Northwest Kyokushin

Shihan John Adams

Branch Chief (Washington), IKO-Matsushima
President, United States Kyokushin Karate Alliance

Shihan John Adams was born November 6th 1951 to Mr. and Mrs. Chuck & Beverly Adams at Pasco, Washington. His father was a career sergeant of 30+ years ("working" Army, top sergeant). His mother (Beverly Martin) was a farm girl from the Martin Ranch/Farm in Cottonwood, Idaho.

As a military family, they moved a lot (Japan, Korea, etc.). As a result, friends were hard to come by; except through sports. Always being too short for basketball, he started wrestling in 6th grade through 10th grade. John started boxing in the Boys’ Club in the 9th grade and continued off and on for the next twelve years (although only five years were serious, the rest hit and miss). He played Right Halfback in High School Football, as well as ran the 100-yard dash, 220-yard dash, 880 relay and he also pole-vaulted.

John has also studied several other Martial Arts. In the‘70’s, he studied Hung Gar Kung Fu, Shotokan Karate, Judo, Tai Kenpo, etc. Between him moving or his instructors moving, it was hard to keep to one system. John moved to Pullman in the 1985/1986 school year and started training at the WSU dojo and then the U of I dojo shortly after that.

At this time, John owned the Barbershop/Salon at the CUB and met Mr. Bob Peavy. It was while cutting his hair that John told him about our karate style. Mr. Peavy then met Gary Chantler and Dan Machleid and gave the WSU Kyokushinkai Club a chance to teach Karate and Self-Defense classes for the PEACT Department. Thanks to Mr. Chantler, other instructors, and Sensei Adams these classes have grown and we have one of the best records at WSU in the PEACT Department.

In 1990, John achieved the rank of Shodan and reopened the U of I dojo, which had been abandoned for two years. He was asked to take over the teaching of the WSU Dojo. He has been teaching in Pullman (WSU dojo), Moscow (Women’s Self-defense) and Clarkston (private students) ever since.

In 1993, Sensei Adams met Nerissa P. Bandian in the karate class and they were married in October 2nd of the same year. They decided not to have children until after Nerissa achieved Shodan rank. Being married to Sensei was not always easy. We practiced daily and she always had to be a little better to gain rank. The end result is their daughter, Jonissa, who will be allowed to date some time after Nidan (2nd degree black belt) or when she’s 35 years old, whichever comes first!

In the early ‘90’s, Sensei John Adams, Gary Chantler, Sue Ellen Chantler (the only founding member of the Kyokushinkai Karate Club left in the area) and Thomas went to New York to a Kyokushinkai Karate tournament. This was the last time that Sosai Mas Oyama was in the USA, to the best of my knowledge. That was a great opportunity and I was glad we were able to take it.

In 1998, Sensei Adams started communicating with Shihan Roman Szyrajew and Shihan John Taylor of IKO3. Later that year, a small group of WSU Kyokushinkai Karate club members drove to Dawson Creek, Canada to attend a seminar/work-out and meet Shihan Roman in person. (Our thanks to Sensei Bill Dufour and his club for allowing us to share his dojo. He and his club were very out-going and frinedly to us. Osu)

After discussing some small changes in kata and kihon, it was decided that we would apply to IKO3 Shihan Roman has been very helpful. Our club will always be grateful to him for his help and guidance.

On March 6, 1999, Sensei Adams and three others went to Montreal, Canada for the Mas Oyama Memorial Cup. John was pleased and honored to be named as honored guest and given a plaque for attendance and contribution at this event. One of our fighters, Miss Alicia Lewis made us proud by placing third in this competition.

Keith Hill, Brenda Divers, Alicia and Sensei Adams were also invited to attend a seminar led by Kancho Matsushima and Shihan John Taylor with help from Shihan Roman. This was one of the highlights of the event. Sensei Adams is very grateful to Kancho Matsushima, Shihans Taylor, Roman, and the rest for their help and generosity.

Afterwards at dinner, all the Shihans and Kancho were very open and friendly. We could not have found a better organization to associate with. OSU!

Shihan John Adams and Hanshi John Taylor, Vice President of IKO-Matsushima, at Hanshi Taylor's seminar which followed the 8th Kyokushin Challenge on April 18, 2009.

Kancho Matsushima (center), Shihan John Adams (right) and Sensei Jon Campbell (left) at the 8th World Open Karate Tournament in Isesaki City, Japan in November 2008.

Shihan Adams training at the seminar which followed the 8th World Open Karate Tournament in Japan - November 2008.

Shihan Adams sparring with a student. While staying true to the fundamentals of Kyokushin, Shihan Adams brings his vast experience as a former semi-professional boxer as well.

Shihan Adams demonstrating a self defense technique on Sensei Holly Hazard.