Teruo Hayashi was born in Nara, Japan, in October 1924. He began his martial arts journey at the age of 14 and was quickly recognized as a karate prodigy. In 1942, he commenced his study of Shito-Ryu Karate under Kosai Kuniba, a direct student of Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-Ryu, one of the major styles of Japanese karate. Hayashi initially trained in judo, achieving the rank of 3rd dan before being called to serve in the military.

After the war, Hayashi discovered karate and was so deeply impressed by its spirit and discipline that he devoted himself entirely to its study. His early training in Shito-Ryu under Sensei Kuniba eventually led him to Okinawa, where he immersed himself in the art of kobudo. At that time, kobudo was not widely taught on the Japanese mainland. In Okinawa, Hayashi studied under renowned masters such as Hohan Soken, