Yahara Mikio

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Mikio Yahara (born April 4, 1947) is a legendary and controversial^[1] Japanese Shotokan karate expert and Chief Instructor of the Karatenomichi World Federation. In the arena, he is most famous for his performance of the Unsu ("cloud hand") kata; off the mat, for his beating up of 34 chimpira (low-level yakuza) in an altercation where he turned the tables on his assailants.

After graduating from Kokushikan University, he became Kenshusei, or junior instructor, in the Japan Karate Association.

As an instructor at the Japan Karate Association, Yahara was a lethal fighter who had an illustrious competition career that lasted through the decade 1974-84. He is also for many in the karate world most famous for his performance of Unsu. The Karatenomichi World Federation is a traditional Shotokan karate association that is dedicated to developing technical excellence. Ultimately, the purpose of karate is to be able to stop, cripple or kill an attacker using the hands and feet. Mikio Yahara has devoted his budo life to the pursuit of being able to, if necessary, destroy an opponent with one killing blow. At age 59, he submitted himself for examination for 8th dan and fractured three of his opponent's ribs with a single strike.

He won many major tournaments throughout the world, establishing his name. Known for his leopard-like carriage, aesthetic jumping techniques and adaptations, his unique karate style fascinated karateka all over the world.

He met Yohji Yamamoto, an admirer of his "killing blow" karate, and in April 2000 he established the Karatenomichi World Federation to develop further his idea of karate. The concept behind the Karatenomichi World Federation is that the essence of karate is technical, and that exactly this is where karate starts.