Richard Kim
Richard Kim
USA
1917-11-17 - 2001-11-08
Honolulu - Sacramento
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)
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
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