Carrying On the Spirit and Tradition of Funakoshi Gichin's Work.
Master Nakayama Masatoshi had martial
arts in his blood. Born in April 1913 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, he was a
descendant of the Sanada clan, in the Nagano region. His ancestors were
highly-skilled instructors of kenjutsu (the art of swordsmanship).
Upon entering Takushoku University in 1932, Master Nakayama immediately
joined the university’s karate club, studying under Master Funakoshi
Gichin and one of the master’s sons, Funakoshi Yoshitaka. Deciding to
devote his life to karate, he traveled to China after graduation for
further study and training.
When he returned from China in May 1946, he got together with fellow
Shotokan practitioners from his university days to revive the Shotokan
karate tradition with Funakoshi Gichin as Supreme Master. Together, in
1949, they established the Japan Karate Association. In 1955 a
headquarters dojo was built at Yotsuya in Tokyo. It spurred the building
of JKA branch dojo all across Japan.
The efforts of the Japan Karate Association to embody and promote the
spirit of karate-do were highly regarded by the Ministry of Education
(now Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture). In 1957, the
Ministry granted the JKA exclusive legal recognition in Japan as an
official association of members for the promotion of the way of karate.
During that time and over the next several years, Master Nakayama made
immeasurable contributions to the art. He developed, together with his
fellow JKA instructors, a new, rational method of teaching that was
tai-lored to the level and goals of each student: karate as a physical
development tool, karate as a method of self-defense, karate for
matches, etc. He also emphasized the necessity for each aspect of
training to be physically and kinesthetically practical, and he
scientifically analyzed how to make them so.
Moreover, to ensure that the true essence of karate-do was being passed
on correctly, he and his disciples established a two-year specialist
instructor training program, which is still the only specialist
instruction system in the world of karate. And the training never ends;
the JKA is, and always has been, the only karate organization whose
full-time instructors continue to get together every day for joint
practice. Through this program, JKA instructors constantly endeavor to
refine and perfect their karate.
Master Nakayama also invented karate’s first match system: the first
ever JKA All Japan Karate Championship was held at Tokyo Metropolitan
Gymnasium in October, 1957—and was attended by so many participants and
spectators that the venue was filled to capacity.
His adaptation of kata and kumite for the match system was a huge
success; the 5th JKA All Japan Karate Championship in 1961 was even
attended by His Majesty the Crown Prince of Japan (now His Majesty the
Emperor of Japan). Karate was growing increasingly popular throughout
the world.
Master Nakayama valued the spiritual aspects of karate that his teacher
Funakoshi Gichin espoused especially the virtue of modesty and the
spirit of harmony. He never tired of teaching, by his example more than
his words, that to demonstrate these qualities requires not only a deep
sense of propriety, but also a constant remembrance that “there is no
first attack in karate.”
In actual practice, Master Nakayama insisted that each technique should
demonstrate one’s powerful and wholehearted personal best. He also
emphasized that it is crucial to study the inseparable trinity of karate
kihon, kata, and kumite as one. And he continually reminded everyone to
keep in mind that “the way of karate we pursue is a bare-handed martial
art which we practice with an unwavering heart in a state of emptiness;
it is a way of developing the personality.”
In his later years, he summarized all his techniques and philosophy in the famous 11-volume series entitled “Best Karate.”
Master Nakayama passed away in 1987, at the age of 74.
