Tsutomu Ohshima
Encyclopedia
is a prominent Japanese master
of Shotokan
karate
who founded the Shotokan Karate of America
(SKA) organization. He is the Shihan
(Chief Instructor) of the SKA, and to this day holds the rank of 5th dan
in karate, which was awarded to him by Gichin Funakoshi
. In 1957, he established the Caltech Karate Club—the first university karate club in the United States of America.
from the ages of 5–15, kendo
from 8–15, and judo
from 9–13. Recalling an episode from his youth, Ohshima said, "One day I was going to Tokyo. This group was beating one young student because he was a quiet boy, but something he pushed with his elbow. And this was a ridiculous reason. But these guys were beating this young boy—same age as me, fifteen or sixteen. I got so mad. Mad, because person next to me said, 'Don't go, you get beat up.' I was ashamed of myself. I knew this was injustice. Why couldn't I put myself out there? I could be beaten up, but I could stand it. But I just sit there and overlook. I say to myself, 'Alas, how I am a coward guy.' I knew somebody was getting beaten up, but I couldn't help him. Therefore, when I was practicing karate, every time I asked myself, 'Are you ready to put yourself into something that you believe is justice?'" (p. 34).
. There, he trained under Shotokan's founder, Gichin Funakoshi
, and later became captain of the university's karate club, in 1952. That same year, Funakoshi personally awarded Ohshima the rank of 3rd dan black belt
. Ohshima's seniors at the club also influenced his development in karate; they included Shigeru Egami
, Toshio Kamata-Watanabe, Hiroshi Noguchi, Tadao Okuyama, and Matsuo Shibuya. It was also during this period that he befriended Mitsusuke Harada
, who would go on to become a pioneer of karate in Brazil and the United Kingdom. Ohshima was a member of the Japan Karate Association
in its earliest days.
In 1955, Ohshima travelled from Japan to the United States of America to continue his tertiary studies in economics at the University of Southern California
. In 1957, he founded the first university karate club in the USA at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech). That same year, Funakoshi promoted Ohshima to 5th dan—the highest rank awarded by Funakoshi, and the highest rank in the SKA system to this day. In 1959, he founded the Southern California Karate Association (SCKA). It was around this time that Ohshima invited Hidetaka Nishiyama
to take charge of his karate students in the US, as he was planning to return to Japan following completion of his US university studies. The arrangement did not work out satisfactorily, and was to be a source of bitterness between the two masters. In the end, unhappy at Nishiyama's actions and the direction being taken, Ohshima settled in the US and continued teaching there. Due to the SCKA's growth across the US, it was renamed Shotokan Karate of America in 1969. Black Belt magazine selected Ohshima as its Japanese Instructor of the Year in 1968.
During the mid-1970s, Ohshima lived near Griffith Observatory
in Los Angeles. His main occupation at this time was teaching physical education as a member of the faculty at Caltech. Ohshima has written two books on karate—Shotokan Karate of America: The first twenty years (1977) and Notes on training (1998)—and also translated Funakoshi's Karate-do Kyo-han (1973) into English. He also demonstrated the nineteen Shotokan kata
for Funakoshi's book. In 1980, Black Belt magazine announced Ohshima as the inaugural recipient of its Publisher's Award. The award recognized "the role he has played in the development of karate in the United States and the world over" (p. 63).
. Apart from being the SKA's Shihan, he holds a similar position in Canada Shotokan Karate and other affiliated organizations.
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
of Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
who founded the Shotokan Karate of America
Shotokan Karate of America
Shotokan Karate of America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to teach traditional karate-do in the United States. It was founded and is still led by Tsutomu Ohshima, a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi, the father of Shotokan karate...
(SKA) organization. He is the Shihan
Shihan
- Title of "Master" is a Japanese Honorific Title, Expert License Certification used in Japanese martial arts for Master Level Instructors. The award of the Expert License Certification is if designated by the qualification by virtue of endorsement by the [A] Association of Chief Instructors or [B]...
(Chief Instructor) of the SKA, and to this day holds the rank of 5th 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...
in karate, which was awarded to him by Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
. In 1957, he established the Caltech Karate Club—the first university karate club in the United States of America.
