Masafumi Shiomitsu

Biography

Sensei Shiomitsu was born in Kagoshima, Japan, on 24th November 1940. He began studying Shorin Ryu karate at the age of 15. He entered Nihon University in 1959 and joined the Wado-Ryu karate club, one of the university clubs that Ohtsuka Sensei taught at. His prowess at the style led to his appointment as the captain of the university’s karate team in 1963. By the time he graduated in 1964, with a degree in economics, he had already reached the grade of 4th Dan in Wado-Ryu.

Sensei Shiomitsu’s natural ability at Wado-Ryu led to him being chosen by Ohtsuka Sensei as one of the karate instructors chosen to take Wado-Ryu karate outside of Japan. In 1965 Sensei Shiomitsu travelled to England, where he was appointed assistant Chief Instructor. He then spent the next 10 years visiting and staying in different countries throughout the world, including Spain, Portugal and even Madagascar, teaching Wado-Ryu karate. In 1976 he returned to England in his original position.

In 1981 Sensei Shiomitsu returned to Japan to celebrate the 90th birthday of Ohtsuka Sensei, the founder of Wado-Ryu karate. He was awarded the rank of 7th Dan by Ohtsuka. This was later followed by Sensei Shiomitsu’s appointment as the Chief Instructor to the European Wado-Ryu Karate organisations, and in 1989 he founded the Wado-Ryu Academy.