Professor Sig Kufferath touched a great many lives with his mastery of the arts and the spirit of ‘Ohana.  He was recognized as one of the true masters of jujitsu and achieved a 10th dan in Danzan Ryu, the system founded by Professor H.S. Okazaki. He also held black belt ranks in Kodokan Judo, Aikido and Chinese Kempo.

In 1996 he helped form what was then called Pacific Coast Kilohana. Pacific Coast Kilohana became Kilohana Martial Arts Association when in 2000 it was established as a non-profit corporation.

Born in 1911, Professor Kufferath began his training in his native Hawaii under Professor Okazaki in 1937.  He studied Danzan Ryu Jujitsu as well as various other arts such as the Chinese stick, Kiai, Karate Jitsu, and the nerve arts. This same spirit of diversified learning stayed with him throughout the rest of his life and is embodied today by Kilohana’s open and all inclusive membership.

He earned his black belt from Professor Okazaki in 1941 and become an instructor in 1942.  In 1948 he was awarded the title of Shihan after completing a special class given by Okazaki for his black belt instructors. In 1952, shortly after Okazaki’s death, he was elected by the AJI to succeed him as “Professor”, the first time this title was officially bestowed to someone other than Professor Okazaki himself.

Professor Kufferath came to California in 1957 where he continued to teach.  Many of the masters on this year’s program were instructed or in some way influenced by the teachings of Professor Kufferath.  Danzan Ryu as taught by Professor Kufferath (and  other highly regarded students of Professor Okazaki) lives on today in both it’s pure form and as part of other systems where it has been integrated along side other arts.

Sig passed away in 1999 surrounded by friends and family in his home in Santa Clara.  He is missed by all who new him and still mourned by those who knew him well.