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Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki

 

Professor Tatsuo Suzuki was born in Yokohama in 1928 and became interested in Karate at the age of fourteen. He was taught by Professor Hironori Ohtsuka, the founder of the Wado-Ryu Karate. Within six years of beginning his study of Karate, Professor Suzuki was awarded his third Dan. In 1951 he was awarded the then highest grade in Wado-Ryu style Karate - fifth Dan - for his outstanding courage and ability.

In addition to his accomplishments in Karate, Professor Suzuki is a 2nd Dan in Tenshin Koryu Bo-Jitsu (stick fighting) and a 1st Dan in Judo. He has also studied Zen doctrine with the high priests, the late Genpo Yamamoto and Soyen Nakagawa.

In 1975 he received his Eighth Dan, the highest grade ever given by the Federation of All-Japan Karate-Do organisations, Wado-Kai. In that year he also received the highest Japanese martial arts title of 'Hanshi' awarded to him by an uncle of the Emperor Higashikuni. Professor Suzuki is the only living person with this title in Wado-Ryu. The only other person was the late Professor Ohtsuka.

Suzuki Hanshi is now the Chief Director for the Wado International Karate-do Federation with thirty-five member countries.