Hideyuki Ashihara
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese master
of karate
who founded the Ashihara karate system in 1980. This karate style is based on Kyokushin karate. Ashihara, often attributed as one of the originators of the tai sabaki
(whole body movement) method, held the rank of 10th dan
in karate and wrote three books on his martial art.
, Japan, eight months before the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on that city. He was raised by his grandparents in the village of Nomicho, and began studying kendo
at the age of 10. In 1960, Ashihara moved to Tokyo, where he began working at a petrol station. In September 1961, he began training in what would later become Kyokushin karate, under Kyokushin founder Masutatsu Oyama. Ashihara was promoted to 1st dan black belt
on either March 26, 1964, or March 21, 1965.
, on the island Shikoku
, to teach. He later moved to Yawatahama where he opened a Kyokushin karate school.
Ashihara began developing the concept of sabaki around this time, which focused on preparation, timing and evaluation, and stance. He later moved to Matsuyama to teach karate. One of his students, Joko Ninomiya
, won the 1978 All-Japan tournament, and would later go on to establish Enshin Karate. Ninomiya described Ashihara as his "first and only karate teacher" (p. xiii). Another of Ashihara's notable students is Kazuyoshi Ishii
, perhaps best known for founding the K-1
kickboxing competitions.
Tensions with other Kyokushin instructors led to Ashihara either leaving or being expelled from Kyokushin karate's International Karate Organization
in 1979. In September 1980, Ashihara founded the New International Karate Organization(NIKO). He held the rank of 10th dan in his organization. Over the next 15 years, Ashihara wrote three technique books on karate and three autobiographical books which included: Fighting Karate (1985), More fighting Karate (1989), and The word of life: For those who love Karate (1997, published posthumously).
, a progressive and fatal disease also known as Lou Gehrig
's disease. His condition worsened in the 1990s, and he died of complications of the disease on April 24, 1995, in Matsuyama. His son, Hidenori Ashihara, became the second head of the Ashihara karate system, and today continues to lead the NIKO. Other groups have emerged from the NIKO, such as the Ashihara International Karate Organisation based in the Netherlands.
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 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,...
who founded the Ashihara karate system in 1980. This karate style is based on Kyokushin karate. Ashihara, often attributed as one of the originators of the tai sabaki
Tai sabaki
is a term from Japanese martial arts and which relates to 'whole body movement', or repositioning. It can be translated as body-management. It is a term used widely in kendo, jujutsu, aikido, judo, karate and ninjutsu...
(whole body movement) method, held the rank of 10th 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 karate and wrote three books on his martial art.
Early life
Ashihara was born on December 5, 1944, near HiroshimaHiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, Japan, eight months before the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on that city. He was raised by his grandparents in the village of Nomicho, and began studying kendo
Kendo
, 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...
at the age of 10. In 1960, Ashihara moved to Tokyo, where he began working at a petrol station. In September 1961, he began training in what would later become Kyokushin karate, under Kyokushin founder Masutatsu Oyama. Ashihara was promoted to 1st dan 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 either March 26, 1964, or March 21, 1965.
Karate career
In 1966, Ashihara was appointed as a Kyokushin instructor, and was due to travel to Brazil to introduce Kyokushin karate there. Before this could happen, however, he got into a fight with five opponents on the street, was interrogated by police, and was suspended from Kyokushin karate as a result; after two months the suspension was lifted. Given the option of traveling to Brazil, Ashihara instead chose to go to NomuraNomura
Nomura Nomura Nomura (野村 (field village), 埜村 (wilderness field) is a Japanese surname. It can refer to:-Finance:*Nomura Holdings, part of the Nomura Group (also including Nomura Securities Co.)-People:*Don Nomura (born 1957), Japanese-American baseball agent...
, on the island Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
, to teach. He later moved to Yawatahama where he opened a Kyokushin karate school.
Ashihara began developing the concept of sabaki around this time, which focused on preparation, timing and evaluation, and stance. He later moved to Matsuyama to teach karate. One of his students, Joko Ninomiya
Joko Ninomiya
is the founder and director of Enshin Karate. He presides over the Enshin organization from the headquarters in Denver, Colorado. His title as head of the Enshin organization is "Kancho" .-Early history:...
, won the 1978 All-Japan tournament, and would later go on to establish Enshin Karate. Ninomiya described Ashihara as his "first and only karate teacher" (p. xiii). Another of Ashihara's notable students is Kazuyoshi Ishii
Kazuyoshi Ishii
is a Japanese master of Seidokaikan karate and founder of the K-1 fighting circuit, a widely televised international martial arts competition combining Muay Thai, karate, sanshou, taekwondo, kenpo, boxing, and kickboxing...
, perhaps best known for founding the K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
kickboxing competitions.
Tensions with other Kyokushin instructors led to Ashihara either leaving or being expelled from Kyokushin karate's International Karate Organization
International Karate Organization
The International Karate Organization was founded by Mas Oyama in Japan. Its purpose is to promote and teach the Kyokushin Way around the globe...
in 1979. In September 1980, Ashihara founded the New International Karate Organization(NIKO). He held the rank of 10th dan in his organization. Over the next 15 years, Ashihara wrote three technique books on karate and three autobiographical books which included: Fighting Karate (1985), More fighting Karate (1989), and The word of life: For those who love Karate (1997, published posthumously).
Later life
In 1987, Ashihara had begun to show signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosisAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
, a progressive and fatal disease also known as Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
's disease. His condition worsened in the 1990s, and he died of complications of the disease on April 24, 1995, in Matsuyama. His son, Hidenori Ashihara, became the second head of the Ashihara karate system, and today continues to lead the NIKO. Other groups have emerged from the NIKO, such as the Ashihara International Karate Organisation based in the Netherlands.