Tadashi Yamashita
Encyclopedia
is an Japanese American
martial arts
instructor and actor
.
at the age of 16. At 24 he moved to the United States where he eventually gained citizenship.
He has appeared in such films as The Octagon
, American Ninja
, Enter the Dragon
, Gymkata
, Rising Sun
, and Lethal Weapon 4
, and on television shows including Kung Fu
and Knight Rider.
He holds the ranks of 9th Dan
in Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu and in Matayoshi Kobudo
, and the title of Hanshi. He founded his own Okinawan kobudō
school Yamashita-Matayoshi Kobudo in 2001. He is renowned for his competence in using the rare Okinawan kusarigama
.
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
instructor and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Biography
Yamashita was born in mainland Japan but raised in Okinawa, where he earned a black beltBlack 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...
at the age of 16. At 24 he moved to the United States where he eventually gained citizenship.
He has appeared in such films as The Octagon
The Octagon (film)
The Octagon is a 1980 action film with Chuck Norris in the leading role. It was directed by Eric Karson and written by Paul Aaron and Leigh Chapman. It was filmed in Los Angeles, California and released on August 14, 1980. It is notable for its inventive use of 'voice over' effects to portray the...
, American Ninja
American Ninja
American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the...
, Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon is a 1973 Hong Kong martial arts co-production with Golden Harvest and Warner Bros. studios, directed by Robert Clouse; starring Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly and John Saxon. This is Bruce Lee's final film appearance before his death on July 20, 1973...
, Gymkata
Gymkata
Gymkata is a 1985 martial arts film starring Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas as Jonathan Cabot, an Olympic gymnast who combines his gymnastic ability with ninjutsu to enter a deadly competition in a fictional country, Parmistan...
, Rising Sun
Rising Sun
Rising Sun may refer to sunrise. It may also refer to:-Music:*"Rising Sun" , a song written by Fats Domino* Rising Sun , 2005* Rising Sun , 2010* Rising Sun , 1986...
, and Lethal Weapon 4
Lethal Weapon 4
Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 American action film directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and Jet Li. It is the third sequel in the Lethal Weapon series of films. -Plot:...
, and on television shows including Kung Fu
Kung Fu (TV series)
Kung Fu is an American television series that starred David Carradine. It was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe, and developed by Herman Miller, who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series...
and Knight Rider.
He holds the ranks of 9th Dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
in Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu and in Matayoshi Kobudo
Matayoshi Kobudo
Matayoshi Kobudo is a style of Okinawan Kobudo that was developed by Matayoshi Shinpo during the Twentieth Century. Martial arts have been practiced by the Matayoshi family for over 9 generations. The honbu dojo for Matayoshi Kobudo is the Kodokan and can be found in Naha, Okinawa...
, and the title of Hanshi. He founded his own Okinawan kobudō
Okinawan kobudo
Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
school Yamashita-Matayoshi Kobudo in 2001. He is renowned for his competence in using the rare Okinawan kusarigama
Okinawan kusarigama
Okinawan kusarigama is a rare chain and sickle weapon found in the Okinawan kobudō weapons set. A noted modern practitioner of the weapon was Seike Toma, a student of Chōtoku Kyan and a teacher of Seikichi Odo....
.