Nishiyama
Hidetaka
Nishiyama Hidetaka
Nishiyama
Hidetaka
On November 21st 1928 in Tokyo born Nishiyama Hidetaka began already in 1933 with Kendo training. Starting from 1938 he practiced additionally judo. 1943, after he received the 1st Dan in Kendo, he began with Karate training under master Funakoshi Gichin in the Shotokan. 1945 he started studying at the Takushoku university and trained themselves in the Karate team there. He received the 1st Dan in 1946, 1948 the 2nd Dan. 1949 Nishiyama became Captain of the university Karate team. In the same year he created Japan Karate Association with Nakayama Masatoshi. 1950 he passed the test to the 3rd Dan and was also founder of the All Japan Collegiate Karate Union. At the end of the forties Nishiyama was of one the Karate-Instructors, which trained American special-forces of the American Air Command (SAC) in Judo, Aikido and Karate.
Here a part of an interview with Sensei Nishiyama: " We were invited into the American Base, in order to teach. I was the youngest one. Each time we went into the bases, demonstrations were expected by us. It was very hard, I had many boards to smash, so that my hands and lower arms were in bad condition. The occurred 3 to 4 times at the day. Often I could not move arms." - one of his pupils in addition: " Often the American instructors required by Nishiyama to smash thick boards, which were full-sucked with water. Sensei Nishiyama always smashed these boards and never he requested on of his pupils to smash the boards at his place.
1951 he became director of the Japan Karate Association, after he graduated to the M.A. (economics) at the Takushoku university. In 1960 he published hiss first book: " Karate, The Art Of Empty Hand Fighting ", which was translated into many languages. In 1961 he came into the USA and created the All American Karate Federation (AAKF). In 1973 Nishiyama became as a co-founder of the Pan American Karate Union (PAKU) the first Executive Director. In 1975 Nishiyama was selected to the Executive Director of the International Amateur Karate Federation (IAKF), whose name was changed later in International Traditional Karate Federation.
Today Nishiyama Hidetaka lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his three daughters.
He owns the 9th Dan.
Books by Nishiyama :
The
Art of Empty-Hand Fighting
