Masatoshi Nakayama
中山正敏
Born 1913-04-13, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Died
1987-04-15, Tokyo
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 (5)
-
Kenwa Mabunisports_martial_artsShito-ryu ProbableProbableOwn account only; two kata, at Funakoshi's request.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkOwn account only; two kata, at Funakoshi's request.visibilityFirst-hand“Masatoshi Nakayama says: “When we visited Master Mubuni, Master Funakoshi told me to learn Gojushiho, and Nijushiho, so we could study them more carefully. So Kenwa Mabuni taught me these kata.”
-
Funakoshi Gichinsports_martial_artsShotokan ConfirmedConfirmedMultiple sources confirm Nakayama learned karate under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, at Takushoku UniversityThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.location_onTakushoku University badge (1932–1937)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkMultiple sources confirm Nakayama learned karate under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan, at Takushoku University -
Funakoshi Gigōsports_martial_artsShotokan ConfirmedConfirmedBoth JKA official biography and Wikipedia confirm Nakayama studied under Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka (Gigō) at Takushoku UniversityThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.location_onTakushoku University badge (1932–1937)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkBoth JKA official biography and Wikipedia confirm Nakayama studied under Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka (Gigō) at Takushoku University -
Obata Isaosports_martial_artsShotokan ProbableProbableWikipedia lists Isao Obata among Nakayama's teachers.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
-
Shimoda Takeshisports_martial_artsShotokan ProbableProbableWikipedia lists Takeshi Shimoda among Nakayama's teachers; the relationship is less documented than the others.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
Ranks (2)
-
military_tech9 dan ProbableProbableWikipedia states Nakayama was promoted to 9th dan in the 1980s, the first Shotokan master to receive the rank while alive; JKA was the promoting organizationThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.Dan-Kyu System (1980)granted by Japan Karate Association
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia states Nakayama was promoted to 9th dan in the 1980s, the first Shotokan master to receive the rank while alive; JKA was the promoting organizationmilitary_tech10 dan ProbableProbableWikipedia and JA Wikipedia both state Nakayama was posthumously awarded 10th danThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.Dan-Kyu Systemfact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia and JA Wikipedia both state Nakayama was posthumously awarded 10th dan
Students (3)
-
Yukio Mishimasports_martial_artsShotokan ConfirmedConfirmedThree independent chains agree: Japanese Wikipedia names Nakayama Masatoshi as JKA chief instructor under whom Mishima trained from July 1967; the peer-reviewed JIRS study dates his start at the JKA to 1967; and Christopher Ross records the resulting grade as a first dan in Shotokan karate.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.location_onJKA Honbu Dojo badge (1967–1970)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThree independent chains agree: Japanese Wikipedia names Nakayama Masatoshi as JKA chief instructor under whom Mishima trained from July 1967; the peer-reviewed JIRS study dates his start at the JKA to 1967; and Christopher Ross records the resulting grade as a first dan in Shotokan karate. -
Masakatsu Moritasports_martial_artsShotokan ProbableProbableThe Tatenokai article states that from autumn 1968 about ten core members began karate under Nakayama Masatoshi's instruction; Morita was a first-generation core member, but the article does not itemise the ten names, hence probable rather than confirmed.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.location_onJKA Honbu Dojo badge (1968–1970)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe Tatenokai article states that from autumn 1968 about ten core members began karate under Nakayama Masatoshi's instruction; Morita was a first-generation core member, but the article does not itemise the ten names, hence probable rather than confirmed. -
Hirokazu Kanazawasports_martial_artsShotokan ConfirmedConfirmedWikipedia and SKIF's own bio, two independent sources, both directly state Kanazawa trained under Masatoshi Nakayama, then head instructor of Shotokan at Takushoku University and later JKA chief instructorThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia and SKIF's own bio, two independent sources, both directly state Kanazawa trained under Masatoshi Nakayama, then head instructor of Shotokan at Takushoku University and later JKA chief instructor
Sources
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KYYVEV2M51X3PGZ78QFDZBRZ
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Masatoshi Nakayama. In Martialis: Martial
Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYYVEV2M51X3PGZ78QFDZBRZ - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYYVEV2M51X3PGZ78QFDZBRZ, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Masatoshi Nakayama}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KYYVEV2M51X3PGZ78QFDZBRZ}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
Database content on this page is CC BY-SA 4.0; the database right is separately reserved. Licensing