Terutomo Yamazaki

Terutomo Yamazaki
山崎 照朝
Born (1947-07-31) July 31, 1947
Yamato, Yamanashi, Japan
Other namesThe Dragon of Kyokushin
The Genius Karate Fighter
Nationality Japan
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb; 9.8 st)
DivisionLightweight
Welterweight
StyleKyokushin Karate, Muay Thai, Kickboxing
StanceOrthodox
TeamKyokushin Gym
Rank  7th dan black belt in Gyakushin-Kai
Years active1969–1970
Kickboxing record
Total10
Wins8
By knockout8
Losses2
By knockout0
Draws0
No contests0
Other information
OccupationGrandmaster of Gyakushin-Kai
Notable studentsShokei Matsui, Katsuaki Satō, Miyuki Miura, Seiji Isobe, Howard Collins, Toshikazu Satō, Takashi Azuma, Makoto Nakamura
Websitehttps://archive.today/20040615005232/http://www15.ocn.ne.jp/~j-karate/ GYAKUSHIN-KAI (in Japanese)
Last updated on: March 20, 2010

Terutomo Yamazaki (山崎 照朝, Yamazaki Terutomo; born July 31, 1947) is a Japanese karateka from the Kyokushin Kaikan (極真会館) and professional lightweight kickboxer. He is the founder of Gyakushin-Kai (逆真会館) and a Director of Karate in Japan. He presides over the International Budo Karate Organization Gyakushin-Kai from the headquarters of the organization (honbu) in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Japan. His title as head of the Gyakushin-Kai organization is “Kancho” (Grandmaster - 7th Dan).

Yamazaki is a first champion of the All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships in 1969, and has promoted Kyokushin famous through his accomplishments. 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 held.

Yamazaki is highly skilled at and an authority on fighting and breaking. When he fought someone, it was usual that he knocked them out without receiving any injuries himself. He is nicknamed “The Genius Karate Fighter” or “The Dragon of Kyokushin", and when he was an active fighter, he was the most popular figure of the time. He has shown off his mixed karate and Muai Thai style of fighting at both full contact karate open championships and kickboxing, and has been noted internationally as a prominent fighter in karate's history, appearing in Black Belt Magazine in the United States.