Masayuki Hisataka

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Masayuki Hisataka (b. November 18, 1940) is head of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate.

A descendant of Seiwa, the 56th Emperor of Japan, and son of the founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate, Kori Hisataka. He started his training in judo and karate at the age of three and obtained a student shodan in both disciplines by the time he was 13. At 17, he entered an open championship and won it by successively defeating eight of Japan's top competitors.

In 1961 he met kempo practitioners who were challenging and defeating all other styles of karate in full contact matches with gloves. He won all his fights by knockouts and effectively saved the reputation of karate. He credited his victories to the fact that Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate stresses full contact techniques using special protections, while the no-contact rules blunt the efficacy of the techniques.

Hisitaka's successes were impressive, never losing a fight in competition. He won the All-Japan Open Karatedo Championship in 1961 and 1962 and the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Championship ffrom 1958 to 1962. He graduated from Nihon University, holding a 4th dan in judo and a 5th dan in karate.

Hisataka represented Japan at subsequent World's Fairs in New York (1964) and Montreal (1967). During this time, he undertook to teach karate at Columbia University, State University of New York, McGill University, Loyola College, The National Theatre School of Canada and at the Canadian Headquarters of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Seidokwan Academy.