Mikio Yahara

Mikio Yahara is a Japanese Shotokan karate expert born in Ehime Prefecture in 1947 who holds the rank of 10th dan. After starting in judo and studying at Kokushikan University he became a kenshusei, or junior instructor, with the Japan Karate Association, and from 1974 to 1984 he competed with substantial success in both kumite and kata. His record includes the JKA All-Japan Championships grand champion title in 1984, a team kumite title there in 1974, and team kumite and kata victories at JKA and IAKF World Championships in 1975, 1977, 1980 and 1983. In 2000 he founded the Karatenomichi World Federation, which he leads as grandmaster, and he also heads the International Security Service.