岡崎 寛人 Kancho Okazaki Hiroto, 9th Dan, Hanshi Shihan

Hiroto Okazaki was born on the 8th of April 1961 in Fukushima prefecture and started Shitō-ryū Karate and Kendo at the age of 11. On the 1st of September 1974, he joined Kyokushinkaikan at 13 years old.

As the captain of the Kendo club during junior high school, he won every tournament he participated in. In 1975, he attained 1st Dan in Kendo. At the age of 16, he studied under Shihan Hatsuo Royama (currently Kaicho), who was appointed as Shihan of the Kyokushinkaikan Fukushima branch. As Hiroto Okazaki entered high school, he joined the Judo club and attained 1st Dan for Judo in 1978. Hiroto Okazaki was the youngest person to enter the All Japan tournament at the young age of 17. In March 1979, Hiroto Okazaki obtained 1st Dan under the grading of Shihan Royama.

He entered Kyokushinkaikan’s Fukushima branch and became the first Uchi-Deshi (live-in student) under Shihan Hatsuo Royama in May 1980. For 6 years, he trained rigorously up to 8 hours a day, and directly received guidance from Sosai Masutatsu Oyama (Shihan Royama’s master), Hideo Nakamura sensei and Kenichi Sawai sensei. He also trained in Ryukyu Kobudo and Chinese martial arts during his time as a Uchi-Deshi, and participated in 4 All Japan tournaments.

In 1986, Hiroto Okazaki finished his time as a Uchi-Deshi and returned to his hometown in Fukushima prefecture, where he started working as a junior high school teacher while continuing Karate as a Shihan of the Fukushima branch. At school, he taught Kendo and Judo, nurturing excellent students that go on to win tournaments. After Sosai Masutatsu Oyama passed away, Kyokushinkaikan was reorganized and he became the branch chief of Fukushima branch in 1995. In 1996, Shihan Okazaki attained 5th Dan after completing 50-man kumite.

At Kyokushinkaikan, he was then appointed as the Chairman of the Kata Competition Committee and worked hard to establish the Kata competition while at the same time unify the movements and teaching methods for Kyokushinkaikan’s Katas. Furthermore, with the permission of Shihan Royama, he studied under Shiokawa Hosho sensei, a leading figure in Japanese Kobudo, and began to study the various traditional Japanese Kobudo, starting with Iaido.

In 2003, he joined Shihan Royama’s newly established organization, Kyokushinkan as Deputy Honbu Chief, and Chairman of the Technical Committee, becoming a central figure in technical guidance. During this year, Shihan Okazaki also succeeded Shiokawa Hosho sensei as the 16th Mugai-ryū Iai Hyōdō sōke (representative) and became the Chairman of the Mugai-ryū Iai Hyōdō Federation.

He has traveled extensively not only in Japan but also overseas to teach, and is committed to the spread and development of Japanese traditional martial arts such as Iaido, centered on Kyokushin Karate.

In March 2022, he retired as a junior high school teacher after working for many years, and was officially appointed by President Umeda of the Kyokushin Scholarship Foundation as the second Director of Kyokushinkan on the 17th of April 2022.

List of accomplishments:
Kyokushin Karate (9th Dan, Hanshi)
Mugai-ryū Iai Hyōdō (8th Dan, Hanshi)
Shintō Musō-ryū Jōdō (8th Dan, Hanshi)
Shitō-ryū Karate (8th Dan, Shihan)
Ryukyu Kobudo (8th Dan, Shihan)

Isshin-ryū kusarigamajutsu (Instructor license)
Chūwa-ryū tanken-jutsu (Instructor license)
Ryugo-ryu Jojutsu (Instructor license)
Uchida-ryū Tanjōjutsu (Instructor license)
Jikyūryū Iaijutsu (Instructor license)
Ikentaiki Shisei Kempo (Renshi)

Kendo (3rd Dan)
Judo (3rd Dan)

Japan Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (Certified instructor)