Thomas A. Casale

President, Japan Shotokan Karate Association - USA

President, Japan Shotokan Karate Association - Pan Am

Executive Director, International Union of Karatedo Organizations

Professor, Long Island University Karate Instructor Certification Program

Professional Member, American College of Sports Medicine

Licensed Health & Physical Education Teacher, New York State Dept. of Education

Pan America

Japan

Europe

Biography of Sensei Casale

Sensei Casale has been practicing Karatedo since 1977. He holds the rank of

6th Degree Black Belt (from Sensei Keigo Abe in Japan) and is the only person in the Pan Americas

to hold a JSKA "A" level Master Instructors License, "A" level International Examiners License and "A"

level International Referee License. Sensei Casale graduated Long Island University in 1991.

He earned a degree in Sports Science with credited specializations in Exercise Physiology and Coaching.

He is a three time graduate of the Long Island University Karate Instructors Certificate Program and the

Japan Shotokan Karate Association's Karate Instructors Program. He holds a New York State Health and

Physical Education teaching license and is a professional member of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Sensei Casale is a Professor in the Karate Instructors Certificate Program which is still run by it's founder

Dr. Milorad V. Stricevic in cooperation with Ranger College (Formally in cooperation with Long Island University).

Sensei Casale was a member of the U.S.A. National and World Cup Karate Teams (1988-1994). He competed in 5 World Championships and over 30 International Championships. On the international level, he consistently placed among the top 10 and he had well over 100 1st Place victories in regional and national level competitions. In addition to his Traditional Karatedo training, Sensei Casale also trained in Traditional Goshin Ryu Jujutsu (1981-1988) and Kodokan Judo (1981-1987). He earned a 2nd Dan Grades in both of these arts. Sensei Casale, has also been practicing Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan since 1984. In 1992, he earned his Tai Chi Instructors certification. In 1999, Sensei Casale founded the Japan Shotokan Karate Association in the USA and throughout the Pan American region. In 2001, he traveled to Japan to train and teach Karate and study the Japanese Educational System. In 2004, he became the "Shibucho" (official New York representative) for the Ryukyu Karate Research Society. In 2005, he was awarded a New York State Proclamation for his extensive work with children and the promotion of Karate and Japanese culture. In 2006, he organized the JSKA World Karate Championship in New York City and was awarded the Goodwill Ambassador Hall of Fame Award from Budo International Magazine. In this same year, Sensei Casale was awarded the 169th New York State Legislative Resolution in state history, for bringing the JSKA World Karate Championship to New York and for faithfully coaching the world champion USA Karate Team. In 2007, he founded the International Union of Karatedo Organizations as a matrix for instructors of traditional Karatedo to work together in a friendly non-political environment.

Throughout the 1990’s, Sensei Casale worked as the Activities Director for the New York City Department of Justice maximum security prison system and ran security teams for a number of well known night clubs in N.Y.C.. In addition to this, Sensei Casale served as a professional bodyguard for many high profile entertainers, such as Frank Sinatra, Sting, Phil Collins, Paula Abdul, Pink Floyd, Steven Spielberg and Donna Summer.

Sensei Casale's teaching style fuses ancient Japanese training methods with modern principles of sports medicine. He is a master of educational pedagogy and his experience with real self defense situations is particularly extensive. He frequently travels throughout the U.S.A., Europe and Pan American countries to teach seminars and officiate at international competitions. No other instructor in the New York area offers a combination of all these benefits to their students. In 1998, Sensei Casale was Awarded the National Presidential Sports Award from The President’s (President Bill Clinton) Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He is best known for his masterful teaching skills and his deep insights on Karate Bunkai (application of techniques for actual combat). Students and instructors from all over the world visit New York City on a regular basis to train directly with Sensei Casale.

Sensei Casale continues to train, study, teach and research all aspects of traditional Karatedo. He remains a faithful student of Sensei Keigo Abe (Japan), Sensei Patrick McCarthy (Austrailia) and his life long mentor and dear friend Dr. Milorad V. Stricevic (USA).

Sensei Casale’s recent history:

In 2000,

Sensei Casale founded the Japan Shotokan Karate Association (JSKA) in the United States and became an official representative for Keigo Abe Sensei’s Japan based JSKA in the United States.

In 2001,

Sensei Casale traveled to Japan to train with Abe Sensei and do historical research on Japanese/Okinawan Karatedo. While there, he researched the Japanese educational system and the impact of Japanese culture

on Martial Arts. Sensei Casale also taught a seminar with Keigo Abe Sensei and the coach of Japan’s junior National Team in Ehime, Shikoku, Japan.

In 2002,

Sensei Casale traveled to GERMANY to officiate at the JSKA World Championship. While there, he was tested by Abe Sensei for his JSKA international instructor’s license.

In 2003,

Sensei Casale traveled to Poland to teach a series of seminars at the Polish national Karate camp. The camp was extremely well attended and held at a beautiful sports camp on the Baltic Sea.

In 2004,

Sensei Casale traveled to Romania to officiate at the SKDUN World Karate Championship and to Africa to officiate at the JSKA World Championship. While there, Abe Sensei awarded Sensei Casale the honor of hosting the 2006 World Championship in New York, USA. Sensei Casale became the official New York State representative for the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society (IRKRS) and was awarded the title of SHIBUCHO by Sensei Patrick McCarthy. In addition to this, in 2004, Sensei Casale earned the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt from the IRKRS, the European branch of the ITKF and the International Fudokan Shotokan Karate Federation.

