Master Okano
Master Tomosaburo Okano
Master Tomosaburo Okano Memorial
Founder and Chief Instructor of Kenkojuku Shotokan Federation
1922 • 2003
Karate History
Master Tomosaburo Okano was born in 1922 and is a direct student of Master Gichin Funakoshi and his third son Gigo Funakoshi. He was a member of Master Funakoshi’s karate association the Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai
Master Okano (far left) is sitting next to Mas Oyama, Shotokan 1943
Master Okano with members of his Kenkojuku Dojo, 1959
Master Okano and his top student Master Toyotaro Miyazaki
Go no Sen Master Miyazaki (l) evades and counters
Sen no Sen Master Okano's sudden strike against(l) Master Miyazaki (r)
Master Okano was also a high ranking expert in Kobudo and taught all types of weapon
Shihan Tomokatsu Okano
Since Master Okano’s passing the Kenkojuku Budokan is now run by his son Shihan Tomokatsu Okano
Master Toyotaro Miyazaki's turning back kick, 1976
Master Tomosaburu Okano in his Kenkojuku dojo, 2002
Master Okano was declared a Living National Treasure of japan before he passed away on July 19, 2003, at the advanced age of 81.
Masters: Minoru Horie, Toyotaro Miyazaki, Masakazu Takahashi, Koji Sugimoto
Some of his most famous students outside of Japan are Masters Takeshi Akuzawa, Toyotaro Miyazaki, Kazuo Kuriyama, Masakazu Takahashi, Koji Sugimoto and Minoru Horie.
Master Okano with his black belts from the Kenkojuku dojo
In 1942, Master Okano was given permission to start a karate research club named Kenkokai Karate-bu in his home town of Hachioji.
The club was started with the help of Master Okano’s friends, Suzuki Shinjo, Kaneko Isamu, and Takagi Yoshitomo.
With the guidance and blessing of his teacher he renamed the dojo and called it Kenkojuku Budokan in 1948.
Master Funakoshi's visit to the Kenkojuku dojo, November 30, 1955
Master Funakoshi has taught and visited the Kenkojuku many times. Master Okano’s karate was greatly influenced by both Masters Gichin and Gigo Funakoshi and eventually this branch of Shotokan became known as Kenkojuku Shotokan.
Master Okano’s karate has retained the Shotokai lineage as well as the name Shotokan as the style of karate being taught.
Master Okano was on the panel of masters of the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF).
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