Satoshi Miyazaki

Satoshi Miyazaki (June 17, 1938 - Brussels, May 31, 1993) was an 8th Dan JKA (Japanese Karate Association) Shotokan style karate master.

Biography

He was born on June 17, 1938 in a small town in the administrative region of Saga, in the south of the island of Kyushu, he arrived in Europe sent by the JKA in 1967 and was chief instructor of Belgium until 1993. He started with learning Karate in 1954. He spent his 1st Dan with a School Teacher close to Goju Ryu. He was later sent like other young Karate hopefuls to Takushoku University, known among other things for the Karate team he trained under Master Nakayama.

There Satoshi Miyazaki graduated in economics and was several times team champion in kumite - with karatekas of the stature of Asano, Ochi, Tabata, Kisaki among others. His favorite kata were Kanku-Sho in Empi but due to his weight, being older at a young age, they recommended him to present Hangetsu and Sochin. In singles he twice finished third at the Japanese Championships.

As a teacher he was a fervent believer in kihon, which he repeated continuously in his classes. He contributed decisively to the expansion of this style of Karate in Europe, also directing a summer Karate Stage of recognized international prestige in Ghent - with the participation of the best-known sensei residing in Europe.

He therefore introduced Shotokan Karate, with other masters, Enoeda, Taiji Kase, in Europe, but especially in Belgium where he carried out a formidable work in teaching the style heritage of Gichin Funakoshi.

He died on May 31, 1993 of cancer in Brussels, leaving the teaching of JKA Shotokan in Belgium in the hands of Sergio Gneo and Kazuhiro Sawada, both 7th Dan JKA.