Karate means literally "empty hand" in Japanese. Unarmed combat where your body is the weapon, was developed in the orient several hundred years ago. Seido Karate, a traditional style, can help you to be fitter, better disciplined and able to defend yourself against great odds. Our school here in Richmond, provides a structured course with qualified and experienced instructors. Classes are available for students of all ages and experience from the complete beginner to the Black Belt.

Being a member of the World Seido Karate Organisation means you'll belong to a legitimate, world-wide structured organisationthat has strict standards, syllabus and a Japanese Grandmaster, Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura over-seeing all branches around the world

Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura is the founder and chairman of the World Seido Karate Organization. A world-renowned karateka, Nakamura is a ninth dan(degree) black belt with over fifty years of experience in practicing and teaching in the martial arts. An expert in use of oriental weapons, Nakamura has given numerous martial arts lectures and demonstrations in many countries around the world. Kaicho Nakamura began his karate training in 1953 at age eleven.

His first experiences were in the Goju style under the instruction of Kei Miyagi Sensei, the son of the founder of the style. In 1956, Nakamura began studying with Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, and in 1959, he earned his shodan rank. At the time, he was the youngest Kyokushin student in Japan to receive a black belt. In 1961, at age nineteen, Nakamura debuted on the tournament scene with a first place triumph in the All-Japan Student Open Karate Championship. The following year, Nakamura became a Japanese national hero by knocking out a Thai kickboxing champion in a match to determine which nation had the superior martial art. Nakamura would win many more tournaments throughout his competition career. Around this time, Nakamura also began teaching karate to others.

He served as the chief instructor at Camp Zama, a U.S. military base near Tokyo, from 1961 to 1965 and coached the Toho Medical University karate team for 3 years. While earning his seventh dan in Kyokushin Karate, Nakamura also served as the chief instructor at the Kyokushin Karate Honbu in Tokyo. . In 1966, Nakamura was personally selected by Masutatsu Oyama to help bring the true spirit of karate to America. That year, Nakamura moved to New York City and began teaching Kyokushin Karate at a small dojo in Brooklyn. In 1971, Nakamura established the North American Kyokushin Karate headquarters. He served as the American head of Kyokushin Karate for a decade and trained and developed many skilled students in that period. In 1976, Nakamura respectfully withdrew from Kyokushin Karate. The same year, he established the World Seido Karate Organization, which reflected his own beliefs about the true meaning of karate.

Nakamura created Seido--which means "sincere way" in Japanese--to develop complete individuals, ones committed to improving themselves and their communities. With the principles of love, respect, and obedience as the foundation of Seido Karate, Nakamura ensured that his students would develop spiritually and morally, as well as physically. Today, Seido Karate is an international organization with thriving branches in fourteen countries and has more than 20,000 students worldwide. Seido's New York Honbu is one of the largest martial arts schools in the world and has approximately fifty black belts training on an average day.

More importantly, Seido represents the personal ideal of Kaicho Nakamura that karate can help individuals to better understand themselves and others. Seido Karate programs around the world continue Nakamura's vision and help to develop individuals who make significant contributions to their communities and to society at large. While performing many duties as the chairman of the World Seido Karate Organization and the Seido Juku Benefit Foundation, Kaicho Nakamura is first and foremost an instructor of karate. He teaches classes at the Seido Honbu every day and also frequently conducts seminars and gives lectures. He remains committed to assisting others to reach their full human potential, as both karateka and individuals. For more details go to www.seido.com

Seido Karate Melbourne Principal Instructor Matt Layton, 4th Dan.

Matt Layton started his karate training in 1987, in Melbourne studying under Master Tino Ceberano, as part of the Goju-Kai organization. Matt trained regularly at the North Balwyn Dojo and was lucky enough to receive instruction directly from Master Tino Ceberano several times a week, who, at this time still taught in the dojo on a daily basis. Matt's training in Goju-Kai Karate lasted two and a half years, and ended shortly after achieving the level of advanced green belt (3rd Kyu).

After finishing Goju-Kai Karate, Matt dedicated his time to career and travel, one of his destinations being New Zealand. It was here that he first started Seido Karate under his uncle Shuseki Shihan Andy Barber 7th Dan. As there was no Seido Karate in Melbourne at this time, Matt received instruction as a white belt whenever he traveled to New Zealand, which was usually 2-3 times a year. Today, he travels to New Zealand at least once a year to receive instruction from Shuseki Shihan Andy at the Nelson Dojo.
In 1995 Matt began training with Sensei Darrel Dodds, who had originally established the first Seido Melbourne branch in 1991. After attending classes up to six nights a week, in late1998 Matt was graded to Shodan (first Dan Black Belt), the grading being held in Geelong and conducted by Shihan Mervyn Nelis, who was at that time Seido Karate Australia's Chief Instructor.

In 1999 Matt took over the responsibility of running the Seido Melbourne Dojo, first at Melbourne University, then at full-time premises in Albert St. Richmond.

In 2001, Matt was graded to Nidan (2nd Dan Black belt) by Seido Karate's Grandmaster Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura, at the Seido Karate Headquarters in New York, and in 2004 he was graded to Sandan (3rd Dan Black belt) by Jun Shihan Ino Maquirang, Seido Karate Australia Chief Instructor. In March 2007 he was graded to Yondan (4th Dan Black Belt) by Jun Shihan Ino Maquirang, and received the official title of ‘Sensei’.
Matt's Karate experience includes training and competing in the U.S., New Zealand and Japan, with some the world's best karate exponents the world has seen. Matt is dedicated to passing on to his students his vast knowledge of karate and all the benefits it has to offer. He travels regularly to New York to train under Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura and Kyoshi Akira Nakamura.

In 2004 Seido Melbourne moved to a large modern premises in Swan St. Richmond with professional and spacious facilities. Today it is home to a vibrant and dedicated student population, always seeking to improve themselves whenever they can.