Shihan Yoshi Ito – 5th dan Black belt
Shihan Yoshifumi Ito was born Aug. 11, 1963 in Hakodate, Japan. He started his Karate training when he was a child. After several years of absence, Shihan Ito resumed Karate training when he joined Kyokushin Karate club at Otaru University of Commerce in Hokkaido. The Karate club was directed by Shihan Takagi. Shihan Ito has fond memories about Shihan Takagi's winter camps and some special training events. Especially the time when Shihan Ito and his team won second place in the University Student tournament in the Hokkaido region in 1985.
In 1987, Shihan Ito moved to the U.S.A. He continued his Kyokushin training in Draper, Utah with Shihan Thomas Anguay who was a former student of Shihan Bobby Lo in Hawaii. Later, Shihan Ito moved to California to attend Acupuncture College and received his Master's Degree. Since he relocated to Oregon in 2003, he has been teaching Karate as well as treating students injury and out patients at his clinic.
Shihan Ito joined International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan – Matsushima in 2007 and became its Oregon branch chief. He currently has a 5th dan black belt, and is an international referee.