Master Nishiyama and Senior Instructors prepare for more group photos!

On July 1, 2001 at the Quiet Canon Banquet Facility in Montebello, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California honored Master Hidetaka Nishiyama (The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette), Mr. Hayahiko Takase (The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays) and Mr. Tomio Ito (The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays) for their recent awards from the Emperor of Japan.

Born in Tokyo in 1928, Hidetaka Nishiyama began his karate training in 1943 under the founder of modern karate, Gichin Funakoshi. Two years later, while enrolled at Takushoku University, he became a member of the university's Karate team and in 1949, its captain.   A co-founder of the "All Japan Collegiate Karate Federation", he was elected its first chairman. In 1951, he graduated with a Master of Arts degree in economics and was a co-founder of the "Japan Karate Association" (JKA).


Nishiyama's "Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting" published in 1960, is even today considered the definitive textbook on the subject.   In its 70th printing, it is believed to be the best selling Karate textbook in history.   In 1961 while on an invitational visit in the United States, he organized the "All American Karate Federation" (AAKF) as a nationally based amateur Karate organization and later organized the first National Karate Championships in Los Angeles.

In 1965, he organized a cooperative effort of the major Japanese Karate styles that led to the first United States vs. Japan Goodwill Karate Tournament, the first truly international Karate competition. The AAKF became a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1970.   Since then, he has served as Chairman of the Pan American Karate Union, Chairman of the International Amateur Karate Federation and President of the All American Karate Federation.   Over 70 member nations now comprise the International Traditional Karate Federation, which he founded.

In response to his decades of effort on behalf of Traditional Karate and its U.S. students, the National flag was flown over the U.S. Capital on October 10th, 1999 on the occasion of his 71st birthday.   Then in May 2000, he was further recognized when the Nishiyama Cup was held in Moscow, the first official Karate event conducted in Russian since the end of the Soviet Union.