Shihan Oyama

Saiko Shihan Yasuhiko Oyama is the founder of the World Oyama Karate organization, which he heads with his brother Soshu Shigeru Oyama. He has taught karate in Birmingham since 1972, in his own dojo, and as a PE instructor at Samford University.

Beginning in 1958, Oyama studied karate under Mas Oyama, a Korean living in the Japan, and the founder of Kyokushin Kai, a karate school. He holds a 9th degree black belt (Ku Dan) and is a former All-Japan full-contact karate champion. The brothers brought their master's style to the United States in the early 1970s, with Soshu going to New York and Shihan to Birmingham. After the organization grew to dozens of centers across the country, the brothers were honored with a White House reception in 1981, and again in 1985, both hosted by President Ronald Reagan. The World Oyama Karate Organization became independent in 1985 and continued growing, with over 100 dojos in 19 countries by the 1990s.

Oyama also owned the New Tokyo restaurant which opened on Highland Avenue in 1977.

External links

• World Oyama Karate website