Hidetaka Nishiyama is an important figure in the history of karate in the U.S. He was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, the legendary founder of Shotokan Karate, and was instrumental in bringing Karate to America and other Western countries. He helped establish the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in the U.S. and trained the organization's first American instructors. He was the founder of the All American Karate Federation (AAKF) and International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF). Among his notable students were All-Japan Karate champions Hiroshi Shirai and Takeshi Oishi. He received many honors including a posthumous award to the rank of 10th Dan.

Richard C. Brown is a senior American member of the Japan Karate Association (JKA).

Ray Dalke is a former student of Hidetaka Nishiyama and holds the rank of 8th Dan making him the highest ranking American in Shotokan Karate. He worked at the University of California, Riverside for 30 years where he coached the Shotokan Karate team to five National Championships.