Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama
Born in Tokyo in 1928, Hidetaka Nishiyama began his Karate
training in 1943 under Gichin Funakoshi, founder of modern
Shotokan Karate. Two years later, while enrolled at
Takushoku University, he became a member of the
university’s Karate team and in 1949, its captain.
He co-founded the All Japan Collegiate Karate Federation and
was elected its first Chairman.
In 1951, after graduating with a Master of Arts degree in
Economics, Nishiyama co-founded the Japan Karate Association
(JKA) and was elected to the JKA Board of Directors. In
1952, he was selected as a member of the martial arts combat
instruction staff for the United States’ Strategic Air
Command (SAC) Combat Training Program. In this
program, SAC personnel received training in Judo, Aikido and
Karate from top martial arts instructors including Gichin
Funakoshi, Masatoshi Nakayama and Isao Obata.
In 1953, SAC invited Nishiyama as part of a ten-member Budo
Mission from Japan to visit SAC bases in the United States for
three months to give instruction in the martial arts.
In 1960, Nishiyama’s book “Karate: The Art of
Empty-Hand Fighting” was published and even today, is
considered the definitive textbook on the subject. Now in
its 80th printing, it is believed to be the best-selling Karate
textbook in history.
In 1961, Nishiyama came to the United States on the invitation
of SAC Karate students and JKA members residing in the
country. That same year, he organized the All American
Karate Federation (AAKF) as a nationally based amateur Karate
organization. In November 1961, he organized, under the
control of the AAKF, the first National Karate Championship in
Los Angeles, California where he also established his
dojo. Since then, Nishiyama has been a major force in the
propagation of the JKA-Shotokan style of Karate in the United
States and abroad.
In 1965, Nishiyama organized a cooperative effort of the major
Japanese Karate styles that led to the first United States vs.
Japan Goodwill Karate Tournament, the first truly international
Karate competition.
Then in 1968, Nishiyama organized the first World Invitational
Karate Tournament held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in
conjunction with the Olympic Commemorative Tournament in Mexico
City, hosted by Mexico Karate Federation. A conference
that took place during the tournament culminated in the
formation of an international Karate organization that would
hold its first World Championship in Tokyo.
In 1970, during a reorganization of the AAKF as the Traditional
Karate governing body, the JKA Karate group separated and
became the JKA-US part of the AAKF. Nishiyama continued
as Chairman of the JKA-US and also Chairman of the AAKF.
In April of the same year, the AAKF became a member of the U.S.
Olympic Committee.
In 1973, Nishiyama co-founded the Pan American Karate Union
(PAKU) and was elected its first Chairman with the first PAKU
Championship held in Rio de Janeiro.
Based on a 1968 agreement during a Mexico City conference,
tournaments were held in Tokyo (1970) and Paris (1973), but
these World Championships resulted in disagreement caused by
the lack of formal international organization. An
international meeting in New York City then resulted in the
formation of the International Amateur Karate Federation
(IAKF). With Nishiyama as Executive Director, the IAKF
held its first World Championship in Los Angeles in 1975.
In 1976, Nishiyama oversaw the formation of the Mediterranean
Karate Championship Committee and the Bolivian Karate
Federation. Also that year, acting on behalf of the IAKF,
he submitted an application to the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) seeking Olympic recognition for Karate.
In
1977, Nishiyama supported the formation of the Central
America/Caribbean Karate Confederation and the Asia/Oceania
Amateur Karate Federation.
In 1979, in accordance with U.S. Public Law regulating
national amateur sports governing bodies, the All American
Karate Federation was succeeded by the American Amateur Karate
Federation, a public benefit, non-profit corporation and
Nishiyama was elected its first President.
In 1981, Nishiyama lent support to the formation of the South
American Karate Confederation and the North American Karate
Confederation.
Then, in 1985, the IAKF changed its name to the International
Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) because the word
“Karate” had become a generic term applied to a
variety of kicking/punching sports. The ITKF, under
Nishiyama’s direction, wanted to make it clear it was the
governing body of Traditional Karate. This was confirmed
in 1987 when the IOC confirmed that the ITKF was the sole
governing body for Traditional Karate.
In recognition of Nishiyama’s decades of effort on behalf
of Traditional Karate and his contribution towards the physical
and psychological health of Americans through Karate, the U.S.
National Flag was flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on
October 10, 1999 on the occasion of his 71st birthday.
In May 2000, Nishiyama was further honored when the Nishiyama
Cup was held in Moscow, the first official Karate event
conducted in Russia since the end of the Soviet Union.
Then in November of 2000, the Emperor of Japan awarded
Nishiyama with “Kun-yoto” – Fourth Order of
Merit – and was decorated with “Zuiho-sho”
– The Order of the Sacred Treasure – for his many
contributions to promote Japanese culture through Traditional
Karate.
In addition, the Republic of Poland honored Nishiyama
in October 2001 when the President of the Republic of Poland,
Mr. Aleksander Kwasniewski, bestowed upon him one of the
highest medals in Poland, the Officer’s Cross of the
Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, on the occasion of
the first Traditional Karate World Cup.
Because of his superior technical expertise and disciplined
instruction, Nishiyama’s reputation has spread
worldwide. He has trained thousands of students, many of
them now well known themselves as national and international
champions and instructors.
Nishiyama continues to instruct daily at the National
Karate Institute (NKI), also known as the Los Angeles Central
Dojo, and travels frequently to conduct seminars and courses
around the United States and abroad.
Despite a heavy teaching and travel schedule, he continues to
steadfastly pursue the study of the original Karate-do
technical training systems in order to better integrate those
fundamental concepts into modern methods of instruction.
The year 2005 marked the completion of his over three decades
long study. He said, “At this time, I am very proud
to have finally completed this lifelong project and have
confidence that we can now pass on the true art of Traditional
Karate to future generations. Now it is your time to meet
the new challenges and accept the opportunities offered
by this body of knowledge so that Traditional Karate may
continue to grow and develop for the benefit of all that strive
for higher levels of understanding both mind and body.”
Much appreciation to
the International Traditional Karate
Federation for sharing
this official biography of Sensei Hiidetaka
Nishiyama.
