Our Sensei!

• Sensei: David Akutagawa 1937-2008

Sensei David Akutagawa has a dedicated Karate history spanning more than 50 years. He came to Canada after graduating from the University of Kohan, Kobe Japan, with an Economic Science Degree. Once arriving in Canada he began to take courses at the University of Calgary. His Karate background at that time was in the Shito-Ryu and Shotokan styles. He began teaching Karate at the RCMP academy in Regina in 1967 and taught the RCMP until 1977. In order to further his Karate career, Sensei Akutagawa traveled to Toronto to meet and train under Sensei Mas Tsuruoka, the "Father of Canadian Karate", as well as the head instructor of Chito-Ryu in Canada. It was Sensei Tsuruoka who introduced Sensei Akutagawa to O'Sensei, Dr Tsuyoshi Chitose, founder and supreme instructor of Chito-Ryu. Thus began Sensei Akutagawa's training in Chito-Ryu. Sensei Tsuruoka left Chito-Ryu in the early 1970's, whereby O'Sensei appointed Sensei Shane Higashi of Toronto as Councilor, and Sensei Akutagawa as Vice Councilor of Canadian Chito-Ryu. In the late 1970's Sensei Akutagawa helped develop the National Karate Association and was Chairman of the Officials Committee for 5 years. In December of 1996 Sensei Akutagawa resigned as Vice Councilor of Canadian Chito-Ryu and founded Renshikan Karate-Do in January 1997. He based Renshikan upon traditional Karate, focusing on the Chito-Ryu, Shito-Ryu and Goju-Ryu styles. On June 1, 2006 Soke Mabuni Kenei of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do promoted David Akutagawa to 8th Dan/Shihan and officially affiliated Renshikan Karate-Do with Shito-Ryu Karate-Do.

• Sensei: Peter Akutagawa

Peter is the Head of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Renshikan, was promoted to Rokudan in 2012 and is currently a member of the Karate B.C. Technical Committee.