Tsuruoka Karate is named for its founder Masami Tusuroka (10th Dan) who introduced Karate to Canada over 55 years ago and is considered to be the Father of Canadian Karate.
O'Sensei Tsuruoka originally studied karate in Japan under Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose, and after moving to Canada set up his first karate dojo in Toronto in 1957. There are now over 30 Tsuruoka Karate affiliated dojos across Canada as well as the US.
O'Sensei as he is known to his students, is the holder of many awards including the Order of Ontario, the Queen's 25th and Golden Anniversary medals, the Centennial Medal, the Grandmaster award in the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame and is also nominated for the Order of Canada.
In 1964 O'Sensei Tsuruoka founded the National Karate Association of Canada, later known as Karate Canada, and which is now the official sport governing body for Karate in Canada.
O'Sensei Tsuruoka continued teaching karate every week to his senior black belt students in Toronto until he passed away in 2014 at the age of 85.
