The International Martial Arts Association (IMA) Nepal, is the leading and most innovative martial arts organization today. We welcome all martial artists regardless of style, system or other affiliation. We are a fully-accredited traditional martial arts dojo, teaching Shotokan karate to men, women and children under Sensei Shanta Thokar, an 4th Degree (Yon Dan) black belt. Shotokan Karate is the first and the oldest martial art in the world that was originally founded by Master Gichhin Funakoshi, and modernized by Masatoshi Nakayama, the former Chief Instructor of Japan Karate Association. Karate is a weaponless system of self-defense, which is an excellent all-around fitness regimen, exercising the body’s muscles in a combination of aerobic and anaerobic workouts. Shotokan Karate consists of fully scientific way of body exercises that develops, strengthens and sharpens the physical body as well as mental concentration with strong spirit.
Our goal: To Build Character
Karate, originated and developed in Japan, and spread all over the world because of its strong commitment to build the character and strengthen physical body as well as mental concentration. Sensei Shanta Thokar is one of the well known Karate Instructor, who trained with the JKA Instructors in mother land of Karate, Japan. The opportunity to study Shotokan Karate in its mother land gave Sensei Thokar, to intimate with the secret of Karate, which he is carrying with him to share with every people around the world. Sensei Thokar had been trained by Shihan Mikio Yahara (Chief Instructor, KWF), Sensei Pemba Tamang (former JKA Instructor), Shihan Kenneth Funakoshi (Chief Instructor FSKA), Master Mastaka Mori (Chief Instructor of JKA, NY) and Shihan Cyrus Madani, (Chief Instructor of International Martial arts association, Colorado).
Sensei Thokar was born in the remote hilly village in the Himalayan Country of Nepal. The geographical environment and his own ethnic community motivated him to walk in the way of Martial Arts, which carried him to Shotokan Karate as Sensei Thokar believes; Shotokan karate is a real Martial Art and real Karate among the numerous martial arts in the World. Sensei Thokar has been doing Karate since 1987. He had valuable experiences of Karate as he participated in different regional, national, International Tournaments and World Championships and to many international master training camp, where he achieved valuable medals and knowledge of Karate. He has the huge experiences of teaching Shotokan Karate as he trained hundreds of students in Nepal and South Asian region. He had been the Chief Instructor of Nepal Shotokan Karate Association for more than 5 years under Shihan Pemba Tamang (former JKA Instructor) who is the first non japanese,who successfully completed the kenshusei from JKA & is now Founder of the Nihon Shotokan karate do Federation, Japan. Sensei Thokar is very impressed by Shihan Tamang and he still follows the sensei Tamang’s way by following his philosophy: “कोशीसमा जीवन अनुशासनमा सफलता (Effort & discipline are the keys to success)”.
Sensei Thokar has established now his own dojo in United States, New York in 2008, affiliated to IMA Honbu dojo, Colorado, USA. And has also established IMA dojo as National karate organization in Nepal in 2011 under the National Sports council, Nepal with the strong motto and objective to teach the quality of Shotokan Karate.