Mid-America ISKF

In 1957, Mr. Golden was on active duty in the Air Force, stationed in Japan. Being a “skinny” guy who was always getting pushed around, he decided to look for a school that offered Judo classes. During his search he observed a martial artist working out. Mr. Golden asked him what he was doing and the man replied, Karate. Soon thereafter, Mr. Golden began training with Mr. Noboru Kobayashi.

Mr. Golden extended his military enlistment for an additional year so he could continue to train in Japan and test for his Shodan, which he received in 1961.

During this time, he was an active competitor in Japan. In one of these tournaments, Mr. Golden fought against the captain of the Italian karate team and won and was awarded a trophy for “Best Fighting Spirit”.  In Mr. Golden’s honor, the Mid-America Karate Region has sponsored a “Best Fighting Spirit” award which has been presented to a worthy participant at each of the ISKF National Karate Tournaments beginning in 2013.

After achieving his Shodan, Mr. Golden returned to the United States. While in California, Mr. Golden began training with Mr. Hidetaka Nishiyama, who had just come to America.

Mr. Golden also had the fortune to train under Mr. Yutaka Yaguchi, who was assigned to assist Mr. Nishiyama. In the mid 60’s, Mr. Nishiyama sent Mr. Golden to Arizona to teach karate. Then, in an attempt to further develop karate in America, the Japan Karate Association sent more qualified instructors from Japan to the United States. Mr. Golden returned to California after Mr. Shojiro Koyama arrived in Arizona.

In 1968 the Japan Karate Associations held its first Instructor Trainee program in the United States. Mr. Golden attended this program full-time, and graduated in 1969. This was the first instructor class to graduate outside of Japan.

He was then sent to Athens, Ohio (Ohio University) to begin teaching karate.
While in Athens, Mr. Golden began making the trip to Philadelphia to train with Mr. Okazaki, another JKA instructor. In 1977 Mr. Okazaki formed the International Shotokan Karate Federation (I.S.K.F.) and Mr. Golden was appointed the Chief Instructor of the Mid-America Karate Region.

In 1984 Mr. Golden was invited to visit Anchorage, Alaska where he became a technical adviser and was instrumental in having them join the I.S.K.F.   Mr. Golden would often comment on how he truly enjoyed his visits to Alaska. 

Mr. Golden credits his karate achievements to all of his JKA/ISKF instructors.

​Sadly, Mr. Golden passed away on February 18, 2019.  He was a true pioneer for the art of Shotokan Karate… our own Johnny Appleseed!

[From an interview with Sensei Golden by Jeff Weber]

The Sensei Greer Golden Memorial Fund

A Memorial Fund has been set up by Mid-America ISKF in honor of Sensei Golden AND to carry on his legacy.  

This fund is now used to purchase “The Best Fighting Spirit Award”.
The award is presented by the Mid-America Karate Region, to the competitor who best exemplifies this characteristic ​at each ISKF National Championship Tournament ​in Sensei Golden’s honor. (See below for more information about the fund and making donations.)

READ:

Greer Golden –
A Cornerstone of Shotokan Karate in America

By Howard Lebow

read:

Sensei Golden’s Instructor Trainee Papers

by Sensei Greer Golden

Digitized by Ladonna Lindley with direction from Sensei Tony Nakazawa.

Sensei Golden left extensive writings on the subject of karate, and particularly karate in America. These papers provide a valuable insight into his karate life. 
As his karate career developed, Sensei Golden took the greatest pride in creating and sustaining the Mid- America Region. The papers were collected and converted to a digital format under the direction of Sensei Tony Nakazawa from the Alaska region. We invite everyone to download and enjoy this digital version of Sensei Golden’s papers.