Akihito Yagi is a karate master of the Meibukan Goju-ryu tradition and the current chairman of the International Meibukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Association. Born into one of Okinawa’s most respected karate lineages, he continues this legacy through international teaching, seminars, and demonstrations worldwide. Beyond the dojo, he has appeared in martial arts films, including the lead role in Black Belt (2007). His practice emphasizes karate as an embodied philosophy rooted in discipline, restraint, and the principle: “Karate ni sente nashi” [there is no first attack in karate]. Through his work, he connects the spiritual foundations of Okinawan karate with international audiences.

As of July 2026