Takemasa Okuyama
Encyclopedia
Takemasa Okuyama is the head of the International Karate Association of Canada
and has the Kancho title
.
He began to train in Japan at the age of 7. In line with the family tradition, he practised sumo
and judo
. At the aged of 13 he started to learn karate from master Kinjo from Okinawa. In 1960, he started to study at the Takushoku University
in Japan.
He studied political science
and foreign trade, regularly training karate with masters Tabata, Hamanaka, Ozawa and Tsuyama.
In 1966, he arrived in the USA to continue his studies and trained for three years under the instruction of master Takayuki Kubota
.
In 1970, he moved to Canada,where he is influential person in the Gosoku-ryu
and Shotokan karate environment. In the same year he placed third in kumite at 5th Annual All-Stars Tournament. He esatblished IKA Canada Kubota Cup in 1971
In 1992, Takayuki Kubota
awarded him with the Kancho title and 8 dan
degree in karate.
In 1997, he published a book called Ultimate Karate (ISBN 0-9683373-0-9) that demonstrates karate techniques for the serious student, showing intricate applications of stances and hand techniques beyond the Heian katas and Tekki Shodan.
Okuyama received many awards for his efforts in the movement for peace including the Key to the City of Cali, Columbia from Mayor Ricardo Cobo, and special awards from the City of Be'er Sheva, Israel from Mayor Kakuv for peace work between Israel and Palestine.
Okuyama has also trained law enforcement personnel around the world including: Columbian Military & Special Forces Police, Canadian Military Police, Moscow Police, Israeli Military, Ecuador Police.
Apart from his karate activity, Okuyama is president of Hachi-O-Zan Ltd. and an artist who occupies himself with traditional painting and playing the Japanese flute.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and has the Kancho title
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
.
He began to train in Japan at the age of 7. In line with the family tradition, he practised sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
and judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. At the aged of 13 he started to learn karate from master Kinjo from Okinawa. In 1960, he started to study at the Takushoku University
Takushoku University
Takushoku University is a private university in Japan. It was founded in 1900 by Prince Taro Katsura . The university is located in Tokyo and has two campuses: the main campus in the Bunkyō district, and a satellite campus in the Hachiōji district...
in Japan.
He studied political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and foreign trade, regularly training karate with masters Tabata, Hamanaka, Ozawa and Tsuyama.
In 1966, he arrived in the USA to continue his studies and trained for three years under the instruction of master Takayuki Kubota
Takayuki Kubota
is a Japanese master of karate. He founded the Gosoku-ryu style of karate, and is the founder and president of the International Karate Association. Kubota holds the title of Sōke for his development of the Gosoku-ryū style of karate...
.
In 1970, he moved to Canada,where he is influential person in the Gosoku-ryu
Gosoku-ryu
is a style of Karate which was founded by Takayuki Kubota. Gosoku stands for hard and fast, which suggests a combination of techniques both from the fast and dynamic Shotokan style as well as from the strength-focused Gōjū-ryū style.-Background:...
and Shotokan karate environment. In the same year he placed third in kumite at 5th Annual All-Stars Tournament. He esatblished IKA Canada Kubota Cup in 1971
In 1992, Takayuki Kubota
Takayuki Kubota
is a Japanese master of karate. He founded the Gosoku-ryu style of karate, and is the founder and president of the International Karate Association. Kubota holds the title of Sōke for his development of the Gosoku-ryū style of karate...
awarded him with the Kancho title and 8 dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
degree in karate.
In 1997, he published a book called Ultimate Karate (ISBN 0-9683373-0-9) that demonstrates karate techniques for the serious student, showing intricate applications of stances and hand techniques beyond the Heian katas and Tekki Shodan.
Okuyama received many awards for his efforts in the movement for peace including the Key to the City of Cali, Columbia from Mayor Ricardo Cobo, and special awards from the City of Be'er Sheva, Israel from Mayor Kakuv for peace work between Israel and Palestine.
Okuyama has also trained law enforcement personnel around the world including: Columbian Military & Special Forces Police, Canadian Military Police, Moscow Police, Israeli Military, Ecuador Police.
Apart from his karate activity, Okuyama is president of Hachi-O-Zan Ltd. and an artist who occupies himself with traditional painting and playing the Japanese flute.