"Mind and technique makes one"
M. Nakayama 1913 - 1987
In 1913, in Kanazawa, Japan, Masatoshi Nakayama was born to a samurai family. His grandfather was a Kendo teacher. His father was an Army Doctor and studied Judo. The family was station in Taipei, Taiwan, and it was there that the young Masatoshi spend his grammar school years. He also spend time practicing Kendo. Nakayama's father expected that Masatoshi followed his footsteps into medicine but the future karate Master, however, had developed a strong interest in visiting and studying China. Consequently, he secretly took the entrance exams for Takushuko University in Japan, which specialized in preparing students for overseas work.
When in the University Nakayama intended continuing with his Kendo practice and due to a misreading of the schedule, he showed up at the Dojo when the karate team was practicing instead. He was fascinated by what he saw and came back for the next class to give it a try. As he would put it latter, "I completely forgot about Kendo."
At that time, Master Funakoshi was still active in teaching and the training was grueling. Only about 10% of the students lasted more than six months. In addition to his five hours a day of karate training, Nakayama pursue an academic course in Chinese history and language. In 1933 he spend four month traveling in Manchuria and latter in 1937 was a student exchange at Peking University. He was there for the next five years and then went to work for the Chinese Government. He did not return to Japan until 1946. During the decade he spend in China, Nakayama continue to practice and teach karate, but he also studied various Chinese martial arts with a number of masters there.
Upon his return to Japan, Nakayama found that many of his karate peers, as well as the Shoto-Kan Dojo itself, had perished because of the war. He began to organize classes again and in 1949, he helped to found the Japan Karate Association, with would be incorporated as an educational body under the Ministry of Education in 1955.
Master Funakoshi was the honorary head of the new organization, he was 81 years old at that time, but it was Masatoshi Nakayama, Funakoshi hand picked successor, who was the Chief Instructor of the J.K.A. from it's founding until his death.
Master Funakoshi was without a doubt, the driving force which brought karate to Japan and to the Japanese Educational System. However, among Master Nakayama many accomplishments were organizing the first All Japan Karate Tournament hosted by the JKA in 1957, the creation of the JKA Instructor Training Program and the spreading of karate to the rest of the world. On April 14th, 1987, Masatoshi Nakayama died at the age of 74. Until his death, he continued to travel, teach, write books about karate (over 20). He was a true master who understood and lived Master Funakoshi's philosophies and ideas, and spend his life passing them on to the world.
M. Nakayama 1913 - 1987
In 1913, in Kanazawa, Japan, Masatoshi Nakayama was born to a samurai family. His grandfather was a Kendo teacher. His father was an Army Doctor and studied Judo. The family was station in Taipei, Taiwan, and it was there that the young Masatoshi spend his grammar school years. He also spend time practicing Kendo. Nakayama's father expected that Masatoshi followed his footsteps into medicine but the future karate Master, however, had developed a strong interest in visiting and studying China. Consequently, he secretly took the entrance exams for Takushuko University in Japan, which specialized in preparing students for overseas work.
When in the University Nakayama intended continuing with his Kendo practice and due to a misreading of the schedule, he showed up at the Dojo when the karate team was practicing instead. He was fascinated by what he saw and came back for the next class to give it a try. As he would put it latter, "I completely forgot about Kendo."
At that time, Master Funakoshi was still active in teaching and the training was grueling. Only about 10% of the students lasted more than six months. In addition to his five hours a day of karate training, Nakayama pursue an academic course in Chinese history and language. In 1933 he spend four month traveling in Manchuria and latter in 1937 was a student exchange at Peking University. He was there for the next five years and then went to work for the Chinese Government. He did not return to Japan until 1946. During the decade he spend in China, Nakayama continue to practice and teach karate, but he also studied various Chinese martial arts with a number of masters there.
Upon his return to Japan, Nakayama found that many of his karate peers, as well as the Shoto-Kan Dojo itself, had perished because of the war. He began to organize classes again and in 1949, he helped to found the Japan Karate Association, with would be incorporated as an educational body under the Ministry of Education in 1955.
Master Funakoshi was the honorary head of the new organization, he was 81 years old at that time, but it was Masatoshi Nakayama, Funakoshi hand picked successor, who was the Chief Instructor of the J.K.A. from it's founding until his death.
Master Funakoshi was without a doubt, the driving force which brought karate to Japan and to the Japanese Educational System. However, among Master Nakayama many accomplishments were organizing the first All Japan Karate Tournament hosted by the JKA in 1957, the creation of the JKA Instructor Training Program and the spreading of karate to the rest of the world. On April 14th, 1987, Masatoshi Nakayama died at the age of 74. Until his death, he continued to travel, teach, write books about karate (over 20). He was a true master who understood and lived Master Funakoshi's philosophies and ideas, and spend his life passing them on to the world.
