Shoji Nishimura is a chief karate instructor of USA Wado-ryu* Karate-do Renmei in California.  He has over 35 years experience in Karate and has 7^th degree black belt.  In 1977, he was the karate club captain of Rissho University in Tokyo, Japan.  While he was in the club, he participated in many kinds of karate tournaments and won many awards including several fighting-spirit prizes.  He got the following awards at the tournaments in the U.S. and Japan:

1982

4^th place in KATA (forms), Arizona Karate Championship

1983

3^rd place in KUMITE (sparring), Arizona Karate Championship

1984

2^nd place in KUMITE, Karate Championship, U.C. Irvine            

1985

1^st place in KUMITE, Arizona Karate Championship

1985

1^st place in KATA, Arizona Karate Championship

1990

8^th place in KATA, International Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

1990

16^th place in KUMITE, International Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

1992

2^nd place USA Team, International Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

1994

4^th place in KATA, International Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

1994

The meritorious award was given by his alma mater

1996

2^nd place in KATA, Utah Open Karate Championship

1999

3^rd place in KATA, National Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

1999

4^th place in KATA, World Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

1999

The meritorious award was given by International Federation of Wado-ryu Karate-do Organization

2002

2^nd place in KATA, National Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

2002       

3^rd place in KATA, World Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

2002       

Special lecture award from Ambassador of Japan

2003       

Special recognition from California senator

2004       

The Minister for Foreign Affairs award from the foreign minister of Japan

2004

Outstanding award, National Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

2005       

Best 4 in KATA, International Championship, Reading, England

2006       

Final 8 in KATA, National Karate Championship, Tokyo, Japan

PHILOSOPHY of KARATE-DO

The way of martial arts must not be mere fighting technique, but rather the way of peace and harmony, which is more difficult to attain than victory by violence.  The goal of practice and training is to bring about peace and harmony within oneself and others.  Strong will power, motivation, a healthy body, and deep understanding can achieve this.  Discipline of this kind is much needed in the modern world.  These are the philosophies of Japanese Karate-Do.