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Welcome to Shotokan Ohshima Karate-do, international karate organizations closely affiliated under our chief instructor, Tsutomu Ohshima.

International Affiliates

International Affiliates and Dojos:

 

Events

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Suisse 40th Anniversary Celebration

July 8th – 9th, 2017 in Winterthur near Zürich, Switzerland. The anniversary’s motto is “DEAI“ meaning “Encounter”, to reflect our friendship within and beyond the Shotokan Ohshima Karate-do family. Please take note that on Friday, July 7th 2017 the Third Godan Practice and Gathering – Europe and Israel (Overseas Godans Welcome) will also take place …

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Tsutomu Ohshima

Tsutomu Ohshima is the founder and Shihan (Chief Instructor) of many international Shotokan organizations. Mr. Ohshima’s branch of the Shotokan world has become known as Shotokan Ohshima Karate-do (SOKD).

Tsutomu Ohshima, Paris 1962

Mr. Ohshima was born on August 6, 1930, and by the age of five had already entered the disciplined and rigorous world of Japanese martial arts. Practicing daily, he pursued sumo wrestling from the age of five until he was fifteen; kendo (Japanese sword fighting) from the ages of eight to fifteen, and judo from the ages of nine to thirteen.

Mr. Ohshima’s distinguished association with Shotokan karate began at Waseda University, beginning in 1948. While he was there he trained directly under the style’s founder, Master Funakoshi, until 1953. His training was also influenced by his leading seniors, who were, in order of seniority:

  • Hiroshi Noguchi, First Waseda Captain
  • Shigeru Egami
  • Toshio Kamata-Watanabe
  • Tadao Okuyama
  • Matsuo Shibuya

Seniors Egami, Kamata-Watanabe, and Okuyama have each honored Mr. Ohshima and Shotokan Karate of America by visiting the United States to observe and instruct our members.

At the All-Japan Sandan Promotional in 1952 Master Funakoshi personally awarded Mr. Ohshima his sandan (third degree black belt) rank, while honoring him with the highest score of any participant. Also in 1952 he became the Captain of the Waseda University Karate Club, working with Master Funakoshi. In 1957 Mr. Ohshima also received his godan (fifth degree black belt) rank from Master Funakoshi, the highest rank awarded by Master Funakoshi and still the highest rank achievable in SKA.

It was also during 1952 that Mr. Ohshima innovated the judging system still used in modern day tournaments. However, for students wishing to participate, he cautions that tournaments should not be viewed as an expression of true karate itself.

Mr. Ohshima left Japan in 1955 to continue his studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where, in January 1956, he led his first U.S. practice. The first university karate club in the United States was founded by Mr. Ohshima, at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, in 1957. In 1959 the Southern California Karate Association (SCKA) was founded, and for the next ten years the reputation and membership of the SCKA continued to grow. Many new dojos were started by Mr. Ohshima’s black belt instructors all over the world.

About

We need to say something about Shotokan Ohshima Karate-do here.

  • 2016 Shotokan Ohshima Karate-do gathering in Israel

    What distinguishes Shotokan Ohshima Karate-do from other Shotokan ‘styles’?

  • When did we begin to refer to our practice this way (1999 naming of Shotokan Ohshima Dojo)?
  • Who are the affiliates (see the International Affiliates page)?

A brief history of the organizations is recited in the Tsutomu Ohshima page.