Master Nakayama

Masatoshi Nakayama, born in 1913 to a Samurai family, trained in Kendo, the traditional Japanese art of the sword, for more than 5 years before entering Takushoku University. But, at the University, he first observed the martial art that was to become known as Shotokan Karate and, in 1932, he began his training directly under Master Funakoshi. In order to better understand Shotokan Karate, and quench his own thirst for knowledge, Master Nakayama traveled extensively through China, learning about other traditional martial arts.

Personally appointed by Master Funakoshi to oversee instruction of Shotokan, Master Nakayama led the Japan Karate Association (JKA) for many years, until his death in 1987.

His lifetime accomplishments are too numerous to fully list here. Besides authoring countless textbooks on the subject, and a lifetime of teaching traditional Shotokan Karate-do, he is also credited with creating the concept of "sport" Karate. His basic rules and concepts for tournament competition are still used today, to promote, not competition itself, but the use of competition as a training tool for the serious student of Shotokan.