Chester County Shotokan Karate Club

After the passing of Funakoshi Sensei in 1957, the leadership of the Japan Karate Association was given to Masatoshi Nakayama. In fulfilling his vision of world-wide distribution of Shotokan karate, senior karate-ka from Japan were assigned to further introduce karate to all four corners of the globe. In 1961 Teruyuki Okazaki was assigned to the United States to begin teaching Shotokan Karate to Americans. The ISKF is an organization which currently has thousands of members in nearly every county in North and South America.

Bob Hoffman, while attending West Chester University (1970), began his study of Shotokan Karate with Mr. Okazaki as his Sensei (teacher). He received shodan (1st degree black belt) in 1974.

During 1977 Mr. Okazaki, along with several other JKA instructors, established the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) to oversee JKA Shotokan Karate in the Western hemisphere.

In 1980, Mr. Okazaki requested Bob Hoffman to further introduce Shotokan Karate to the Chester County area and in March of 1981 Mr. Hoffman established the Downingtown Karate Club.

In 1990, this club evolved into the Chester County Shotokan Karate Club (CCSKC). CCSKC has training classes available throughout the week and weekend. We are active members in the ISKF and regularly attend regional, national, and international events.