Biography

 

Master Yutaka Yaguchi, the retired Chief Instructor and Chairman of the Mountain States Region, is a 9th degree black belt.  A legend in the ISKF, Master Yaguchi began his training as a student in Japan in 1952, and attained his first black belt from Master Funakoshi himself.  One of the first graduates of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) Instructor Training Program in 1959, Master Yaguchi moved to the United States in 1965 and opened his first dojo.  In 1974, he founded the JKA of Colorado (now the ISKF of Colorado) in Denver.

 

Instrumental in helping to internationalize Shotokan Karate, Master Yaguchi has traveled and taught extensively all over the world.  He was the Vice Chief Instructor of the ISKF, and Chairman of the Technical Committee, prior to his retirement.  He still serves as an advisor to the organization.

 

On December 17th, 2016, after over 60 years of Karate Instruction, Master Yaguchi retired from his teaching and organizational positions. His training continues as he remodeled his house basement into his personal training area. Sometimes, he randomly shows up in Denver Dojo for training.