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MASTER TERUYUKI OKAZAKI
Master Okazaki helped develop some of the finest karate-ka of his generation. The roster reads like
a Who's Who of the karate world: Takayuki Mikami, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Yutaka Yaguchi and
Tetsuhiko Asai.
In the highly commercialized world of modern martial arts, Teruyuki Okazaki stands out as an
anachronism. Unlike the dime-a-dozen, self-proclaimed grandmasters who will sell you just about
any- thing, he takes his students seriously. Aware of his responsibilities as a role model, the JKA
nineth dan goes about his job as head of the International Shotokan Karate Federation with quiet
dignity. With over 600 clubs in 30 countries under his direction, Master Okazaki spends much of
his time on the road teaching, refereeing and conducting grading tests.
Born in 1931, Master Okazaki took up karate at Takushoku University. Later, he helped establish
the JKA. The founding members included Master Gichin Funakoshi, the creator of Shotokan
karate, his senior student Master Nakayama, the late chief instructor of the JKA and Master
Motokuni Sugiura, the present chief instructor of the JKA.
So what is the secret behind his phenomenal success? The simple truth of the matter is, he
practices what he preaches. In all the years since leaving Japan, he insists, "I have never changed
the principle of karate." Proper etiquette is an integral aspect of martial arts. Inside his dojo is just
like being in Japan. Bowing, he explains, expresses both respect and humility. The two go
together. "Once you think, I'm good, you stop to progress." He says. "So that's why your head's
always down." Without etiquette, karate is a game, or worse, gratuitous violence.
Karate is "like a poison" when used only for fighting, he notes. However, it can be "a useful tool" if
used as a last resort for self-defense. To teach only fighting perverts the art. It is akin to allowing
language students to mispronounce a word and making no attempt to help them. You are not
doing them any favour. "You are cheating people" by turning a blind eye.
To get anywhere in life take hard work. There is no short cut. "We have to sweat. We have to train
to be experts", he says. Hard work was something Master Okazaki never shied away from. As a
young man, he developed a strong work ethic. What he had to learn, instead, was how to keep a
level head.
In his student days at Takushoku University, they practiced two and three times a day, everyday.
They punched and kicked thousands of times in the course of a year. Master Okazaki claims he
was not naturally talented. To compensate for his shortcomings, he worked extra hard. Through
sheer determination he progressed, eventually surpassing his more talented friends. You can
imagine the shock, and embarrassment when he failed his shodan exam three times.
Master Okazaki laughs about it now. But at the time it was not so funny. After much soul-searching,
and with the help of Master Nakayama, he finally figured it out. "My attitude was not right. I had too
much ego." It seems progress went to young Okazaki' s head. He be- came only interested in
getting his rank. He also developed a haughty attitude because he was one of Master Funakoshi's
favorite students. The more he improved, the more difficult he became.
Finally, he resolved to do his best and not think about rank. "I decided I didn't care; I was going to
be the best brown belt ever." By holding him back, Master Funakoshi taught him to go beyond
technique.
" After this experience, everything came easily. I still had to work hard, but my attitude changed
completely. I understood that karate was a feeling, an experience. There was no end to it." The
values that karate imparts are timeless. Every culture has something valuable to offer, says Master
Okazaki. Outside the dojo "1 follow [Western] customs." "Incorporate the best of all cultures", he
advises. Martial Arts is one aspect of Asian culture that en- riches life. "Take it if you like it. Take it
to make a better life."
"We are not warriors and death is not the test of our skills... Competition is just for a few moments.
Life is forever." Teruyuki Okazaki, "More than a Motto", ISKF Spotlight (Summer 1990)
a Who's Who of the karate world: Takayuki Mikami, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Yutaka Yaguchi and
Tetsuhiko Asai.
In the highly commercialized world of modern martial arts, Teruyuki Okazaki stands out as an
anachronism. Unlike the dime-a-dozen, self-proclaimed grandmasters who will sell you just about
any- thing, he takes his students seriously. Aware of his responsibilities as a role model, the JKA
nineth dan goes about his job as head of the International Shotokan Karate Federation with quiet
dignity. With over 600 clubs in 30 countries under his direction, Master Okazaki spends much of
his time on the road teaching, refereeing and conducting grading tests.
Born in 1931, Master Okazaki took up karate at Takushoku University. Later, he helped establish
the JKA. The founding members included Master Gichin Funakoshi, the creator of Shotokan
karate, his senior student Master Nakayama, the late chief instructor of the JKA and Master
Motokuni Sugiura, the present chief instructor of the JKA.
So what is the secret behind his phenomenal success? The simple truth of the matter is, he
practices what he preaches. In all the years since leaving Japan, he insists, "I have never changed
the principle of karate." Proper etiquette is an integral aspect of martial arts. Inside his dojo is just
like being in Japan. Bowing, he explains, expresses both respect and humility. The two go
together. "Once you think, I'm good, you stop to progress." He says. "So that's why your head's
always down." Without etiquette, karate is a game, or worse, gratuitous violence.
Karate is "like a poison" when used only for fighting, he notes. However, it can be "a useful tool" if
used as a last resort for self-defense. To teach only fighting perverts the art. It is akin to allowing
language students to mispronounce a word and making no attempt to help them. You are not
doing them any favour. "You are cheating people" by turning a blind eye.
To get anywhere in life take hard work. There is no short cut. "We have to sweat. We have to train
to be experts", he says. Hard work was something Master Okazaki never shied away from. As a
young man, he developed a strong work ethic. What he had to learn, instead, was how to keep a
level head.
In his student days at Takushoku University, they practiced two and three times a day, everyday.
They punched and kicked thousands of times in the course of a year. Master Okazaki claims he
was not naturally talented. To compensate for his shortcomings, he worked extra hard. Through
sheer determination he progressed, eventually surpassing his more talented friends. You can
imagine the shock, and embarrassment when he failed his shodan exam three times.
Master Okazaki laughs about it now. But at the time it was not so funny. After much soul-searching,
and with the help of Master Nakayama, he finally figured it out. "My attitude was not right. I had too
much ego." It seems progress went to young Okazaki' s head. He be- came only interested in
getting his rank. He also developed a haughty attitude because he was one of Master Funakoshi's
favorite students. The more he improved, the more difficult he became.
Finally, he resolved to do his best and not think about rank. "I decided I didn't care; I was going to
be the best brown belt ever." By holding him back, Master Funakoshi taught him to go beyond
technique.
" After this experience, everything came easily. I still had to work hard, but my attitude changed
completely. I understood that karate was a feeling, an experience. There was no end to it." The
values that karate imparts are timeless. Every culture has something valuable to offer, says Master
Okazaki. Outside the dojo "1 follow [Western] customs." "Incorporate the best of all cultures", he
advises. Martial Arts is one aspect of Asian culture that en- riches life. "Take it if you like it. Take it
to make a better life."
"We are not warriors and death is not the test of our skills... Competition is just for a few moments.
Life is forever." Teruyuki Okazaki, "More than a Motto", ISKF Spotlight (Summer 1990)