History of the ISKF
The International Shotokan Karate Federation was founded in 1977 in Philadelphia, USA by Master Teruyuki Okazaki and is now one of the largest karate organizations in the world.
Master Teruyuki Okazaki
Master Teruyuki Okazaki was born June 22, 1931 to a samurai family in Fukoka, Japan. After studying aikido, judo and kendo, he began karate training in 1947, joining the Japan Karate Association (JKA), where he studied under both Grand Master Gichin Funakoshi and Master Masatoshi Nakayama.
Master Okazaki was sent to the United States by JKA Chief Instructor Masatoshi Nakayama in 1961 to help share Shotokan karate with all people throughout the world.
Sadly, he passed on April 21, 2020 after contracting the Coronavirus. 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.
His nephew Hiroyoshi Okazaki is the current chairman and chief instructor of the ISKF
Grand Master Gichin Funakoshi
Master Gichin Funakoshi was born November 10, 1868 to a samurai family in Shuri, Okinawa.
He is known as the “father of modern karate”. Following the teachings of Anko Itosu and Anko Asato, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1922, following its earlier introduction by his teacher Itosu.
He was the founder of Shotokan karate and became honorary head of the Japan Karate Association upon its establishment in 1949.
In addition to being a karate master, Funakoshi was an avid poet and philosopher.
He passed on April 26, 1957 in Tokyo, Japan.
“We train our body to be strong, and our mind and spirit to be patient, in order to become the best human beings we can be.”
Master Teruyuki Okazaki
