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    • Richard Kim
    Richard Kim
    USA
    1917-11-17 - 2001-11-08
    Honolulu - Sacramento
    id_cardaccount_treelocation_on
    history_edu0.0 · Recorded
    Also known as
    Richard Sun Sung Kim
    Biggie Kim
    O'Sensei Kim
    Description

    American martial artist and founder of the Zen Bei Butoku Kai. A student of Daito-ryu master Kotaro Yoshida, from whom he received the menkyo kaiden, Kim introduced Masutatsu Oyama to Yoshida and was widely regarded as the foremost martial arts historian in the US.

    Teachers (4)
    • Kōtarō Yoshida
      Kōtarō Yoshida
      linkDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu 3
      Confirmed
      Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all identify Kotaro Yoshida as Richard Kim's principal teacher in Daito-ryu, who granted him the menkyo kaiden
      (1939)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       3 sources
      fact_check
      Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all identify Kotaro Yoshida as Richard Kim's principal teacher in Daito-ryu, who granted him the menkyo kaiden
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "In 1939, in addition to continuing to train under Sawai, Kim began studying Daito-ryu aikijujutsu, and Japanese and Okinawan weaponry under Kotaro Yoshida, who he came to regard as his primary Sensei."
      — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
      "Richard Kim continued his martial arts training while in Japan with Yoshida Kotaro, this time in daito ryu."
      — Zen Bei Butoku Kai. O'Sensei Richard Kim - Zen Bei Butoku Kailinkinfo
      "1945 Richard Kim started studying Daito Ryu and Kobudo under his principal teacher Yoshida Kotaro. From Kotaro he received the award Menkyo Kaiden."
      — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
    • Ar
      Arakaki Sadao
      linkKarate 2
      Probable
      Wikipedia states Kim began studying karate under Sadao Arakaki after seeing Yabu Kentsu's 1927 demonstration.
      (1927)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      Wikipedia states Kim began studying karate under Sadao Arakaki after seeing Yabu Kentsu's 1927 demonstration.
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "After seeing a demonstration by Kentsū Yabu, who spent most of 1927 in Hawaii, Kim began studying karate under Sadao Arakaki, who represented Yabu in Hawaii."
      — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
    • Kentsū Yabu
      Kentsū Yabu
      linkKarate 3
      Confirmed
      Wikipedia and the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography both document that Kim trained with Okinawan karate master Yabu Kentsu, whom he met again in Japan in the 1930s
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      Wikipedia and the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography both document that Kim trained with Okinawan karate master Yabu Kentsu, whom he met again in Japan in the 1930s
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Later, in the 1930s, OSensei Kim met Yabu Kentsu again in Japan and continued his training with him there."
      — Zen Bei Butoku Kai. O'Sensei Richard Kim - Zen Bei Butoku Kailinkinfo
    • To
      Toyama Kanken
      linkOkinawan Kobudō 2
      Probable
      The Kokusai Butokukai timeline states Kim began lessons in kobudo under Toyama Kanken in 1939.
      (1939)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The Kokusai Butokukai timeline states Kim began lessons in kobudo under Toyama Kanken in 1939.
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "1939 He traveled to Japan, where he continued training under Nabu Kentsu and Kenichi Sawai. At the same time he began his lessons in Kobudo Toyama Kanken."
      — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
    Ranks (4)
    • linkDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
      receipt_longMenkyo Kaiden 3
      Confirmed
      Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all state Kim received the Daito-ryu menkyo kaiden from Yoshida Kotaro; Wikipedia notes it was confirmed in 2024 by the Zen Bei Butoku Kai archives
      Menkyo Licence System
      granted by Kōtarō Yoshida
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       2 sources
      fact_check
      Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all state Kim received the Daito-ryu menkyo kaiden from Yoshida Kotaro; Wikipedia notes it was confirmed in 2024 by the Zen Bei Butoku Kai archives
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Kim stated that he had Daito-ryu scrolls in his possession, and had been granted a Daito-ryu menkyo kaiden by Yoshida. This claim that had been questioned by some in the martial arts community until it was confirmed in 2024 by the Zen Bei Butoku Kai."
      — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
      "OSensei Richard Kim became an apprentice under Kotaro and eventually was given the menkyo kaiden for daito ryu."
      — Zen Bei Butoku Kai. O'Sensei Richard Kim - Zen Bei Butoku Kailinkinfo
    • linkKarate
      military_tech10 dan 3
      Confirmed
      The Kokusai Butokukai timeline dates Kim's 10th dan to 1999 from the ITKF. Wikipedia notes the ITKF Judan was also presented posthumously at Kim's memorial service by ITKF's Hidetaka Nishiyama.
      Dan-Kyu System (1999)
      granted by International Traditional Karate Federation
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       2 sources
      fact_check
      The Kokusai Butokukai timeline dates Kim's 10th dan to 1999 from the ITKF. Wikipedia notes the ITKF Judan was also presented posthumously at Kim's memorial service by ITKF's Hidetaka Nishiyama.
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "1999 Appointment to Ju Dan (10th Dan) from I.T.K.F."
      — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
      "At his memorial service, Hidetaka Nishiyama of the ITKF presented Kim with the rank of Judan (10th degree black belt) posthumously."
      — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
      military_tech10 dan 3
      Confirmed
      Wikipedia states the Hawaii Karate Kodanshakai presented Kim with the rank of Judan (10th degree black belt) in 2000
      Dan-Kyu System (2000)
      granted by Hawaii Karate Kodanshakai
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      Wikipedia states the Hawaii Karate Kodanshakai presented Kim with the rank of Judan (10th degree black belt) in 2000
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "In 2000, the Hawaii Karate Kodanshakai, a multi-style karate association of senior instructors, presented Kim with the rank of Judan (10th degree black belt)."
      — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
      military_tech9 dan 3
      Confirmed
      The Kokusai Butokukai certificate record dates Kim's 9th dan from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai on December 1, 1969
      Dan-Kyu System (1969-12-01)
      granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The Kokusai Butokukai certificate record dates Kim's 9th dan from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai on December 1, 1969
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "1969 On December, Richard Kim receives the Ku Dan (9th Dan) from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai."
      — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
    Honors (3)
    • receipt_longBlack Belt Magazine Karate Sensei of the Year 3
      Confirmed
      Wikipedia states Kim was named Black Belt Magazine's Karate Sensei of the Year in 1967
      Title (1967)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      Wikipedia states Kim was named Black Belt Magazine's Karate Sensei of the Year in 1967
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Kim was named Black Belt Magazine's 'Karate Sensei of the Year', in 1967, and was later inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame."
      — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
    • receipt_longBlack Belt Magazine Hall of Fame inductee 3
      Confirmed
      Wikipedia states Kim was inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame; the Kokusai Butokukai timeline dates it to 1973
      Title
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       2 sources
      fact_check
      Wikipedia states Kim was inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame; the Kokusai Butokukai timeline dates it to 1973
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "and was later inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame."
      — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
      "1973 He is named Man of the Year in the Black Belt Hall Of Fame."
      — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
    • receipt_longHanshiHanshi 3
      Confirmed
      The Kokusai Butokukai certificate record dates Kim's Hanshi appointment from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai on July 15, 1973
      Title (1973-07-15)
      granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The Kokusai Butokukai certificate record dates Kim's Hanshi appointment from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai on July 15, 1973
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "1973 On July, Richard Kim is appointed Hanshi by Dai Nippon Butoku Kai."
      — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
    Sources
    Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
    Toth, Robert. (2006). El Legado del Dr. Richard Kim: Una Entrevista con Brian Ricci. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticaslinkinfo
    Caile, Christopher. (2001). Memories Of Richard Kim & his Karate. FightingArts.comlinkinfo
    Zen Bei Butoku Kai. O'Sensei Richard Kim - Zen Bei Butoku Kailinkinfo
    Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
    Linked data
    Wikidata VIAFISNI data_object JSON-LDdata_object Turtle
    https://martial.is/entity/01KZ0ZT8VBPHFXAD3JS8ZRYQWG