29 Facts About Hidetaka Nishiyama

Hidetaka Nishiyama was a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was an internationally recognized instructor, author, and administrator, and helped to establish the Japan Karate Association.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was based in the United States of America from 1961 until his death in 2008, and was a pioneer of karate in that country.

Hidetaka Nishiyama had been posthumously awarded the rank of 10th dan in karate.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was born on October 10,1928, in Tokyo, Japan.

Hidetaka Nishiyama's father was a lawyer and a kendo master, and he had two sisters, Sumiye and Michiko.

Hidetaka Nishiyama started learning kendo in 1933 and judo in 1938.

In 1943, Hidetaka Nishiyama was promoted to the rank of 1st dan in kendo, and began training in Shotokan karate at the art's honbu dojo under its founder, Gichin Funakoshi.

Hidetaka Nishiyama served in the Imperial Japanese Navy before the end of World War II, and was unable to continue his karate training during this brief period.

Hidetaka Nishiyama co-founded the All Japan Collegiate Karate Union, and was elected its first chairman.

Hidetaka Nishiyama received a Master of Arts degree in economics from Takushoku University in 1951.

Hidetaka Nishiyama began working for Shell Oil, but his JKA role soon became his full-time occupation.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was appointed to take charge of the JKA instructors' training program, and continued to oversee it until the late 1950s.

In 1952, Hidetaka Nishiyama began teaching karate to US military personnel from the Strategic Air Command.

In 1960, Hidetaka Nishiyama published his first book, Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting.

In June 1960, Hidetaka Nishiyama was promoted to the rank of 5th dan in Shotokan karate.

In July 1961, Hidetaka Nishiyama moved to the United States of America at the invitation of his students from the SAC, and founded the All American Karate Federation.

Four years later, in 1965, Hidetaka Nishiyama organized the first United States vs Japan Goodwill Karate Tournament.

Hidetaka Nishiyama wrote a long letter on the state of karate tournaments, published in 1967 by Black Belt magazine.

In 1973, Hidetaka Nishiyama co-founded the Pan American Karate Union and was elected its first Executive Director.

Hidetaka Nishiyama became Executive Director of the International Amateur Karate Federation in 1974.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was elected as the inaugural President of the new AAKF.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was based in Los Angeles, where he had settled with his family, but travelled across the world to teach karate.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was featured on the cover of the December 1986 issue of Black Belt magazine.

In 1999, the United States Senate honored Hidetaka Nishiyama by presenting him with the US flag that had been flown on October 10 that year over the US Capitol in Washington, DC The flag was awarded in recognition of his contributions to traditional karate.

In May 2000, Hidetaka Nishiyama was honored when the Hidetaka Nishiyama Cup was held in Moscow, the first official karate event conducted in Russia since the end of the Soviet Union.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was one of only 11 recipients of the award from outside Japan in that year.

Hidetaka Nishiyama died on November 7,2008, in Los Angeles, following a long battle with lung cancer.

Hidetaka Nishiyama was survived by his wife, Yohko, and their three daughters: Yumi, Amy, and Nami.