Rod Kuratomi is president of the International Karate Association, Inc. and has trained in karate under Grand Master Soke Takayuki Kubota since 1981. He is a 7th degree black belt in Gosoku Ryu karate and has attained the title of Kyoshi. He is also a founding member of Hojutsu where he currently holds the rank of 7th degree black belt.  Kyoshi Kuratomi also has a 4th degree black belt ranking in kobudo (traditional weapons), and a 1st degree black belt in Kubota Jujitsu, and is a certified Kubotan (keychain)  instructor. He is also a certified NRA firearms instructor and a California Department of Justice certified firearms safety instructor.  He has taught karate and defense tactics throughout the world with Soke Kubota and teaches periodically with Soke Jeff Hall.

He has won numerous karate tournaments and was the International Grand Champion of both heavyweight sparring and weapons forms at the IKA 2000 World Cup Tournament. He also has attained the level of "Distinguished Graduate" from the Front Sight Firearms Training Academy in Nevada in Defensive Handgun, Tactical Shotgun, and Practical Rifle. 

He has a BS degree in Criminal Justice from California State University in Los Angeles and is a retired clinical laboratory systems analyst and a full time karate instructor.


About Rod Kuratomi