Casale Traditional Karatedo
Brooklyn, New York - USA
ABOUT US
WORLD KARATE ASSOCIATION
The World Karate Association (WKA) is an international nonprofit organization that welcomes all styles of Traditional Karate to work together in the spirit of sharing knowledge and building international friendships. WKA is dedicated
to promoting the art of Traditional Karate, raising the level of instruction through numerous educational licensing programs, and giving scholarships to underprivileged students worldwide.
CASALE TRADITIONAL KARATE DOJO
The Casale Karate Dojo was established in Brooklyn, New York in 1986. It remains one of the most well known and respected schools of TRADITIONAL SHOTOKAN KARATEDO in the United States, and is one of the few schools that continues to teach pure Karatedo in the Traditional Japanese way. Since 1986 we have taught over 35,000 students in our dojos and various programs in the New York area. Students at our dojo learn and train the same way students do in Japan and Okinawa. These ancient Japanese and Okinawan training methods are augmented by cutting edge research in sports science, to create the ultimate Karate training experience. In addition to Traditional Karate, our dojo teaches Krav Maga (military/police hand to hand combat) for street self defense.
Sensei Casale personally teaches most of the classes and there are rarely more than 15 students in a class. Because of this, students receive higher quality instruction than in other Karate schools. It is very rare for students to have direct daily instruction from a TRULY WORLD CLASS internationally licensed instructor with Sensei Casale's experience and credentials.
Our goal is to develop our students into disciplined, healthy and confident individuals who will have the courage and strength to do
the right things in their lives. Safety is PARAMOUNT in our teaching methodology, and we are very proud to say that our dojo has a perfect safety record since 1986!
When the Covid pandemic hit, our dojo implemented appropriate safety protocols, and our programs were modified to support our members in their personal Covid challenges. The Casale Traditional Karate Dojo is especially dedicated to supporting school age children who are suffering in countless physical and psychological ways during this pandemic.
MASTER INSTRUCTOR
Thomas A. Casale
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8th Degree Black Belt - MASTER INSTRUCTOR
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Founder and President, World Karate Association - www.WorldKarateAssociation.org
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President, Japan Shotokan Karate Association - Pan Am
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Licensed Instructor, World Combat Association
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Licensed Instructor, Krav Maga (World Security & Self Defense Academy - Israel)
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Founder, Power Krav Maga & Civilian Defense Program (USA) - www.PowerKravMaga.com
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Former Professional Bodyguard to High Profile Entertainers
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Former Member of the USA Karate Team (1988-1994)
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Former Member of the USA World Cup Karate Team (1992-1994)
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Professional Member, American College of Sports Medicine
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Licensed Health & Physical Education Teacher, New York State Dept. of Education
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Author of numerous articles and manuals on Karate and Self Defense
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Founder/Coach, Best Friend Life Coaching - www.BestFriendLIfeCoaching.com
Sensei Casale has been practicing Karatedo since 1972. He holds the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt. He is the only non-Japanese instructor in the United States to hold a "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 was involved in numerous scientific research projects and is a three time graduate of the Long Island University Karate Instructors Certificate 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 was a Professor in the Karate Instructors Certificate Program and was taught directly by it's founder Dr. Milorad V. Stricevic. Sensei Casale was raised in the JKA (Japan Karate Association) under Masataka Mori's organization in New York, and was directly mentored for over 30 years by
Dr. Milorad V. Stricevic and Master Toyotaro Miyazaki (Shotokai).
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 high profile 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 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 competitors in the world, and he had over 100 1st Place victories in regional and national level competitions. In addition to his Traditional Karatedo training, Sensei Casale also trained in Traditional Japanese Goshin Ryu Jujutsu and Judo (1981-1987). He earned a 2nd Degree Black Belt 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 from Master William C. Phillips of the Patience Tai Chi Association.
In 1999, Sensei Casale became a student of Master Keigo Abe, and founded the Japan Shotokan Karate Association in the USA. In 2001, he traveled to Japan for advanced Karate training and to study the Japanese Educational System. From 2004-2011, he served as the "Shibucho" (official representative) in New York City for the International 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 addition to this (in 2006) Sensei Casale coached the USA Karate Team. As a result of his masterful coaching, the team won an incredible 87 MEDALS in the 2006 JSKA World Karate Championship. In 2007, he founded the International Union of Karatedo Organizations (IUKO) as a matrix for instructors of different styles of traditional Karatedo to work together in a friendly non-political environment. In 2011, Sensei Casale was inducted into the Cambridge Who’s Who Book of Global Executives by Donald Trump. In 2013, Sensei Casale was featured on the cover of Shotokan Karate Magazine in Europe. In 2014, Sensei Casale graduated the KRAV MAGA licensing program under Gabi Michaeli of the Israeli Military and President of WKF Israel. In this same year he founded POWER KRAV MAGA in the USA.
As a result of the Covid pandemic, countless Traditional Karate dojos were forced to close. In 2021, Sensei Casale founded the WORLD KARATE ASSOCIATION (WKA) to unite and support Traditional Karate schools worldwide. The WKA is a nonprofit organization that propagates Traditional Karate, provides educational programs and scholarships, promotes Traditional Karate schools and creates educational opportunities for cultural exchange.
Because of the 400% increase in violent hate crimes, Sensei Casale created the CIVILIAN DEFENSE PROGRAM, to train the community in situational awareness, threat indicators, conflict mitigation/resolution, facility/home security and Police/Military Krav Maga.
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 with children, knowledge of sports science 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.