Masutatsu Oyama
Masutatsu Oyama, often referred to simply as “Mas Oyama”, was a Korean-born karate master renowned for his extraordinary strength and stamina. He is the founder of Kyokushin karate, a style known for its intense physical rigour and full contact. Born as Choi Yeong-eui in Korea in 1923, Oyama moved to Japan at the age of […]
Tetsuhiko Asai
Tetsuhiko Asai, born on June 7 1935 and died on August 15 2006, was a Japanese karate master renowned for his contribution to the development of Shotokan karate. Asai devoted his life to the study, teaching and dissemination of karate throughout the world, and left an indelible mark on the history of this martial art. […]
Hirokazu Kanazawa
Hirokazu Kanazawa, born on May 3, 1931 and died on December 8, 2019, was a renowned Japanese karate master and direct student of Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate. Known for her exceptional technical talent and philosophical approach to karate, Kanazawa is an emblematic figure in the history of karate. Kanazawa was born in […]
Shigeru Egami
Shigeru Egami is a key figure in the history of Shotokan karate. Born on December 7, 1912 in Ōmuta, Japan, and died on January 8, 1981, Egami was a close student of Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate. He is recognized for his important contributions to the philosophy and practice of karate. Egami began […]
Masatoshi Nakayama
Masatoshi Nakayama, born on April 13, 1913 and died on April 15, 1987, was a Japanese karate master recognized for his major contribution to the evolution and worldwide dissemination of Shotokan karate. As chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) for almost 40 years, he played a key role in the development of modern […]
Yasutsune Itosu
Yasutsune Itosu, also known as “Ankō” Itosu, is one of the greatest masters in the history of karate. He is recognized for his significant contributions to the dissemination of karate and for having trained some of the greatest karate masters of the 20th century. Born in 1830 in Shuri, Okinawa, Itosu came from a family […]
Yasutsune Azato
Yasutsune Azato, often known as “Ankō” Azato, is one of the most respected historical figures in Okinawan karate. Although much less well known than his pupil, Gichin Funakoshi, Azato played a decisive role in shaping the martial art we know today. Azato was born in 1827 in Okinawa, in what is now Japan. Born into […]
Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi, born on November 10 1868 and died on April 26 1957, was a pioneer and visionary of modern karate. Nicknamed the “father of modern karate”, he is widely credited with introducing and popularizing this fighting style on Japanese soil. Funakoshi was born in the town of Shuri, in the ancient kingdom of Ryukyu, […]