Kyoshi Nelson | 5th Dan

Kyoshi Nelson Young has been training in Seido karate since 1988. 

Before taking a break from 2007 to 2017, he had the opportunity to assist (now) Eiko Hanshi Charles in a special class at the McBurney YMCA, which he later taught with Kyoshi Barry Williams and (now) Jun Shihan Susie Marples. Following his return to Seido, he assisted in Sensei Maura’s kumite class and then pivoted to teaching color belts and black belts online during the COVID-19 pandemic. He now teaches a class for blue and yellow belts and occasionally teaches color belt and black belt classes.

As a color belt, Kyoshi Nelson competed in a number of outside tournaments, and has regularly been both a competitor and judge at Seido’s inter-dojo and Anniversary & Benefit Tournaments.

Kyoshi Nelson emphasizes the importance of keeping a beginner’s mind in training, and an open mind when learning the proper way to do techniques and the purpose behind them. He continues to learn about himself through his teaching, including how he can channel nervousness into energy and focus, and how he can fine tune his classes to be challenging while maintaining the traditions of a disciplined Japanese dojo.

When he’s not teaching or training, Kyoshi Nelson works in finance as a bond trainer. He enjoys cooking comfort food and other main dishes in his spare time. His favorite kata is Seido Enpi No Kata Sho.