Group shot

Shotokan Karate Institute - Summer Camp 2012

www.shotokan.com

My sensei, Hanshi M.A. Sharifi.

Taken at the old dojo of the Shotokan Karate Institute.

From left to right: Hanshi M.A. Sharifi, Sensei Michael Tabassi, and Master Hidetaka Nishiyama.

Sensei Tabassi first started training karate in Iran with Hanshi Sharifi (who is my sensei). Both my sensei and Sensei Tabassi earned their 7th dans from Master Nishiyama (may he rest in peace).

Made this video the other day. Compares Enoeda Sensei’s application of Kuzushi Waza to Lyoto Machida, in both a tournament and in the UFC. Enjoy in HD!! Oss

Master Gichin Funakoshi

If/once it gets taken down I’ll replace the embedded video with a working one. This is a must watch for any karateka!

Shotokan Master Hidetaka Nishiyama in his office in Los Angeles. It is interesting that he was a cigarette smoker.

Interesting article on Frank Smith and politics of karate.

Black Belt Magazine, January 1984

I can send the pdf to anyone who is interested.

Master Hidetaka Nishiyama

Rest in peace Master Hidetaka Nishiyama.

Lyoto and Chinzo Machida. I like the picture of Sensei Nishiyama in the background. My dojo has the same one.

Okinawan master Chōjun Miyagi, founder of Goju-ryu karate.

Shotokan Master Keigo Abe at the memorial of Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate, pointing to the second of his twenty precepts (Niju Kun).

The precept reads: “Hitosu, Karate Ni Sente Nashi”.

This translates to: “There is no first strike in karate.”

(The word Hitotsu means “one” or “first” and precedes each rule, to place it at the same level of importance as the others.)

My sensei (Hanshi M.A. Sharifi) received his third dan from Sensei Abe.

Master Hidetaka Nishiyama commenting on the World Union of Karate-Do Organizations (WUKO) now known as the World Karate Federation (WKF). Sensei Nishiyama and his organization, the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) were/are firmly against the type of “sports karate” practiced by the WKF.

From Black Belt Magazine, April 1993