Masatoshi Nakayama

Nakayama Sensei introduced Karate to the world. Masatoshi Nakayama Sensei was born in Yamaguchi, Honshu, Japan, the 1913th He was graduated from Takushoko University in 1937 and went to Peking, China to study Chinese and various Chinese fighting arts.

He was a prominent student of Gichin Funakoshi modern karate father for more than 25years until Gichin Funakoshis death in 1957. Nakayama Sensei was close to Gichin Funakoshi and assisted by demonstrations and teaching.

Before Gichin Funakoshi died he appointed, Nakayama Sensei the second Chief Instructor for Japan Karate Association.Nakayama Sensei is responsible for the globalization of Karate through 1960 and1970, when graduates instructors from his (JKA) Elite Instructor program was sent out into the world to introduce and develop Karate.

Nakayama Sensei is also credited for having created rules for Shia competition match. At that time(late1950s) was an attempt to introduce the sporting aspect of a martial art very controversial.

Nakayama Sensei gave the width Karate audience access to Gichin Funakoshis ideas when he wrote a series of instruction books (Dynamic Karate and later series Best Karate) Nakayama Sensei also produced films and videos with detailed technical and practical information on Kihon, Kata and Kumite.

These books, films and videos were based on Nakayama Sensei depth study of the principles of kinesiology, anatomy and psychology. Although Nakayama Sensei lived in Japan as Chief Instructor for Japan Karate Association, he travelled continuously around the world until his death, in order to provide instruction and demonstrations in karate.