December 16th – December 19th 2011
20 Year Reunion in Belize
In 1991 Belize was honored to host one of the founders, the Chairman and Chief Instructor of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF), Teruyuki Okazaki Shihan. Okazaki Shihan is a 10th degree black belt who trained under the “father” of modern day Shotokan karate, Master Gichin Funakoshi. Okazaki Shihan was the head coach for the original group of instructors, including Takayuki Mikami and Hirokazu Kanazawa, in what is now known as the legendary Japanese Karate Association (JKA) instructors’ program.
In 1961 he was sent to the US to promote traditional Shotokan karate-do as described in the teachings of the Dojo Kun and Niju Kun, and later in 1977 formed the ISKF. Today, the ISKF is comprised of over twenty-eight Pan American countries including Belize, and over thirty-two countries from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Twenty years following his first visit, the Belize Shotokan Karate Association (BSKA) is proud to welcome 80 year old Okazaki Shihan back to Belize, and back to the headquarters of the BSKA in Punta Gorda. Chief Instructor of the BSKA, Sensei John Nunez has received most of his training at ISKF Headquarters in Philadelphia,Pennsylvaniaunder Teruyuki Okazaki, Shihan.
While in Belize,Okazaki will be conducting ranking exams for colored and black belt levels across the country, in addition to technical clinics and instructor training sessions. All training sessions will be open to other karate associations nationally and regionally, and the BSKA is planning an elaborate schedule of events to commemorate his return including a public Shiae and cultural presentations.
Master Okazaki is the author of two books, “The Textbook of Modern Karate”, and ”Perfection of Character: Guiding Principles For The Martial Arts & Everyday Life”. He was chosen as Black Belt magazine’s Man of the Year in 1982 and belongs to their Hall of Fame.