In 2005,

Sensei Casale was awarded with a New York State Proclamation by Senator Marty Golden for his legendary work with the children of the New York community. He was also the recipient of the 2005 Budo International Magazine Karate Master of the Year Award.

In 2006,

Sensei Casale hosted the JSKA World Championship in New York. This was the first World Karate Championship held in the USA in over 25 years. Sensei Casale’s direct students won a total of 78 Medals and the championship was covered by 12 international cable television networks and numerous magazines and newspapers. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Marty Golden honored Sensei Casale with a New York City Proclamation and the New York State Senate unanimously voted to honor Sensei Casale with the 169th Legislative Resolution awarded in New York State history. BUDO International Magazine inducted Sensei Casale into the Hall of Fame and bestowed the GOODWILL AMBASSADOR TO THE MARTIAL ARTS AWARD.

In 2007,

Sensei Casale founded the International Union of Karatedo Organizations (IUKO). IUKO is an organization that provides a matrix for the different styles of Traditional Karatedo to come together in friendship to train and share ideas. Thanks to IUKO, numerous national and international good will relationships have been formed with the common goal of promoting WORLD PEACE through the practice of Traditional Martial Arts.

Sensei Casale traveled to Panama to teach a week long training camp to the police and special forces of the military of the Republic of Panama. A large percentage of the illegal drugs that enter into the United States is grown and processed in the jungles that rest between Columbia and Panama. Powerful drug overlords who command professional private armies have constructed “drug towns” in these jungles. These drug towns supply and support multi-billion dollar drug empires. The primary function of the Panamanian Special Forces is the WAR AGAINST DRUGS being fought in these jungles. In his seminars, Sensei Casale taught the troops pain compliance, arrest and immobilization techniques which ultimately proved to be very useful to them on numerous missions. Sensei Casale enthusiastically continues his work with these brave men by periodically traveling to Panama to teach at their military special forces training camps.

Sensei Casale traveled to Italy to teach seminars and officiate at the International Karate Association’s International Championship in Italy and was given an International Award for his great contributions to the

art of Karate.

In 2008,

Sensei Casale worked as a consultant for master T.V. magician David Blain and he did a spot for SPIKE TV’s “GUYS CHOICE AWARDS”. Sensei Casale coached the USA Karate Team that competed in the JSKA World Championship in Manchester, England. The 4 USA Team members came home with 3 Gold Medals. Sensei Casale founded the Senior Karate Program which serves the special exercise needs of individuals 65 years old and older. In addition to this, Sensei Casale hosted ITKF WORLD CHAMPION Macjic Grubski and Sensei Dariusz Bajkowski for a series of seminars in New York. Sensei Casale received an award from the national congress of the Polish Fudokan Karate Federation for his devotion to teaching Traditional Karate throughout the world.

In 2009,

In early March of 2009, Sensei Casale taught a series of Seminars on Bunkai and the biomechanics of Karate technique in Mexico, Amsterdam, Poland and Rome. During this 2 week teaching tour, Sensei Casale did interviews for two European Karate magazines and shot an instructional Bunkai video.

While in Warsaw, Poland, Sensei Casale taught at the Olympic Training Center and had the great privilege of meeting with General Petelicki (the liason between the US & Polish military during operations in the Middle East). Sensei Casale and the General discussed the unique training needs of Special Forces operating in 21st century urban combat situations. In addition to this, he advised a special board of directors that will implement his program teach Karate to special needs populations as a mode of therapy. This new European Karate program for special needs populations promises to be one of the best in the world. While in Rome, Italy, Sensei Casale had the great privilege of training officers of the ELITE SWISS GUARD that have protected the Pope and the Vatican since 1506.

In March 2009, Sensei Casale hosted the 1st Annual JSKA Pan American Gasshuku (training camp).

Sensei Keigo Abe (9th Dan and Chief Instructor of JSKA) was the featured instructor. The Gasshuku was a great success. Sensei Casale recently turned 40 and became eligible to test for his JSKA 6th Dan. He was PHYSICALLY TESTED by Sensei Abe and passed his examination for 6th Dan. He also passed his PHYSICAL EXAMINATION for his “A” level instructors, Judge/Referee and Examiner’s license. Sensei Casale is the only instructor in the USA with a JSKA “A” license. In the summer of 2009, Sensei Casale will take a large group of students and instructors to JAPAN for training and Budo education. In the later part of 2009, Sensei Casale taught another series of seminars throughout Pan-America and Europe and was inducted into the MARTIAL ARTS HALL of FAME by Dr. Un Yong Kim (Former Vice President of the International Olympic Committee credited with bring Tae Kwon Do into the Olympics).

In 2010,

In 2010, Sensei Casale organized the 2010 Pan American Karatedo Gasshuku in New York.

The training camp featured Sensei Harry Cook (Author of “Shotokan Karate: A Precise History”),

Sensei Ricardo Galina (JSKA World Champion) and 10 other World Class instructors.

Sensei Casale has also organized two additional masters camps in 2010 with Sensei Patrick McCarthy

(June) and Sensei Keigo Abe (November).  In late 2010, Sensei Casale will be teaching a series of seminars

in Europe, Central America and South America.Please check the events page often for updates.

Sensei Casale continues to train, study and research all aspects of traditional Karatedo and remains a faithful student of Sensei Keigo Abe (JSKA-JAPAN), Sensei Patrick MCarthy (IRKRS) and his life long mentor and dear friend Dr. Milorad V. Stricevic. (Long Island University).