Sensei Nakayama had a profound influence on shotokan karate, and helped to popularise it through the world and introduced the idea of competition karate. He has been credited for the development of new techniques - the "Oshirogeri" (back kick) and the circular kick "Gyaku-Mawashigeri".

He was born in Yamagushi, Japan. He began martial arts with kendo training but started karate at 19 when he went to Takushohu University where he studied history and languages. He travelled to China to study Chinese history and language. He met masters of Ch'uan Fa and invited one master of Tai Chi ch'uan to demonstrate at the JKA. After 11 years in China he returned to study with Master Funakoshi. In 1957 he succeeded Funakoshi as Chief Instructor of the JKA and over the next 10 years sent out JKA instructors around the world to teach karate. In 1965 he published his book "Dynamic Karate" and in 1977 his "Best Karate" Series.

Books by M. Nakayama