November 7th marks the 17th anniversary of the passing of the Founding President of ITKF, Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama.
Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama was born in 1928 in Tokyo. He began his karate training in 1943 under Gichin Funakoshi, founder of modern JKA-Shotokan karate and later continued his training at Takaushoku University.
Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama was a founder and first President of the ITKF. He registered this organization with the U.S. California Secretary of State where it is alive and active to this very day. It is the only ITKF organization Sensei Nishiyama created. His first objective was to have Traditional Karate as part of the Olympic Family. He was the creator of new categories of Traditional Karate competition (fuku-go - contest in which each competitor takes part in two events, a synthesis of kata and kumite in one event and en-bu - choreographically directed kumite).
He is the author of many works about Traditional Karate, his best known being - "Karate, the Art of Empty Hand Fighting" which was published in 1960 and even today, is considered the definitive textbook on the subject of Traditional Karate. It is believed to be the best-selling karate textbook in history.
He was undoubtedly the man on whose shoulders, for many years, carried the responsibility for passing Traditional Karate to the next generations. He believed there was always more to learn and more to improve and he lived his life in the continuous search of that knowledge and development.
He passed away on November 7, 2008 at the age of 80 years. Today, as we honour and remember this great leader on the 17th anniversary of his passing, let each of us dedicate our karate training today to the memory and legacy of Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama. Let our combined energy ensure, ”The Tradition Continues”... through the original and only organization he founded to preserve this quest, International Traditional Karate Federation. Osu Sensei, we thank you for your teaching and guidance you have given us. We dedicate our efforts to your work, legacy and the preservation of the path of Traditional Karate always.