Early life
Ohshima was born on August 6, 1930, in Japan. By the age of five, he had already begun learning martial arts. He studied sumoSumo
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...
from the ages of 5–15, kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
from 8–15, 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...
from 9–13. Recalling an episode from his youth, Ohshima said, "One day I was going to Tokyo. This group was beating one young student because he was a quiet boy, but something he pushed with his elbow. And this was a ridiculous reason. But these guys were beating this young boy—same age as me, fifteen or sixteen. I got so mad. Mad, because person next to me said, 'Don't go, you get beat up.' I was ashamed of myself. I knew this was injustice. Why couldn't I put myself out there? I could be beaten up, but I could stand it. But I just sit there and overlook. I say to myself, 'Alas, how I am a coward guy.' I knew somebody was getting beaten up, but I couldn't help him. Therefore, when I was practicing karate, every time I asked myself, 'Are you ready to put yourself into something that you believe is justice?'" (p. 34).
Karate career
Ohshima began studying karate in 1948, while a student at Waseda UniversityWaseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
. There, he trained under Shotokan's founder, Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
, and later became captain of the university's karate club, in 1952. That same year, Funakoshi personally awarded Ohshima the rank of 3rd dan black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
. Ohshima's seniors at the club also influenced his development in karate; they included Shigeru Egami
Shigeru Egami
was a pioneering Japanese master of Shotokan karate who founded the Shōtōkai style. He was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, who is widely recognized as the founder of modern karate.-Early life:...
, Toshio Kamata-Watanabe, Hiroshi Noguchi, Tadao Okuyama, and Matsuo Shibuya. It was also during this period that he befriended Mitsusuke Harada
Mitsusuke Harada
is a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate who introduced this martial art to Brazil and is now based in the United Kingdom. He founded the Karate-do Shotokai organisation in 1965 and is its President...
, who would go on to become a pioneer of karate in Brazil and the United Kingdom. Ohshima was a member of the Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association is one of the most influential Shotokan karate organizations in the world...
in its earliest days.
In 1955, Ohshima travelled from Japan to the United States of America to continue his tertiary studies in economics at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. In 1957, he founded the first university karate club in the USA at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(Caltech). That same year, Funakoshi promoted Ohshima to 5th dan—the highest rank awarded by Funakoshi, and the highest rank in the SKA system to this day. In 1959, he founded the Southern California Karate Association (SCKA). It was around this time that Ohshima invited Hidetaka Nishiyama
Hidetaka Nishiyama
was a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He was an internationally recognized instructor, author, and administrator, and helped to establish the Japan Karate Association. Nishiyama was one of the last surviving students of Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate...
to take charge of his karate students in the US, as he was planning to return to Japan following completion of his US university studies. The arrangement did not work out satisfactorily, and was to be a source of bitterness between the two masters. In the end, unhappy at Nishiyama's actions and the direction being taken, Ohshima settled in the US and continued teaching there. Due to the SCKA's growth across the US, it was renamed Shotokan Karate of America in 1969. Black Belt magazine selected Ohshima as its Japanese Instructor of the Year in 1968.
During the mid-1970s, Ohshima lived near Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park, it commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest...
in Los Angeles. His main occupation at this time was teaching physical education as a member of the faculty at Caltech. Ohshima has written two books on karate—Shotokan Karate of America: The first twenty years (1977) and Notes on training (1998)—and also translated Funakoshi's Karate-do Kyo-han (1973) into English. He also demonstrated the nineteen Shotokan kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
for Funakoshi's book. In 1980, Black Belt magazine announced Ohshima as the inaugural recipient of its Publisher's Award. The award recognized "the role he has played in the development of karate in the United States and the world over" (p. 63).
Later life
In 1988, the Caltech Alumni Association bestowed an honorary membership on Ohshima for his contributions to the Caltech community. In 1993/1994, he received a teaching award from Caltech's undergraduate student organization. Ohshima retired from Caltech in 1994, after 37 years as a staff member. On May 22, 1994, around one hundred Caltech alumni assembled in the institution's gymnasium to honour Ohshima on the occasion of his retirement. He continues to lead the SKA, with headquarters in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. Apart from being the SKA's Shihan, he holds a similar position in Canada Shotokan Karate and other affiliated organizations.