Master Funakoshi. With Funakoshi's blessing, Harada moved to Brazil, becoming the first to introduce karate in South America. Later, in early 1960, Harada Sensei moved to England as the first karate master to reside there, and formed the Karate-Do Shotokai (KDS), which he continues to direct today. In addition to those already mentioned, Harada Sensei is one of the few living masters to have actually practiced personally with Yoshitaka Funakoshi, Motonobu Hironishi, Wado Uemura, Yoshiaki Hayashi, Tadao Okuyama, Hioshi Noguchi, Masatoshi Nakayama, Tsutomu Ohshima, Taiji Kase, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Hoken Noriaki Inoue, Nobuyoshi Tamura, and Morihei Ueshiba! In addition to this unprecedented lineage, Harada Sensei does not just direct from the sidelines, but continues to personally practice on a regular basis with his students to this day, and we honor and thank him for his insight, dedication and selfless service!

Dr. Adrian Hutber received his black belt from Harada Sensei in England in 1989. He came to the United States and organized American Shotokai Karate in 1993 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah with the help of Dr. Matthew Spackman and Jeremy Crook. At that time, ASK was the only group in the West practicing under the direction of Harada Sensei. In 1999, six years after its initial inception, Harada Sensei officially adopted ASK as American KDS. Operating as a non-profit organization, American Karate-Do Shotokai receives regular practice method updates and hosts special training courses each year presented by Harada Sensei and the KDS 5th Dan Technical Group. Find a club and come join us for the most unique martial arts experience in the USA!