Terutomo Yamazaki, nicknamed “The Genius Karate Fighter” and “The Dragon of Kyokushin”, was the most popular fighter of his time.

Born in 1947, he began the study of Kyokushin Karate as a student in high school at the headquarters (Honbu) of the Kyokushin Kaikan at Ikebukuro, Tokyo, under the founder, Masutatsu Oyama. Yamazaki practiced alongside fellow students Shigeru Oyama, Yasuhiko Oyama, Tadashi Nakamura, and Hideyuki Ashihara.

Yamazaki was the first champion of the All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships, held in 1969. Because he fought and defeated Muay Thai boxers, he created a reputation for Kyokushin before the First All-Japan Open Full Contact Karate Championships was even held.

Yamazaki began to teach Muay Thai, to improve and add to his karate, concentrating on the front kick, roundhouse kick, elbow, and knee strikes. Yamazaki continued competing in Kickboxing for one year. He fought ten kickboxing matches in all, with a record of eight knocks out wins and two losses (on the decision). He then returned to full-contact karate.

Dojo and NGO:

Yamazaki established his own dojo, which was managed by volunteers because Yamazaki did not wish to earn money by professional karate. For this reason, the dojo was not called Kyokushin but instead Fuurinkazan from his hometown hero Shingen Takeda. He founded a non-profit organization called International Budo Karate Organization Gyakushin-Kai in 1995. He continues to manage this organization.

Achievements:

• 1973: Fifth All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 2^nd place
• 1972: Fourth All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 4^th Place
• 1970: Second All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 2^nd place
• 1969: First All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 1^st place