Tadashi Nakamura
Encyclopedia
is the founder of Seidō juku
karatedo.
, and Kyokushin
. In 1956 he started studying with Mas Oyama
(founder of the Kyokushin
style of karate) and he had reached the rank of shodan
(1st degree black belt
) on May 6, 1962.
When he was 19 years old (1961) he made his first tournament appearance, the All-Japan Student Open Karate Championship, where he was placed first. In 1962, he took part in a match against a Muay Thai
champion of the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium
. The contest had been to determine which country had the 'best' martial art. He fought Muay Thai rule but in winning he became a Japanese national hero.
It was around this point in his life that Nakamura started passing his knowledge and experience onto others. Firstly at Camp Zama (a U.S. military base near Tokyo
) from 1961 to 1965. He also coached the karate team for the Toho Medical University for three years. As if that didn't keep him busy enough he also served as chief instructor at the Kyokushin Karate Honbu in Tokyo while he earning his seventh dan.
Karate, Masutatsu Oyama
, selected Nakamura to go to the U.S.A. and spread the spirit of karate. Aged 24 (just one year after he graduated university) he moved to New York to begin teaching Kyokushin Karate. His first dojo was at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In 1971 established the North American Kyokushin Karate headquarters. Over the next ten years he served as the American head of Kyokushin Karate. He trained many students: Thomas Wiggins, Claude Battle, Charles Martin, William Best, Michael Reeves and William Oliver were some of his students.
As the Kyokushin style became more popular, Nakamura started to feel the quality of the instruction was slipping. He also began questioning the philosophy of his mentor Mas Oyama. In 1976 he respectfully withdrew from Kyokushin Karate, severed links with the Japanese Karate world and established his own style, Seidō juku.
Seido karate's three main principals are Respect, Love and Obedience. Love for one's family and friends. Respect for your fellow karate ka, your seniors, your parents and their knowledge and experience. Obedience (not subservience) to the laws and moral rules of life. Seido is headquartered in New York City , but has many branch dojos around the world, (http://www.seido.com).
An important part of the Seido World Seido Karate Organization is the Seido Juku Benefit Foundation which performs many good works for charity, including the annual benefit tournament. Nakamura has received praise and recognition from City, State, National and International leaders for the good works of the benefit foundation.
Seidō juku
Seidō is a style of karate founded by Master Tadashi Nakamura in 1976 in New York City. It is unique for being a physical, traditional style and incorporating Zen meditation in training.- History :...
karatedo.
Early years
Tadashi Nakamura was born on the February 22, 1942 in the town of Maoka on the island of Karafuto. Nakamura trained in various martial arts including Goju-Ryu, KendoKendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
, and Kyokushin
Kyokushin
is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
. In 1956 he started studying with Mas Oyama
Masutatsu Oyama
, more commonly known as Mas Oyama, was a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate. He was born Choi Yeong-eui . A Zainichi Korean, he spent most of his life living in Japan and acquired Japanese citizenship in 1964...
(founder of the Kyokushin
Kyokushin
is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
style of karate) and he had reached the rank of shodan
Shodan
, literally meaning "beginning degree," is the lowest black belt rank in Japanese martial arts and the game of Go. The 2nd dan is higher than Shodan, but the 1st dan is called Shodan traditionally and the 1st dan is not called "Ichidan"...
(1st degree black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
) on May 6, 1962.
When he was 19 years old (1961) he made his first tournament appearance, the All-Japan Student Open Karate Championship, where he was placed first. In 1962, he took part in a match against a Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
champion of the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium
Lumpinee Boxing Stadium
Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is an indoor sporting arena located in Bangkok, Thailand. Opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern Stadium, the Lumpinee is run by Royal Thai Army on behalf of Thai Government. It has become the symbol of modern Muay Thai. Only Rajadamnern Stadium rivals the...
. The contest had been to determine which country had the 'best' martial art. He fought Muay Thai rule but in winning he became a Japanese national hero.
It was around this point in his life that Nakamura started passing his knowledge and experience onto others. Firstly at Camp Zama (a U.S. military base near Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
) from 1961 to 1965. He also coached the karate team for the Toho Medical University for three years. As if that didn't keep him busy enough he also served as chief instructor at the Kyokushin Karate Honbu in Tokyo while he earning his seventh dan.
Kyokushin
On April 5 1966, the head of KyokushinKyokushin
is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
Karate, Masutatsu Oyama
Masutatsu Oyama
, more commonly known as Mas Oyama, was a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate. He was born Choi Yeong-eui . A Zainichi Korean, he spent most of his life living in Japan and acquired Japanese citizenship in 1964...
, selected Nakamura to go to the U.S.A. and spread the spirit of karate. Aged 24 (just one year after he graduated university) he moved to New York to begin teaching Kyokushin Karate. His first dojo was at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In 1971 established the North American Kyokushin Karate headquarters. Over the next ten years he served as the American head of Kyokushin Karate. He trained many students: Thomas Wiggins, Claude Battle, Charles Martin, William Best, Michael Reeves and William Oliver were some of his students.
As the Kyokushin style became more popular, Nakamura started to feel the quality of the instruction was slipping. He also began questioning the philosophy of his mentor Mas Oyama. In 1976 he respectfully withdrew from Kyokushin Karate, severed links with the Japanese Karate world and established his own style, Seidō juku.
Seido
Seido means 'Sincere Way' and aims to develop students not just physically but also mentally, helping create 'complete' and 'balanced' individuals committed to improving themselves and the communities they live in.Seido karate's three main principals are Respect, Love and Obedience. Love for one's family and friends. Respect for your fellow karate ka, your seniors, your parents and their knowledge and experience. Obedience (not subservience) to the laws and moral rules of life. Seido is headquartered in New York City , but has many branch dojos around the world, (http://www.seido.com).
An important part of the Seido World Seido Karate Organization is the Seido Juku Benefit Foundation which performs many good works for charity, including the annual benefit tournament. Nakamura has received praise and recognition from City, State, National and International leaders for the good works of the benefit foundation.
Books and articles
Nakamura has authored several books and articles on Seido Karate as well as related topics such as meditation, breathing, and teaching. Some of these include;- One Day, One Lifetime (1995) (ISBN 0-8048-3064-9)
- The Human Face of Karate (1989) (ISBN 4-07-975055-2)
- Karate: Technique and Spirit (2001) (ISBN 0-8048-3282-X)
- Karate Kyohon (2001) (ISBN 4-07-231722-5)