Heizaburo Okawa

Heizaburo Okawa fenced at three Olympics for Japan (1960-68), finishing in the top 10 individually in the foil in 1964 and 1968. Okawa frequently fenced in the United States, finishing fifth at an international competition in New York in 1965. At the invitation of Torao Mori, he then went to Los Angeles and joined the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC). Mori was a renowned kendo master, holder of the rare Hanshi degree and 8th Dan, the highest rank held outside Japan.

Okawa fenced in the 1966 US national foil championship where he finished third and in the épée championship where he finished fourth. In the 1967 US championships, Okawa won the individual foil and was on the LAAC team that won the team foil championship. At the 1968 US foil championships, Okawa repeated as the individual champion. Okawa also returned to Japan for the 1967 and 1968 Japanese fencing championships and won those titles as well. After the 1968 Olympics, Okawa turned professional, married Torao Mori’s daughter, and became the head coach at Salle Mori in Los Angeles after the death of Torao Mori in 1969.