Keiji Tomiyama is one of the most senior Shito-Ryu instructors in Europe. Born in Osaka on March 6, 1950, he was part of the influential second wave of Japanese masters who brought Karate to the West. Though originally a boxer, he transitioned to Karate after a sparring match with his cousin proved the effectiveness of Shito-Ryu.
In 1968, Tomiyama enrolled at Doshisha University in Kyoto, joining a Karate club with a prestigious history. The club had been founded by Chojun Miyagi (Goju-Ryu) and later led by Kenwa Mabuni (Shito-Ryu). Under the guidance of Shukokai founder Chojiro Tani, Tomiyama trained daily, developing a deep understanding of the Tani-Ha Shito-Ryu system.
In March 1972, Tomiyama arrived in Paris alongside Naoki Omi to assist Yasuhiro Suzuki in establishing Shukokai across Europe. Despite initial language barriers, the group successfully expanded into Belgium and later England. In 1978, Tomiyama settled in Nottingham to further develop the style in the UK.
By 1980, with several distinct groups using the "Shukokai" name, Tomiyama and Omi renamed their organization Kofukan International, after Suzuki’s Japanese dojo. Following Suzuki's return to Japan in 1981, Tomiyama and Omi took over as Joint Chief Instructors. Under their leadership, Kofukan saw massive global expansion, reaching countries across Europe, Africa, and Oceania.
Throughout his career, Tomiyama has remained a central figure in world Karate. He was graded to 7th Dan by Chojiro Tani in 1994 and currently holds the rank of 8th Dan. In 2006, he published "Pinan Katas in Depth," a highly regarded technical resource.
Even after celebrating his 70th birthday in 2020, Tomiyama Shihan continues to travel the world, leading seminars and gradings, ensuring the technical standards and philosophy of Kofukan International are preserved for future generations.
With thanks to Keiji Tomiyama
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