Masatoshi Nakayama
Masatoshi Nakayama
中山正敏
JPN
1913-04-13 - 1987-04-15
Yamaguchi Prefecture - Tokyo
history_edu9.6 · Recorded
Description

Japanese master of Shotokan karate and the founder and first Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association (JKA). Nakayama began training under Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigō Funakoshi at Takushoku University, helped establish the JKA in 1949 with Funakoshi as its formal head, and served as its Chief Instructor until his death in 1987. He was the first Shotokan master to attain 9th dan while alive and was posthumously awarded 10th dan. He developed the JKA instructor training program and karate's first match system, spread Shotokan karate worldwide through his students, and authored the 11-volume Best Karate series. His notable students included Hirokazu Kanazawa, Keinosuke Enoeda, and Hiroshi Shirai.

Teachers (4)
Ranks (2)
  • military_tech9 dan 3
    Confirmed
    Wikipedia states Nakayama was promoted to 9th dan in the 1980s, the first Shotokan master to receive the rank while alive; JKA was the promoting organization
    Dan-Kyu System (1980)
    expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources
    fact_check
    Wikipedia states Nakayama was promoted to 9th dan in the 1980s, the first Shotokan master to receive the rank while alive; JKA was the promoting organization
    assessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    "He was promoted to 9th dan in the 1980s, becoming the first Shotokan master to be awarded this rank while still living."
    — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Masatoshi Nakayama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
    "1980年代に九段に昇格し、生涯でこの階級を授与された最初の松濤館の名人となった"
    — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). 中山正敏 (空手家) - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese)linkinfo
    military_tech10 dan 3
    Confirmed
    Wikipedia and JA Wikipedia both state Nakayama was posthumously awarded 10th dan
    Dan-Kyu System
    expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources
    fact_check
    Wikipedia and JA Wikipedia both state Nakayama was posthumously awarded 10th dan
    assessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    "He was the first master in Shotokan history to attain the rank of 9th dan while alive, and was posthumously awarded the rank of 10th dan."
    — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Masatoshi Nakayama - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
    "死後、十段を授与された"
    — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). 中山正敏 (空手家) - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese)linkinfo
Students (3)
Sources
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01KYYVEV2M51X3PGZ78QFDZBRZ
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