Richard Kim

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Dr. Sensei Richard Kim was born on November 17, 1917, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He started studying martial arts at the age of five when he began Judo in the early 1920's under Kaneko Sensei. At about the same time he began to study Karate. He studied under Arakaki Sensei (a disciple of Yabu Kentsu) and Tachibana Sensei. Before World War II he traveled to both China and Japan. In China he spent many years studying the the local martial arts under Chen Chen Yuan and Shorinjiryu (Shorin-ryu) under Choa Hsu Lai. At the Nobori Butai he continued his study under a number of sensei. As a young man he gained entrance into the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai in Japan. It was then that he was taught the Budoju Happan; the eighteen arts. While in Japan Richard Kim studied Daito-Ryu under Yoshida Kotaro and actually lived with this master for seven years. He became proficient in Japanese weaponry including the sword, spear, tanto and bo as well as in Okinawan weaponry arts (Kobudo) including the bo, jo, sai, tonfa, tekko, and kama.

Kim trained with most of the prominent martial artists of his time and enjoyed personal relationships with greats such as Mas Oyama, Kenichi Sawai ( Meijin ), Gogen Yamaguchi, and Masahiko Kimura. Master Kim's greatist influence was the Meijin Yoshido Kotaro, from whom he received the Menkyo Kaiden, a transmission of technical knowledge and spiritual energy. Master Kim was a Shingon Shugendo priest, an ancient spiritual system uniquely Japanese.

In 1959 Sensei Kim arrived in San Francisco and began to teach there on a permanent basis. Throughout the years that followed he taught in San Francisco and Sacramento. He traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Europe teaching the martial arts. As well as teaching the physical aspects of the martial arts O'Sensei taught the philosophy, history, strategy and spiritual aspects of the arts. To those who met him he was an excellent lecturer and a story teller second to none. Sadly Richard Kim died at the age of 84 on November 8, 2001.

Richard Kim wrote a monthly column for "Karate Illustrated" magazine and wrote a number of books including: "The Weaponless Warriors." "The Classical Man." and a Kobudo series. He was named Karate Sensei of the Year and later inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. He was the Director of the American Amateur Karate Federation and Vice President for the International Traditional Karate Federation. As a testament to Sensei Kim’s achievements, at his memorial service Master Hidetaka Nishiyama of the International Traditional Karate Federation presented O'Sensei Kim with the rank of Judan (tenth degree black belt).

Kim influenced thousands of martial artists during his career. His many students worldwide continue his legacy and teach in the name of the Dai nippon butokukai association. Instrumental in the promotion of traditional karate and it's benefits.