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In April 2007, Yahara and Japanese industrial loan magnate Kenshin Oshima, who is also a personal pupil of Yahara officially opened the ShotoKan, ¥1 billion private members' dojo donated to the KWF by Oshima. The KWF claims that no other senior karate instructor has ever submitted himself to real kumite, in front of juniors and in front of the camera, for his 8th dan. Yahara fractured three of his opponent's ribs during his 8th dan promotion kumite in July 2006. In 2000, Yahara formed the Karatenomichi World Federation with Isaka and which is represented in over 40 countries. When Tetsuhiko Asai, Keigo Abe, Yahara, Akihito Isaka and other leading JKA Karateka formed the Matsuno Section of the JKA, Yahara became Assistant Chief Instructor. As a Kata World Cup Champion, he is probably most famous for his performance of the Unsu and Empi kata. In over a decade of competition, Yahara distinguished himself as a fighter, monopolizing the high ranks of domestic and international championships. Yahara graduated from Kokushikan University and became a JKA instructor during that organization's zenith in the 1970s and 1980s. Mikio Yahara (1947–), 10th dan, is Chief Instructor of the Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF). His former students include Hiroshi Shirai, Takeshi Oishi, James Yabe and Avi Rokah. Nishiyama obtained the 10th dan in 2003 from the International San Ten Karate Association. In 1985, the IAKF changed its name to the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF). Following disagreements over organization during the 1st (1970) and 2nd (1973) World Karate Championships, the International Amateur Karate Federation (IAKF) was formed in 1974, with Nishiyama as executive director.
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In 1968, Nishiyama organized the first World Invitational Karate Tournament held in Los Angeles. Nishiyama came to the United States in 1961, on the invitation of SAC students and JKA members residing in the country, and four months later founded the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF), as a branch of the JKA. In 1952, he was selected as a member of the martial arts combat instruction staff for the US Strategic Air Command (SAC) Combat Training Program, which also included as instructors Funakoshi, Nakayama, and Isao Obata. In 1951, Nishiyama became a founding member of the JKA, and was elected to the JKA Board of Directors. He was a co-founder of the All Japan Collegiate Karate Federation and was elected as its first chairman. Two years later, while enrolled at Takushoku University, he became a member of the university's karate team, and in 1949 its captain. Hidetaka Nishiyama (1928–2008) began his karate training in 1943 under Gichin Funakoshi. The founders of these organizations are some of the most senior Shotokan instructors in the world. The following sections describe some of the Shotokan organizations that descended from the JKA. Following legal battles, the Nakahara group retained control of the JKA. Nobuyuki Nakahara, Ueki Masaaki, Tanaka Masahiko, Yoshiharu Osaka and others led one faction (Nakahara Faction), while Matsuno Raizo, Asai Tetsuhiko, Abe Keigo and Yahara Mikio led the other (Matsuno Faction). Differences between senior instructors and administrators gave rise to several breakaway groups, with the JKA itself eventually dividing into two factions. The JKA grew to be one of the biggest karate organizations in the world. Masatoshi Nakayama (1913–1987) led the JKA, with Gichin Funakoshi holding a position equivalent to Professor Emeritus. Takushoku University provided the most members initially, but Hosei, Waseda, Gakushuin, and Keio Universities also contributed members.
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JKA raised the highest rank from 5th Dan to 10th Dan with less strict requirements to obtain each rank. The highest rank that Master Funakoshi awarded to his students was 5th Dan (5th degree black belt). The Japan Karate Association (JKA "Nihon Karate Kyokai" in Japan) was formed in 1949 by several of Gichin Funakoshi's senior students.