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MASTER TOMOSABURO OKANO
Master Tomosaburo Okano was born in Tokyo, Japan, on
January 7, 1922. In 1939, at the age of 17, he began studying
at the dojo of Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of the
Shotokan style of karate. In 1941, Master Okano opened
the Kenkojuku Karate School, teaching traditional Shotokan
karate. The Kenkojuku Dojo is Japan’s oldest existing
karate school.
Master Okano’s experience and qualifications are extensive.
He holds 8th Dan in the All Japan Karate-do Federation
(JKF), 7th Dan in the All Japan Kendo Iaido Federation,
heads the Kenkojuku Karate-do Federation (Japan),
and is considered a principal authority of karate in Japan. |
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SHIHAN KOJI SUGIMOTO
Shihan Koji Sugimoto was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1947.
At the age of fourteen he began his study of karate under
Master Tomosaburo Okano, one of the original students of
Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of the Shotokan style of
karate. Shihan Sugimoto continues to expand his knowledge
and skills of the art of karate under Master Okano to
the present.
Shihan Koji Sugimoto’s accomplishments include:
• 7th Dan in the World Karate Federation (WKF), previously
known as WUKO
• 6th Dan in the All Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF)
• WKF referee and one of 22 individuals in the world sanctioned to referee kumite
in WKF competition
• WKF judge and one of 14 individuals in the world sanctioned to judge kata in
WKF competition
• Pan American Union Referee Council member
• USA Karate Federation Referee Council and Technical Committee member
• Head of the USA Kenkojuku Karate-do Federation
In 1970 Shihan Sugimoto was ranked one of the top ten in kumite in all of Tokyo. He
has competed, judged, and refereed in the Far East, Europe, South America and the
United States. Under the guidance of Shihan Koji Sugimoto the traditional Shotokan
style of karate is taught in Kenkojuku dojos throughout the United States, Europe, South and
Central America, and the Caribbean.
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