Management of IKGA
IKGA Executive
Ingo De Jong, Shihan Hanshi, Vice-President IKGA
Ingo de Jong comes from Australia, where he started his karate career in the 1960's under IKGA Vice-President Paul Starling Shihan.
In the mid-70s, he settled in Sweden and came over a few years to be part of the Swedish national team karate.
On the 1st of Feb 1986 De Jong Shihan was awarded the leadership for Scandinavia and Europe by Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi. Kaiso Gogen Yamaguchi made a very significant decision by appointing De Jong Shihan, as at the time there were already several other Japanese instructors living and teaching in Europe.
De Jong Shihan was later appointed as a Vice President of IKGA (International Karate-do Goju-kai Association) in addition to his position as director of the Gojukai in Europe. Throughout his long career, Ingo de Jong is credited with coaching many prominent instructors, as well as students who have been successful competitors in the international arena. Today he is the senior Goju-kai instructor in Europe, and oversees a large and successful association.
De Jong Shihan travels frequently and has led seminars, camps and demonstrations etc. in 20 countries. In 2008 Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi promoted De Jong Shihan to the level of Hanshi, the first Westerner within IKGA to be awarded this most prestigious title.
