Hidy Ochiai – The Master
Master Ochiai, as Hidy Ochiai is aptly called is not just a master in martial arts recognized for record holding performances but an author, an actor and a well known citizen of present day America. His journey has been successful on many fronts albeit the hardships faced by a typical immigrant in the land of opportunity.
Hidy Ochiai moved to the United States in 1962 from Japan to teach and spread a love for traditional martial arts to the western world. He received a B.A. from the Albright College and began the Washin-Ryu method of martial art training from Binghamton in New York as far back as 1966. Today there are 25 schools under the masters name that specifically teach Washin-Ryu Karate-do simply translated into ‘wa’ for harmony and ‘shin’ for truth across the country.
Master Ochiai was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1939, and started training in kendo, kobudo and karate among other oriental martial art forms in Hiroshima under the watchful eye of his father. Later he said to have apprenticed under an ancient temple teacher at one of the revered Zen temple martial art schools in Japan. It is said that Hidy Ochiai mastered his unique Washin-Ryu style of martial combat at this point of his life. His father as well as his teacher played significant roles in his immigration to America where he received a sound education and a degree.
Hidy Ochiai is known for his world record breaking performances held as tours in parts of the country as well as in England and other parts of Europe. He has repeatedly won the United States, Grand National Karate Championship and is the only person to win this title five times in a row. Master Ochiai has been rated the best Kata form player by the Professional Karate Association and has also been listed in the Black belt Magazines Hall of Fame as “Instructor of the Year” and “Man of the Year” in 1979 and 1980 respectively. Similarly the record number of votes received by him had him inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Martial Arts History Museum, Los Angeles in 2004.
Hidy Ochiai founded a non-profit establishment, the Educational Karate Program in 1984 which has gone on to become a suitable fitness and strength development program for public schools in New York City. This program was authenticated by the NYS Education Department and is today used in more than a hundred schools under the expertise of 1400 or more certified teachers. The basic aim of this program has been to teach children the art of self defense.
The Master’s humanitarian efforts and programs have been recognized by eminent politicians and heads of state in both the United States as well as Japan. Hidy Ochiai is also a Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellow and recipient of the SERTOMA 2001 “Service to Mankind” and the Albright College 1999 “Distinguished Alumnus Award” for his outstanding contribution to the community in general.
As recently as 2001 Hidy Ochiai added another feather to his cap by establishing the Hidy Ochiai Foundation to further his principles of martial art training. The foundation works on core values of respect for self and others, confidence, discipline and harmony to build up a healthy relationship between the body and mind of each individual. Within the foundation Master Ochiai teaches the art of unifying the mind and soul of the human body through rigorous mental and physical training and meditation.
From his early days Hidy Ochiai has shown a large interest in books and cinema and has had the honor of sharing screen space with martial legends like Bruce Lee and other American martial artists. Master Ochiai is a well renowned author of five books one of them a definitive annotated translation of the ancient Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings. Most of his other works give in-depth analysis of martial art techniques for both adults and children.
