Masami Tsuruoka Martial artist
Masami Tsuruoka (鶴岡政己, Tsuruoka, January 12, 1929 – October 10, 2014) O.Ont was a Japanese Canadian karate instructor and practitioner recognized as "The Father of Canadian Karate" by Black Belt Magazine. Although mainly responsible for establishing the Chito-ryu style in Canada,Tsuruoka is also known as founder of his own karate style known as Tsuruoka Ryu. Masami Tsuruoka kept Chito-ryu karate before the Canadian public from 1958 to 1968, through newspaper articles, magazine articles, and frequent public appearances, demonstrations and exhibitions across Canada. Tsuruoka formed the National Karate Association of Canada (presently called Karate Canada) in 1964, followed by the Tsuruoka Karate-do Federation in 1979. Tsuruoka was appointed a member of the Order of Ontario in 1998 for his significant contribution to martial arts.