Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center operates as an official licensed branch school of the World Seido Karate Organization. World Seido is a large international martial arts organization run by Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura (9th dan) from the headquarters (Honbu) in New York City. The Vice-Chairman of the organization is his son, Nidaime Akira Nakamura.
Seido History
Seido karate is a relatively new system, created in 1976. Prior to that time, Kaicho had been affiliated with the Kyokushinkai karate organization headed by the legendary martial arts master, Masatatsu Oyama. Kaicho first became a student of Oyama as a teenager, and through years of dedicated training and teaching, rose to the rank of 7th dan and served as chief instructor at the Kyokushinkai Honbu in Tokyo.
In 1966, Kaicho was sent to New York in order to open his own dojo and to oversee the development of Kyokushinkai Karate throughout North America. After ten years of serving as the North American chairman of Mas Oyama’s organization, Kaicho made the difficult decision to leave his teacher and start his own karate system, Seido Karate.
For a full discussion of Seido’s early history, please consult Kaicho’s autobiography, The Human Face of Karate. This fascinating account explains many of the complex issues within the worldwide Kyokushinkai organization that created a wedge between Kaicho and Mas Oyama. It also makes clear how Kaicho came to formulate his own unique concept of karate-do based on a blend of Zen philosophy and the ethical principles of samurai culture in Japan.
The Seido Insignia
The plum blossom is Kaicho Nakamura’s family emblem. The three circles signify love, respect and obedience. The characters on the chest patch translate as “Seido Juku.” “Sei” means truth, honesty and sincerity; “do” means way; and “juku” means a small place where one goes to study, learn and grow.
