Akira Masuda

Akira Masuda

Akira Masuda presiding at Ko Ryu Jiai (Tournament), Japan, 3 November 2003
Born May 22, 1962
Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan
Residence Japan
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 85.5 kg (188 lb; 13.46 st)
Style Kyokushin Karate
Teacher(s) Masutatsu Oyama

Akira Masuda[1] (増田 章 Masuda Akira) (born May 22, 1962) is a Japanese Kyokushin kaikan karateka. In March 1991 he completed the 100 man kumite supervised by Mas Oyama.[2]

He was born in 1962 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. In junior high school he was captain of the school judo club.[3] When he was 16 years old he joined Kyokushin Kaikan Ishikawa Dojo. At 19 years old he made his debut in his first All Japan Tournament.

He remained a top athlete in Kyokushin All Japan Tournaments, going on to beat Michel Wedel, Gerard Gordeau and Michael Thompson.[4] He fought and lost to Andy Hug[5] however Hug was unable to walk after the fight.[6]

In 1990 he won a gold medal in the 22nd All Japan Kyokushin Tournament.[7] and in 1991 he placed second in the 5th World Karate Tournament.[8]

He is the shihan of Kyokushin Kaikan Masuda Dojo.[9] In 2007 Masuda published the book "Freestyle Karate"[10] and in 2009 he published "Masuda Akira - Go, Budojin toshite Ikiru".[11]

References