portraits-ochi

Born in 1940 Ochi-Shihan started Karate-Training at the age of 14. During his studies of economics at Takushoku University, Tokyo, he inscribed himself for Karate as second subject, completing the first step of his education in the art in 1962.

Having already successfully competed in Kumite as well as in Kata Shiai during his university times he was admitted to the famous JKA Instructor Course.

He passed his final examen in 1964, together with only 3 other candidates, selected from a number of some hundred applicants. From this time Ochi-Shihan started as a 4^th.Dan-Instructor teaching at JKA Honbu-Dojo,Tokyo.

In the years 1965-1969 Ochi Shihan had his exciting competition successes at All-Japan-Championships: 1966 first place Kumite, second place Kata, 1967 first place Kumite, second place Kata, 1968 second place Kumite, third place Kata and in 1969 again first place Kata and third place Kumite, being one of the few All-Japan-Grand-Champions.

In 1970 Ochi-Shihan moved to Germany, following Kanazawa-Shihan in position as National Coach of DKB.The next years he was leading the DKB-National Team victorious and succesfull, European Champions in 1971,1972,1975, Vice-World Champions !975 and 1981.

The unification of different German Karate Associations into the German Karate Federation (DKV) proved to be a great challenge to him, forming the varying imaginations and technical stiles to an unified and again successful team.

During 1970 and 1980 Ochi Shihan was initiating regulary week-end-seminars to spread Karate in Germany as a sport as well as Martial Art, specially the annual Gasshuku with Karateka from all over Europe participating.

Since 1990 Ochi-Shihan is looking for new ways to revitalize traditional japanese Karate in Germany as a contradiction to the tendencies of modern Sports-Karate.

Therefore he and his German old-time students in 1993 formed German-JKA-Karate Association, DJKB to keep and spread the ideals of traditional Karate in Germany.

Ochi Shihan was honoured for his life-time work on Karate and his great engagement on social matters, being awarded the German-Medal-of Honour in 1997.

Living and training among his students he is greatly respected and honoured by Karateka of many countries even outside Germany.