Sig kufferath

Sig Kufferath was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on February 16, 1911. One of eleven children, Sig was of German/Japanese descent. A track star in high school and at the University of Hawaii, he began to study jujitsu with Master Okazaki in 1937.Born Siegfried Kufferath (he preferred to be called "Sig") on February 16, 1911 in Honolulu, his father was a former consulate to Japan from Germany. His mother was Japanese. As many as 11 different languages were spoken in the Kufferath home. As a student at the University of Hawaii, Kufferath excelled in track.

In 1937 he was asked to visit the Jujutsu class of one of his neighbors. That neighbor happened to be Henry Seishiro Okazaki. Thus began Kufferath's long journey in the martial arts. In 1941, Kufferath received his first degree black belt from Okazaki and also received a Mokuroku (teacher's scroll), an honor usually reserved for second degree black belts. Along with his teaching partners Bing-Fai Lau and Esther Azumi (later Takamoto), Kufferath instructed at both the Kodenkan and Kaheka Lane dojos.

Kufferath learned the entire system from Okazaki and since he knew Japanese, was taught the system in that language. He also learned the Seifukujutsu, techniques of adjustment and restoration, and continued to teach and practice these arts until shortly before his death.

In 1948, Kufferath attended a Special Black Belt Class given by Okazaki for his black belt instructors. Upon completion of this course, he received a Kaidensho (certificate of mastery) and was given the title of Shihan.

After Okazaki's death in 1951, there was a leadership void in the American Jujitsu Institute (AJI). In 1952, the AJI membership elected Kufferath to succeed Okazaki as Professor. Kufferath continued in this position until 1960, when he moved to the mainland. In the summer of 1993, Professor Kufferath repeated the 1948 Special Black Belt Class, that he and his senior student, Tony janovich renamed the Kodenkan Jujitsu Okugi ® for a group of Danzan-Ryu instructors, thus passing on the Okazaki tradition to a new generation. The next Kodenkan Jujitsu Okugi® was planned by Prof Kufferath and his senior student Prof. Tony Janovich prior to Kufferath's passing. It is now scheduled for early 2003.

Professor Kufferath also held black belt ranks in Judo and Aikido.

Prof. Kufferath passed away at his home in Santa Clara, CA on May 7, 1999 with his family and friends at his side. He lived a long, full life and made an important contribution to many persons lives. His teaching and therapy lives on through his senior student, Professor Tony Janovich of the Kodenkan Jujitsu and Restoration.