Isao Obata
| Isao Obata | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1904 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | 1976 (aged 71–72) Tokyo, Japan |
| Other names | "Elephant" |
| Style | Shotokan Karate, Kyudo, Judo, Kendo |
| Teacher(s) | Gichin Funakoshi |
| Rank | 5th dan karate |
| Spouse | Miyako Obata |
| Notable students | Tsutomu Ohshima, Kazumi Tabata, Shigeru Egami, Genshin Hironishi, Masatoshi Nakayama, Motokuni Sugiura, Osamu Ozawa, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Taiji Kase |
Isao Obata (小畑 功 Obata Isao?, 1904–1976) was a pioneering Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He was a senior student of Gichin Funakoshi, who is widely recognized as the founder of modern karate, and was a key figure in the establishment of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) under Funakoshi in 1949. Obata also helped introduce karate to the United States of America through his demonstrations of the art to United States Air Force personnel, and through his students, most notably Tsutomu Ohshima.
Obata was born in 1904 in the Tokyo area of Japan, the son of Kyuichi Obata and Toyoko Obata (née Ishiguro). His father owned several silk mills in the region, and moved the family to different towns as demanded by his work. Obata lost two brothers in infancy, and grew up with one younger brother and one younger sister. As a child, he had a great interest in the martial arts, and left it to his brother, Satoru, to prepare to lead the family business eventually.
At school, Obata trained in judo, kendo (swordsmanship), and kyudo (archery). Unlike most Japanese boys of the time, he went through several schools, and entered Keio Preparatory School in Tokyo around 1922. A friend gave him a copy of Gichin Funakoshi's first book on karate, and this sparked Obata's interest in the art. Upon completion of his secondary education, Obata gained entry to Keio University. In 1923, Funakoshi accepted a position teaching karate at the university, and Obata was one of the first students in line. He would go on to become one of Funakoshi's senior students. The Great Kantō earthquake struck later that year, destroying most of Tokyo, including Keio University's karate dojo (training hall). The students rebuilt the dojo within a year, however, and training resumed.
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