Tsutomu Ohshima

Mr. Ohshima is the founder and Shihan (Chief Instructor) of Shotokan Karate of America. He was born on August 6, 1930, and by the age of five had already entered the disciplined and rigorous world of Japanese martial arts. Practicing daily, he pursued sumo wrestling from the age of five until he was fifteen; kendo (Japanese sword fighting) from the ages of eight to fifteen, and judo from the ages of nine to thirteen.

Mr. Ohshima's distinguished association with karate began at Waseda University in Japan, beginning in 1948. Mr. Ohshima studied Shotokan karate under the style's founder, Master Funakoshi, from 1948 until 1953. At the All-Japan Sandan Promotional in 1952 Master Funakoshi personally awarded Mr. Ohshima his sandan (third degree black belt) rank, while honoring him with the highest score of any participant. Also in 1952 he became the Captain of the Waseda University Karate Club, working with Master Funakoshi. In 1957 Mr. Ohshima received his godan (fifth degree black belt) rank from Master Funakoshi, the highest rank awarded by Funakoshi and still the highest rank achievable in SKA.

Mr. Ohshima's training was also influenced by other leading seniors, who were, in order of seniority: Hiroshi Noguchi (First Waseda Captain), Shigeru Egami, Toshio Kamata-Watanabe, Todao Okuyama, and Matsuo Shibuya.

Seniors Egami, Kamata-Watanabe, and Okuyama have each honored Mr. Ohshima and Shotokan Karate of America by visiting the United States to observe and instruct our members.

Mr. Ohshima left Japan in 1955 to continue his studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he led his first practice in the United States. Later, he formed the first university karate club in the United States at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, in 1958. The following year witnessed the founding of the Southern California Karate Association (SCKA). For the next ten years the reputation and membership of the SCKA continued to grow. Many new dojos were started by Mr. Ohshima's black belt instructors in California and across the nation. Thus the organization was renamed Shotokan Karate of America in 1969.