ToyotaroMiyazaki One of the most respectedkarateinsttucto$ in the Eastis Toyotaro Miyazaki, who owns a school in Flushing, New York. Miyazakicameto the United Statesabout 10 yearsago at the invitation of a friend. He was well respectedon the tournament circuit until a knee injUry forced his retirement in 1971. His biggestwin was the black belt lightweight spardngtitle in the 1969 S. Henry Cho All-American Open. But he lost the grandchampiontille to MitchellBobrow. Today, Toyotaro continues with his shotokan teachingat his Flushingschool. His knee is "getting better" and he is even considering making a toumament comeback "if I still feel young." Toyotaro combinestraditional with modern in his teaching. "Many people say a cedain style should be taught a certain way," says Miyazaki. "But if I seeany new techniquesthat are good,I add them to the basics." His philosophyis "be modestand be s,ton*." ,"o*r,rr.o, Photo by Ed lkuta Photo by s. Numano
THE PASSIVE AND ACTIVE sides of Toyotaro Miyazaki: In his dojo (top) in Flushing,N.Y.,and in competitionmany yearsagoagainstJoe Hayes.
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SettingUp A Punch Reverse Toyotaro Miyazakisaysthat 70 percent o f h i s p o i n t ! i n t o u r n a m e n tcsa m eo n a reverseDunch.Here he 5how5how to reversepunch by evade an a5sailant'5 of s i d e s t e p p i ni tg( l - 3 ) , T h E c h a n g i n g the angle createsdistancefor Miyazaki (3), so he can counter with a side kick (4-5) and follow with a reverse punch(6-7).
DoubleKick and Follow-Up Toyotaro blocks his opponent'5front k i c k ( l - 3 ) a n df o l l o w su p w i t h a r o u n d hou5e kick (4-5), and then a reverse spin kick (6-8), AJter his opponenthas h i t t h e g r o u n da, p u n c h( 9 - 1 0 ) i s a d d e d for good measure.
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Photos bY Ed lkuta