Sempai Ron Murayama was 18 years old when he began his karate training under Oshima Sensei’s Shotokan Karate of America. He suspended training while he was in dental school and starting his dental practice, and then continued his Shotokan training with Badsey Sensei from the South African branch of the JKA headed by Stan Schmidt, and finally under Nishiyama’s Sensei’s Japan Karate Association of America. He began training with Nishimura Sensei in 1995 because he realized Wado Ryu was similar to Shotokan, but with much greater efficiency and balance. In Nishimura Sensei’s dojo, Murayama has had the opportunity to train with Grand Master Ohtsuka II, Kazutaka Ohtsuka, Shiomitsu Sensei, Setamatsu Sensei and Osaka Sensei. The opportunity to study directly under Nishimura Sensei has afforded Murayama the ability to compete in both kata and kumite in Texas, Utah, Nevada and all over California which includes taking 2nd place in kata at the U.S. Nationals. His 2 sons, John and James, are also Wado Ryu black belts, 2006 & 2007 Jr. Olympics medalists (bronze and gold respectively) and competitors at the Japan Nationals in 2005. Sempai Ron’s daughter, Noelani, is currently a brown belt. Sempai Ron believes that karate is all about focus and balance, as well as a way of life that helps you understand that the highest challenge is not to master one’s opponent but rather to master one’s self.
Emma began studying Wado-Ryu Karate in the UK, where she studied under World Champion Karateka Sensei John Wicks at the Suhari dojo for 6 years. She competed at regional and national tournaments in the UK, placing consistently in the top three in both kata and Kumite.
Since arriving in the USA in 1990 , Emma has been privaleged to study and train under Sensei Shoji Nishimura. She has also competed and placed intournaments locally and in Arizona and Utah. Emma can be seen supporting local tournaments as judge for Kata and Kumite.
Emma has also studied with Hinori Ohtsuka II, Masafumi Shiomitsu, Tatsuo Suziki, Hiramasu Setamatsu and Fumio Sugasawa.
Her personal philosophy is that karate is mediative. In order to train properly you need to be focused inwardly in order to be strong outwardly.
Max Nishimura (2nd Dan)
Max
Nishimura began training in karate at the age of four, and after
diligently training for eight years, he finally attained his black belt
when he was twelve years old.
He has competed in countless tournaments ranging from local to
national levels, consistently placing in the top three of his
division. Max continued his
training almost religiously until he started going to high school, where
he then joined the school’s wrestling team. As a member of the Laguna Hills
varsity wrestling team, he placed 4th in CIF Southern Section’s
Individual Championship (a tournament representing 581 schools in
California) and contributed greatly to his school’s extraordinary history
of 22 consecutive League Championships and 5 consecutive CIF Division
Championships.
After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2011, he is now back in Orange County and teaches karate at the main dojo in Laguna Niguel in his spare time. He attributes much of his success, both athletically and academically, to karate. “Karate is much more than kicks and punches,” he says. “After years and years of training, you develop a particular mindset. This is commonly referred to as discipline, but perhaps a better word is control; it is through control that you become aware of your limitations and learn how to overcome them.” An example he gives is when you break boards. “I would be lying if I said that I do not feel any pain when my fist or foot makes contact with the board. But you learn to control it. You are able to control your mind and not let the pain overwhelm you.” He concludes, “And this applies to all areas of one’s life. It is up to each individual to realize this.”