Master Nakayama Masatoshi had martial arts in his blood. Born in April 1913 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, he was a descendant of the Sanada clan, in the Nagano region. His ancestors were highly-skilled instructors of kenjutsu (the art of swordsmanship).

Upon entering Takushoku University in 1932, Master Nakayama immediately joined the university’s karate club, studying under Master Funakoshi Gichin and one of the master’s sons, Funakoshi Yoshitaka. Deciding to devote his life to karate, he traveled to China after graduation for further study and training.

When he returned from China in May 1946, he got together with fellow Shotokan practitioners from his university days to revive the Shotokan karate tradition with Funakoshi Gichin as Supreme Master. Together, in 1949, they established the Japan Karate Association. In 1955 a headquarters dojo was built at Yotsuya in Tokyo. It spurred the building of JKA branch dojo all across Japan.

The efforts of the Japan Karate Association to embody and promote the spirit of karate-do were highly regarded by the Ministry of Education (now Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture). In 1957, the Ministry granted the JKA exclusive legal recognition in Japan as an official association of members for the promotion of the way of karate.

During that time and over the next several years, Master Nakayama made immeasurable contributions to the art. He developed, together with his fellow JKA instructors, a new, rational method of teaching that was tailored to the level and goals of each student: karate as a physical development tool, karate as a method of self-defense, karate for matches, etc. He also emphasized the necessity for each aspect of training to be physically and kinesthetically practical, and he scientifically analyzed how to make them so.
Moreover, to ensure that the true essence of karate-do was being passed on correctly, he and his disciples established a two-year specialist instructor training program, which is still the only specialist instruction system in the world of karate. And the training never ends; the JKA is, and always has been, the only karate organization whose full-time instructors continue to get together every day for joint practice. Through this program, JKA instructors constantly endeavor to refine and perfect their karate.

His adaptation of kata and kumite for the match system was a huge success; the 5th JKA All Japan Karate Championship in 1961 was even attended by His Majesty the Crown Prince of Japan (now His Majesty the Emperor of Japan). Karate was growing increasingly popular throughout the world.

Master Nakayama valued the spiritual aspects of karate that his teacher Funakoshi Gichin espoused—especially the virtue of modesty and the spirit of harmony. He never tired of teaching, by his example more than his words, that to demonstrate these qualities requires not only a deep sense of propriety, but also a constant remembrance that “there is no first attack in karate.”

In actual practice, Master Nakayama insisted that each technique should demonstrate one’s powerful and wholehearted personal best. He also emphasized that it is crucial to study the inseparable trinity of karate—kihon, kata, and kumite—as one. He continually reminded everyone to keep in mind that “the way of karate we pursue is a bare-handed martial art which we practice with an unwavering heart in a state of emptiness; it is a way of developing the personality.”

In his later years, he summarized all his techniques and philosophy in the famous 11-volume series entitled “Best Karate”.

Master Nakayama passed away in 1987, at the age of 74.

We shall give daily dose of action & learning on many upcoming topics such as :

martial arts, kata, japan karate association, what is shotokan karate, is shotokan karate good for self defense?, shotokan karate kata gojushiho sho, shotokan karate-do international federation, is shotokan karate good for mma?, kyokushin vs shotokan, jka, lyoto machida, karate kata, kumite, wkf, taikyoku shodan, heian shodan, best karate, knockouts, self defense, world karate federation, this is karate, karate in mma, sensei, kung fu, karate techniques, defense, bruce lee, bunkai, jka karate, shotokan kata, belt, traditional karate, art of one dojo, kyokushin karate training, martial arts motivational video, self defense techniques, self defence techniques, self defence lessons, how to self defense, grappler going abroad, kyokushin karate fight, karate at home, kuro obi world, okinawa, winnipeg, kyokushin, karate lesson, karate class, gojushiho sho, kata bunkai, karate training, total body, karate practice, heian godan, team russia, heian nidan, karate shotokan, katas karate, japanese karate, карате до, karate kid, okinawan karate, okinawa karate, kata karate, heian sandan, shotokan karate fight scene, gichin funakoshi, beginner, karate do, history of shotokan, martial arts videos, heian yondan


Subscribe us now @ karate League