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Masami Tsuruoka

Shihan Masami Tsuroka, 10th Dan-NKA, Founder Tsuroka Karatedo Foundation

In and around 1998 I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Sensei Tsuruoka while in Toronto. It was a pleasure to meet someone who had done so much for Karatedo in Canada. Sensei Tsuruoka is a great Budoka and a gentleman.

Shihan Henderson

Karate in Canada owes its mass introduction and development to one person: Masami Tsuruoka, 10th dan (awarded by NKA in 2007), Tsuruoka Karate-do Federation. Almost single handedly Masami Tsuruoka sensei had kept Karate before the Canadian public in the early beginnings, 1958 - 1968, through newspaper articles, magazine articles, frequent demonstrations as well as appearances on public television and numerous exhibitions across Canada.

Born in Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada on January 12, 1929 as a teenager Masami Tsuruoka moved to Kumamoto, Japan in 1945 with his father shortly after the conclusion of World War II. (The Tsuruoka family as with most Japanese families living in Canada at that time, was placed in 'Internment Camps' for a few years in Tashimi, B.C. and later at Roseberry.)

While on a brief trip to Tokyo with his father, Masami Tsuruoka witnessed a Karate demonstration and became so enthralled with what he saw, that he made it a point upon his return to Kumamoto, to find a Karate teacher and begin practice. Regardless of which rumour is believed the Karate master that he sought instruction from was Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose, 10th dan founder of the Chito-ryu system of Karate-do. During 1949, he received his first-degree black belt from Master Chitose.

O-Sensei Chitose Founder of Shito-Ryu and Shihan Tsuroka

As Masami kept improving his training, he began to advance progressively up the promotion ladder of rank. Before returning to Canada in 1956 and finally settling in Toronto, he would obtain the level of 3rd degree black belt.

Convinced by many friends to share his knowledge of this mysterious art, Masami Tsuruoka sensei began teaching in 1957 at a small fitness gym called Mac's Gym (owned and operated by friend, Mac Mia.) Encouraged by a group of members to permanently establish a separate training facility of his own, Masami Tsuruoka eventually secured space over Lakeside Bowling Alley in the Queen Street/ Lansdowne area in 1958 and began giving Karate instruction at the first Karate Club in Canada.

Since then, many from the original group of students continue to be an integral part of the Tsuruoka organization. Some however, have gone on to develop or introduce other systems. Among the most notable members were Benny Allen (Eastern Karate Schools - teacher of Wally Slocki, Tony Facetti, and Teddy Marton), Dr. Ned Page (Wen-Do creator), Shane Higashi (Canadian Chito-Kai Federation). Also, Qai Wong (Wong's Shorin-ryu Karate/Kung Fu Society), Kei Tsumura (Shito-ryu Itosu-kai Karate and Kobudo Association of Canada), Monty and Nathan Guest (Kaishin Kan Karate Organization). Fern Cleroux (Cleroux's Chito-ryu Karate), Joe Gilles (Shotokan-Nishiyama Group). Alcide Bourque (New Brunswick) could be included as well as Andre Langelier, George Sulvaine (Ottawa), Tug Wilson (Winnipeg) and Tran Quan Ba (University of Montreal).

By late 1962, Tsuruoka sensei was officially appointed as Chief Representative for the Chito-ryu Karate system in Canada. An American colleague, Mr. William J. Dometrich of Kentucky, who also received personal instruction during the early 1950's at the Yoseikan Dojo in Kumamoto, Japan, was appointed the USA representative.

In 1962 the 1st Canadian Karate Open Championships was organized by Tsuruoka sensei and became the first Karate tournament ever held in Canada. It was in 1962 also that Tsuruoka sensei began teaching Karate classes at the University of Toronto and held the first summer camp called Kamp Kamikaze in Northeastern Ontario which was open to all styles.

Shihan Tsuroka demonstrating the power of the downward Elbow Strike

On October 3,1965 the Canadian International Open Karate Championships hosted by Tsuruoka sensei was won by a top fighter from Okinawan named Zenpo Shimabukuro. Also during 1965, the inaugural Canadian National Exhibition Karate Championships were held. The championship title was won by another one of Tsuruoka sensei's top fighters, Mr. Fred Boyko.

Over the next few years the finalization of the formation of an official 'Sports Governing Body' for Karate was realized. It became known as the National Karate Association of Canada (N.K.A.) with Tsuruoka sensei as its first President.

By 1970, the first official World Karate-do Championships representing 'All-Styles' was held in Tokyo, Japan and hosted by the newly formed World Union of Karate-do Organizations, (W.U.K.O.). The NKA sent a fighting team with Tsuruoka sensei and Mr. John Carnio (from Toronto) won a silver medal.

During the 2nd WUKO World Karate-do Championships in Paris, France, a deep division developed in the World Organization. A split occurred and a second organization named International Amateur Karate-do Federation was formed also representing Karate.

Tsuruoka sensei's foresight allowed Canada through the NKA to support both Federations (IAKF & WUKO) by sending competitors to both official World Championships for many years after the split.

In November 16, 1973 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil official representation from amateur Karate in the Western Hemisphere unanimously agreed to form the Pan-American Karate Union and Masami Tsuruoka sensei was elected 1st Vice-President with the Executive Director being Hidetaka Nishiyama.

During 1974, he was instrumental in the formation of the Provincial Sports Association responsible for governing all styles of karate-do in the Province of Ontatio, known as the Karate Ontario Association.

Throughout the mid to late 1970's Tsuruoka sensei became increasingly disillusioned with the direction the Chito-kai Federation was going. Then in 1979, Masami Tsuruoka sensei established his own organization, and his former senior student, Shane Higashi, became the leader of the Canadian Chito-kai (Chito-ryu Karate Association) under Chitose sensei. The new organization was simply referred to as Tsuruoka Karate-do.

During the 1980's and 90's he continued to further develop his organization with the help of his son David and other important key members such as Dartmouth, Nova Scotia's, Sensei Ron Fagan, 6th dan Chief Technical Director of the Canadian Tsuruoka Karate-do Federation.

In 1986, the Government of the Province of Ontario, Canada established 'The Order of Ontario' to recognize those persons who have rendered service of the greatest distinction and of singular excellence in any field of endeavour benefiting society in Ontario or else where.The Order is awarded annually to the most outstanding residents of Ontario possessing the above qualifications. On Wednesday, May 27, 1998 Master Tsuruoka received the Order of Ontario presented by the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario, the Honourable Hilary Weston.

Over time, Tsuruoka began to take concepts and theories presented in other traditional karate styles. Of those he had studied, it was the Shotokan system that influenced his teachings more than others. Tsuruoka liked its baisic and dynamic kata which were easy to teach to students in Western culture. Tsuruoka's system stands for integration of karate styles and techniques.

The Tsuroka Karatedo Logo

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