Toyotaro Miyazaki

One of the most respected karate insttucto$ in the East isToyotaro Miyazaki, who owns a school in Flushing, NewYork.

Miyazaki came to the United States about 10 years ago atthe invitation of a friend. He was well respected on the tourna-ment circuit until a knee injUry forced his retirement in 1971.

His biggest win was the black belt lightweight spardng titlein the 1969 S. Henry Cho All-American Open. But he lost thegrand champion ti l le to Mitchell Bobrow.

Today, Toyotaro continues with his shotokan teaching athis Flushing school. His knee is "getting better" and he is evenconsidering making a toumament comeback "if I still feelyoung."

Toyotaro combines traditional with modern in his teaching."Many people say a cedain style should be taught a certainway," says Miyazaki. "But if I see any new techniques that aregood, I add them to the basics."

His philosophy is "be modest and be s,ton*." ,"o*r,rr.o,

THE PASSIVE AND ACTIVE sides of Toyotaro Miyazaki: In hisFlushing, N.Y., and in competit ion many years ago against Joe Hayes.

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Photo by Ed lkutaPhoto by s. Numano

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Setting Up AReverse Punch

Toyotaro Miyazaki says that 70 percento f h is po in t ! in tournaments came on areverse Dunch. Here he 5how5 how toevade an a5sailant'5 reverse punch bys ides tepp ing i t ( l -3 ) , ThE chang ing o fthe angle creates distance for Miya-zaki (3), so he can counter with a sidekick (4-5) and follow with a reversepunch (6-7).

Double Kickand Follow-Up

Toyotaro blocks his opponent'5 frontk ick ( l -3 ) and fo l lows up w i th a round-hou5e kick (4-5), and then a reversespin kick (6-8), AJter his opponent hash i t the ground, a punch (9 -10) i s addedfor good measure.

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Photos bY Ed lku ta