Yoshizo Machida

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One of the most respected Karate Masters in Brazil, Yoshizo Machida, has helped develop Shotokan Karate in the country. He has passed on his love of Karate to his sons.

Yoshizo Machida was born in Ibaraki, Japan, on 29 January 1946. Growing up, he loved fighting. He started practising Goju-Ryu Karate to improve his fighting skills. At the age of 15, he began training under Soichi Yamamoto.

In 1964, Machida enrolled at Nihon University to study Civil Engineering. He joined the University’s Karate club. He transitioned from Goju-Ryu to Shotokan Karate. He trained under Masahiko Tanaka. He later trained under Tetsuhiko Asai, Hidetaka Nishiyama, and the JKA’s Chief Instructor, Masatoshi Nakayama.

Machida realised that he wanted to pursue a career in Karate. However, his father was against this, so he focused on his studies.

In 1966, Machida entered the 1st Okinawa Championship. He became the Kumite Champion. The following year, he entered the All Japan University Championships. He became the Kata Champion. In the kumite event, he finished in third place.

After graduating from the University, Machida received a one-year contract with a Japanese road construction company as a civil engineer.

In April 1968, Machida travelled from Japan to Brazil by ship. It was a 40-day journey. He spent much of the time practising his Karate. He arrived in Belém, Brazil, speaking only Japanese and knowing no Portuguese.

It was around this time that Machida met his future wife, Ana Claudia. After his contract ended, he decided to make Brazil his permanent home. He decided to pursue his dream of teaching Karate.

In 1969, Machida moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he trained at the dojo of Yasutaka Tanaka, a Shotokan practitioner. From there, he moved to Bahai at the invitation of Denilson Caribé De Castro. In Baha’i, Machida began teaching and establishing Shotokan Karate.

In 1970, Machida won both the kata and kumite titles at the Olympic Championship held in Brasilia.

Throughout the 1970s, Machida worked hard to establish Shotokan in Bahia. By 1971, he established the Bahian Karate Team. As a coach, he took the team to the 2nd Brazilian Karate Championships in 1971. For the next couple of years, the team performed well at the Brazilian Karate Championships.

Machida was becoming recognised as a top instructor. In 1973, he was appointed the National Coach of Brazil for the Pan-American Championships held in Rio de Janeiro.

By 1975, Machida had married Ana Claudia. In 1975, his first son, Take, was born. His second son, Chinzo, was born on 9 March 1977. Third son, Lyoto, was born on 30 May 1978. Five years later, his fourth son, Kenzo, was born in 1983.

In 1980, Machida moved from the state of Bahia to Belem. By the time he left, he had over 1000 students. He looked to repeat the success he had in Bahia.

Machida was always looking to improve his Karate and keep it more realistic. This led him to establish Machida Karate. His style of Karate incorporates all the techniques found in Shotokan, i.e. punches, knees, kicks, elbows, takedowns, and submissions.

In 1981, Machida’s sons Chinzo and Lyoto joined their older brother, Take, in learning Karate. He instilled in his sons a love of Karate and martial arts, something they still have to this day. He would inspire them with tales of the samurai.

Machida was a strict teacher, teaching in the traditional Japanese way, as he had been taught. His sons have said it made them tough and helped them develop a strong fighting spirit.

In 1987, Machida left the Brazilian Karate Confederation. The following year, he established the Brazilian Confederation of Traditional Karate. By the 1990s, he had developed Shotokan and Belem into major forces.

Machida’s son, Lyoto, developed an interest in Mixed Martial Arts in 1993. Initially, Machida did not like the idea of his son practising MMA. However, in time, he was won over.

On 1 May 1997, Machida established JKA Brazil. He helped put Shotokan Karate on the Brazilian martial arts map. He did this mainly by conducting seminars and training courses, and by running classes at his dojo.

2018 marked Machida’s 50th Anniversary of moving to Brazil. He had built a life and family for himself in his adopted country.

In 2019, Machida was promoted by the JKA. On 16 February, JKA Brazil announced that the JKA Instructor Committee had recommended his promotion to 8th Dan. This was mainly due to his work in developing Shotokan Karate in Brazil.

On 11 April 2019, Machida officially received his 8th Dan grade from Masaaki Ueki at a ceremony held in Tokyo, Japan.

Yoshizo Machida has been a major factor in the development of Shotokan Karate in Brazil. He has transferred his love of Karate to his four sons. His three older sons, Take, Chinzo, and Lyoto, are all black belts and have followed him into the family business of teaching Karate. His youngest son, Kenzo, has also trained but works as a journalist.

Machida’s sons, Chinzo and Lyoto, have had successful MMA careers. He has helped train them for some of their bouts and has also worked as a cornerman for them.

Their performances have helped to put Traditional Karate in the public eye as an effective martial art.

On 29 January 2026, Yoshizo Machida celebrated his 80th birthday with family and friends.

Being an octogenarian has not slowed Machida down. A member of the JKA Shihankai, Machida continues to conduct seminars and training courses.