Takayuki Mikami
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese master
of Shotokan
karate
based in the United States of America. He holds the rank of 9th dan
black belt
in the art. In 1958, Mikami tied for first place in the All Japan Karate Championships. The following year, he became the All Japan champion in kumite
(sparring) as well as kata
(patterns). In 1961, Mikami won first place in kata again. He was also the first person to graduate from the Japan Karate Association
's (JKA) instructor training program instituted by Gichin Funakoshi
and Masatoshi Nakayama.
, Japan. As a youth, he participated in track and field sports, and was a short distance runner. Around 1952, Mikami began training in Shotokan karate under instructor K. Itoe. In 1953, he was promoted to the rank of 1st dan. In 1955, he was appointed Team Captain of the Hosei University
karate club. He studied literature at the university, but spent most of his time training in karate.
In 1956, Mikami enrolled in the Japan Karate Association's (JKA) newly-formed instructor training course under Nakayama. In 1957, Mikami graduated from the course and became a JKA instructor. There were only three students in the group; his classmates were Eiji Takaura and Hirokazu Kanazawa, who also graduated in 1957.
in Manila. After nine months, he returned to Japan to train for and compete in the All Japan Championships.
In 1958, Mikami fought in one of the most celebrated matches in JKA tournament history. Mikami and Kanazawa had been classmates and roommates for most of their karate careers, but had never fought each other in the All Japan Championships before, as Mikami had been teaching in the Philippines. When they faced each other in the final round, very few techniques were thrown, because they knew each other too well. They ended up mostly circling each other, searching for openings, until time was up. It was decided that both instructors were All Japan Kumite Champions for 1958. This was the only time in history that a tie was declared for first place. The following year, Mikami won first in both kata and kumite. In 1961, he became kata champion again.
(training hall) in Kansas for 14 months, but then decided to start a new dojo in Louisiana: the Louisiana Karate Association (LKA) in New Orleans. In 1965, Mikami made the LKA the headquarters for the All South Karate Federation, which functioned under the International Shotokan Karate Federation
(ISKF), a division of JKA. He has remained there as a teacher and regional director ever since. By 1967, Mikami had reached the rank of 5th dan and his wife was ranked 2nd dan. In 1984, he was promoted to the rank of 8th dan by the JKA.
In 1990, Mikami was named Instructor of the Year in American Karate
by Black Belt magazine. In 2005, he was elected President of the Japanese Karate Masters' Association of North America. In 2007, after the ISKF split from JKA, Mikami decided to remain in association with the JKA. That same year, he was appointed to the JKA International Board of Directors. In March 2008, he was named as one of two Senior Technical Advisors to the JKA World Federation Headquarters, Tokyo, by the JKA Board of Directors. Mikami founded the JKA American Federation (JKA/AF) in 2008. Mikami was promoted to 9th dan on September 30, 2011, by JKA headquarters in Tokyo.
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
of Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
based in the United States of America. He holds the rank 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...
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...
in the art. In 1958, Mikami tied for first place in the All Japan Karate Championships. The following year, he became the All Japan champion in kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
(sparring) as well as kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
(patterns). In 1961, Mikami won first place in kata again. He was also the first person to graduate from the Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association is one of the most influential Shotokan karate organizations in the world...
's (JKA) instructor training program instituted by Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
and Masatoshi Nakayama.
Early life
Mikami was born in 1933 in Niigata PrefectureNiigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan. As a youth, he participated in track and field sports, and was a short distance runner. Around 1952, Mikami began training in Shotokan karate under instructor K. Itoe. In 1953, he was promoted to the rank of 1st dan. In 1955, he was appointed Team Captain of the Hosei University
Hosei University
is a private university based in Tokyo, Japan.The university originated in a school of law, Tōkyō Hōgakusha , established in 1880, and the following year renamed Tōkyō Hōgakkō . This was from 1883 headed by Dr. Gustave Emile Boissonade, and was heavily influenced by the French legal tradition...
karate club. He studied literature at the university, but spent most of his time training in karate.
In 1956, Mikami enrolled in the Japan Karate Association's (JKA) newly-formed instructor training course under Nakayama. In 1957, Mikami graduated from the course and became a JKA instructor. There were only three students in the group; his classmates were Eiji Takaura and Hirokazu Kanazawa, who also graduated in 1957.
Japan
It was Nakayama's objective to spread the martial art of Shotokan karate around the world, so Mikami began to travel widely, teaching karate. In 1957, the JKA sent him to the Philippines to instruct in Far Eastern UniversityFar Eastern University
Far Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of...
in Manila. After nine months, he returned to Japan to train for and compete in the All Japan Championships.
In 1958, Mikami fought in one of the most celebrated matches in JKA tournament history. Mikami and Kanazawa had been classmates and roommates for most of their karate careers, but had never fought each other in the All Japan Championships before, as Mikami had been teaching in the Philippines. When they faced each other in the final round, very few techniques were thrown, because they knew each other too well. They ended up mostly circling each other, searching for openings, until time was up. It was decided that both instructors were All Japan Kumite Champions for 1958. This was the only time in history that a tie was declared for first place. The following year, Mikami won first in both kata and kumite. In 1961, he became kata champion again.
United States of America
In 1963, the JKA sent Mikami to the United States of America. Initially, he taught at a dojoDojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
(training hall) in Kansas for 14 months, but then decided to start a new dojo in Louisiana: the Louisiana Karate Association (LKA) in New Orleans. In 1965, Mikami made the LKA the headquarters for the All South Karate Federation, which functioned under the International Shotokan Karate Federation
International Shotokan Karate Federation
The International Shotokan Karate Federation is the largest shotokan karate organization in North and South America. In 1977, in an effort to spread the study of shotokan karate throughout the world, high-ranking members from the Japan Karate Association founded the ISKF. In 2007, the ISKF split...
(ISKF), a division of JKA. He has remained there as a teacher and regional director ever since. By 1967, Mikami had reached the rank of 5th dan and his wife was ranked 2nd dan. In 1984, he was promoted to the rank of 8th dan by the JKA.
In 1990, Mikami was named Instructor of the Year in American Karate
American Karate
American Karate is generic term usually referring to hybrid martial arts systems that employs cross-training throughout many of the traditional Asian styles. As such, American Karate incorporates the "most useful" elements of Japanese, Okinawan, and Korean Karate. It may also use techniques from...
by Black Belt magazine. In 2005, he was elected President of the Japanese Karate Masters' Association of North America. In 2007, after the ISKF split from JKA, Mikami decided to remain in association with the JKA. That same year, he was appointed to the JKA International Board of Directors. In March 2008, he was named as one of two Senior Technical Advisors to the JKA World Federation Headquarters, Tokyo, by the JKA Board of Directors. Mikami founded the JKA American Federation (JKA/AF) in 2008. Mikami was promoted to 9th dan on September 30, 2011, by JKA headquarters in Tokyo.