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Although Okazaki had spent most of his adult life promoting Shotokan throughout North America, he also held a faculty position at Philadelphia's Temple University from 1970 and was an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, West Chester University, and Thomas Jefferson University.
Apr 24, 2020 · Mr. Okazaki trained with Masatoshi Nakayama, his mentor, and sometimes with Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi. He graduated in 1953 with a political economics degree from Takushoku University and went on to assist Nakayama and Funakoshi with the new Japanese Karate Association.
Master Okazaki was 88 years of age and dedicated his life to spreading Shotokan karate-do, as well as his instructor, Master Gichin Funakoshi’s philosophy through the Dojo Kun and Shoto Niju Kun throughout the world.
The Japan Karate Association (JKA; "Nihon Karate Kyokai" in Japan) was formed in 1949 by several senior students of Sensei Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate. The highest rank that Master Funakoshi awarded to his students was 5th Dan (5th-degree black belt). JKA raised the highest rank of the Black Belt from 5th Dan to 10th Dan ...
Shihan Okazaki saw the need to encourage more students to develop as instructors and continue spreading traditional karate-do. In 1981, at the ISKF National Board of Directors meeting in Sioux Falls, SD, Shihan Okazaki proposed establishing an official Instructor Training program adopted from the JKA program to further develop the organization.
Master Okazaki was sent to the United States by JKA Chief Instructor Masatoshi Nakayama in 1961 to help share Shotokan Karate with people throughout the world. He established a dojo in Philadelphia (now Headquarters for the International Shotokan Karate Federation) and formed the East Coast Shotokan Karate Association in 1963.
May 9, 2020 · In 1970, Okazaki began teaching karate at Temple University and later taught at the University of Pennsylvania as well as Drexel, West Chester and Thomas Jefferson Universities.
