Tribute to the Muse of ISKF Karate: Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki

A special tribute by ISKF-Guyana
On Tuesday April 22nd, 2020, a decorated Master, Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki, passed away from this earthly plane. He was in his 88th year, and he was the muse of ISKF-Guyana. His demise was due to coronavirus complications.

ISKF-Guyana takes a unified “Rae” (Japanese for bow) and says “Osu!” with a clarion voice as a sign of respect and recognition to Master Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki’s passing and legacy.
This great man will be remembered as a remarkable human being, an adept teacher, and a mentor. He epitomized humility, gentleness, and all the qualities of a revered master, and stood in as a father-like figure to thousands of students. Shihan Okazaki was instrumental in the promotion of thousands of dan ranks worldwide as well as in Guyana.

A great deal of gratitude is owed to him for the knowledge he has disseminated over the years and the continued benefits the ISKF Guyana will derive from his legacy. In this regard, and on behalf of ISKF

Country Director and Chief Instructor Christopher Chaves, the operating committee, instructors, students and parents, the federation would like to convey its deepest condolences, and pledge support in any way, to his family and home Dojo in Philadelphia USA, and our other brothers and sister in the Karate Fraternity.
Teruyuki Okazaki (June 22, 1931 – April 21, 2020), was a tenth-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate, as well as the founder and chief instructor of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF). Along with Gichin Funakoshi and Masatoshi Nakayama, Okazaki helped found the Japan Karate Association’s instructor training program.

Early years
Okazaki was born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As a young man, he grew up studying judo, kendo, and aikido. In 1948, at the age of sixteen, he entered Takushoku University. It was here that Okazaki began his karate training. Teruyuki Okazaki studied primarily under Gichin Funakoshi, as well as Masatoshi Nakayama.
In 1953, Okazaki graduated and was immediately appointed coach of the Takushoku team. Later that year, it was decided that Okazaki would be trained as a “test case” for the still formulating JKA Instructor Trainee Program.
In 1955, he was appointed head of the program, which produced some of modern Shotokan’s most integral leaders. Takayuki Mikami, Eiji Takaura, and Hirokazu Kanazawa were among the first graduates from this program.

Coming to North America
As part of an effort by Nakayama to spread the practise of Shotokan Karate internationally, Okazaki came to the United States in 1961. Originally planning to stay only six months, he later opened a dojo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and settled there permanently. [1] In 1977, Okazaki founded the International Shotokan Karate Federation.

ISKF Independence
In April 2007, as chief instructor of the ISKF, Okazaki proposed termination of the ISKF’s relationship with the JKA and formation of an external independent body. This motion was supported by 25 other countries, which continued their relationship with the ISKF and discontinued relations with the JKA.This decision came following Okazaki’s concern that the JKA had not been conducting itself in the manner appropriate to the teachings of Master Gichin Funakoshi.
At the following Canadian National ISKF Championships in Toronto, Canada in October 2007, the ISKF technical committee announced Okazaki’s promotion to 10th dan, thus he became the highest-ranking karate master in the ISKF, and among only a couple of others internationally at the time. Yutaka Yaguchi was also promoted to the rank of 9th dan.
After Okazaki’s retirement in 2015, Yaguchi served as Chief Instructor of the ISKF, beside Okazaki’s nephew Hiroyoshi Okazaki as Chairman. Hiroyoshi Okazaki Shihan is now Chairman and Chief Instructor of the ISKF.

Professional life
Although Okazaki had spent most of his adult life promoting Shotokan throughout North America, he also held a faculty position at Philadelphia’s Temple University from 1970, and was an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, West Chester University, and Thomas Jefferson University.
To fond memories of a true Master: Osu! Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki, 10th Dan; you are loved and greatly missed.