Tetsuhiko Asai

was a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), founder and Chief Instructor of the International Japan Martial Arts Karate Asai-ryu (IJKA), and founder of the Japan Karate Shoto Federation (JKS; formerly known as the Japan Karate Shoto-Renmei).The Shotokan Way: Tetsuhiko Asai profile
(''c.'' 2007). Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
(2010). Retrieved on March 27, 2010.

Early life

Asai was born on June 7, 1935, in Ehime Prefecture (on the island of Shikoku), Japan.Bertel, A. (2009)
Tetsuhiko Asai Shihan Memorial Report
(August 16, 2009). Retrieved on March 27, 2010. He was the eldest of seven children.
(''c.'' 2005). Retrieved on March 28, 2010. As a boy, he trained in sumo. In addition, his father (a policeman) taught him judo, kendo, and sojutsu.International Japan Karate Asai-ryu (Americas): Biography of Master Asai
(2010). Retrieved on March 27, 2010. When he was 12 years old, he witnessed a fight between a boxer and a ''karateka'' (practitioner of karate); the karate combatant was able to disable his opponent with a kick, and Asai was impressed.

Karate career

In 1958, Asai graduated from Takushoku University, where he had trained in karate under Gichin Funakoshi, and Masatoshi Nakayama. He trained hard and was allowed to sleep in the karate dormitory. At Nakayama's recommendation, he entered the JKA instructor training program and graduated from the course three years later. Asai won the JKA championship in ''kumite'' (sparring) in 1961, and in ''kata'' (patterns) in 1963.International Japan Karate Association Ireland: IJKA Ireland mourns the sad loss of Tetsuhiko Asai Shihan (9th Dan)
(2007). Retrieved on March 28, 2010.Japan Karate Association (''c.'' 2005)
Past JKA All Japan Karate Championship Tournaments
Retrieved on March 28, 2010. He was overall JKA champion in 1961, having come first in ''kumite'' and second in ''kata'' that year. Asai became the first instructor to introduce karate to Taiwan. Through the second half of the 1960s, he taught karate in Hawaii for five years, with his students including Kenneth Funakoshi (a fourth cousin to Gichin Funakoshi).Funakoshi, K. (2010)
About FSKA
Retrieved on March 28, 2010.

Over the years, Asai advanced within the JKA, and was appointed as Technical Director. Following Nakayama's death, the JKA experienced political troubles and divided; Asai and colleagues (including Keigo Abe) formed one group, while Nakahara Nobuyuki and colleagues formed another group—which in 1999 was officially recognized as the JKA.Smith, J. G. (''c.'' 2004)
Karatenomichi World Federation
Retrieved on March 28, 2010. In 2000, he founded the International Japan Martial Arts Karate Asai-ryu and the Japan Karate Shoto-Renmei. Apart from the ranking of 9th ''dan'' in Shotokan karate, he also held the ranks of 3rd ''dan'' in jodo, 2nd ''dan'' in judo, 2nd ''dan'' in jukendo, and 2nd ''dan'' in kendo.

Later life

Reflecting on relations between JKA instructors who had graduated from Takushoku University, Asai said, "we all pretty much get on nowadays, contrary to our official stances and federations. In saying that, some of us don't, but isn't that life? ... I am happy to say that most of the deep rooted rivalry has gone amongst my peers. I think that the passing of Mr. Enoeda, Mr. Kase, Mr. Tabata and Mr. Shoji and so forth has brought many of us back to reality. Obviously this is not limited to Takushoku University, it is all about us international karate pioneers getting very old."Bertel, A. (2006)
Master Tetsuhiko Asai: "Bujutsu Karate is my life" – Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei's final interview
Retrieved on March 27, 2010.

Asai's health deteriorated with age, and he underwent liver surgery on February 10, 2006.Asai, K. (2006)

(September 1, 2006). Retrieved on March 27, 2010. He died at 2:50 PM on August 15, 2006, leaving behind his wife, Keiko Asai, and their daughter, Hoshimi Asai.Cheetham, J. (2007)
Editorial
''Shotokan Karate Magazine'', Issue 90 (January 2007). Retrieved on March 28, 2010.Karate Shoto League: Gifu District newsletter – Mr. Tetsuhiko Asai, Chief Instructor, succumbs to illness
(October 2006). Retrieved on March 28, 2010. More than 2,000 people attended his funeral, which was held on September 1, 2006, at Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo. Asai received the rank of 10th ''dan'' posthumously from the JKS, and was succeeded as President of the IJKA by his widow.Asai, K. (2009)
Letter to friends of Shihan Asai
Retrieved on March 28, 2010.

See also

* List of Shotokan organizations

References

External links

Japan Karate Shoto Federation

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asai, Tetsuhiko
1935 births
2006 deaths
Japanese male karateka
Karate coaches
Martial arts school founders
Sportspeople from Ehime Prefecture
Shotokan practitioners
20th-century philanthropists