Akira Masuda

{{short description|Japanese karateka}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{BLP primary sources|date=February 2011}}

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{{Infobox martial artist

| name = Akira Masuda

| residence = Japan

| image = Akira Masuda.jpg

| image_size = 193px

| caption = Akira Masuda presiding at Ko Ryu Jiai (Tournament), Japan, 3 November 2003

| birth_date = {{birth date|1962|5|22|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.77|precision=0}}

| weight = {{convert|85.5|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}

| martial_art = Kyokushin Karate

| teacher = Masutatsu Oyama

| rank =

| students =

}}

{{Nihongo|Akira MasudaNote on Japanese names: Family names go before given names, so in Japan he is known as Masuda Akira, while in the west he is usually referred to as Akira Masuda|増田 章|Masuda Akira}} (born May 22, 1962) is a Japanese Kyokushin kaikan karateka. In March 1991 he completed the 100 man kumite supervised by Mas Oyama.[https://web.archive.org/web/20061026101513/http://www.masutatsuoyama.com/100mankumite.htm masutatsuoyama.com: "100 Man Kumite - Akira Masuda (March, 1991)"]

He was born in 1962 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. In junior high school he was captain of the school judo club.[http://books.livedoor.com/item4902535033.html primary source: biography Masuda, Akira "Freestyle Karate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120720130313/http://books.livedoor.com/item4902535033.html |date=2012-07-20 }} {{ISBN|978-4-902535-03-7}}, Novelpress, August 2007 When he was 16 years old he joined Kyokushin Kaikan Ishikawa Dojo. At 19 years old he made his debut in his first All Japan Tournament.

He remained a top athlete in Kyokushin All Japan Tournaments, going on to beat Michel Wedel, Gerard Gordeau and Michael Thompson.[http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Japan/AJiko2.htm kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk
14th All Japan - 1982, 8th place: Akira Masuda;
15th All Japan - 1983, 5th place: Akira Masuda;
17th All Japan, 1985, 3rd place: Akira Masuda;
18th All Japan, 1986, 2nd place: Akira Masuda;
21st All Japan, 1989, 4th place: Akira Masuda;
22nd All Japan, 1990, 1st place: Akira Masuda] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912002200/http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Japan/AJiko2.htm |date=2007-09-12 }} He fought and lost to Andy Hug{{Cite web |url=http://www.andyhug.com/content_detail,48,r,_Ez.html |title=andyhug.com |access-date=2007-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918230217/http://www.andyhug.com/content_detail,48,r,_Ez.html |archive-date=2007-09-18 |url-status=dead }} however Hug was unable to walk after the fight.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Profiles/FPJapan.htm |title=kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk: "Fighter Profiles Japan" |access-date=2007-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911062548/http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Profiles/FPJapan.htm |archive-date=2007-09-11 |url-status=dead }}

In 1990 he won a gold medal in the 22nd All Japan Kyokushin Tournament.[http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Japan/AJchampiko1.htm kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk: "All Japan Champions: 1990 Champion Akira Masuda"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728023959/http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Japan/AJchampiko1.htm |date=2011-07-28 }} and in 1991 he placed second in the 5th World Karate Tournament.[http://www.kyokushincanada.com/tournamentResoults.htm kyokushincanada.com : "November 2-4, 1991, Tokyo. 2nd place : Akira Masuda, Japan"]

He is the shihan of Kyokushin Kaikan Masuda Dojo.{{Cite web |url=http://www.budo-karate.aki.gs/ |title=Kyokushin Kaikan Masuda Dojo (in Japanese) |access-date=2010-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323184713/http://www.budo-karate.aki.gs/ |archive-date=2010-03-23 |url-status=dead }} In 2007 Masuda published the book "Freestyle Karate"Masuda, Akira 'Freestyle Karate' {{ISBN|978-4-902535-03-7}}, Novelpress, August 2007 and in 2009 he published "Masuda Akira - Go, Budojin toshite Ikiru".Masuda, Akira 'Masuda Akira - Go, Budojin toshite Ikiru' {{ISBN|978-4-8094-0768-0}}, Budo-ra Books, February 2009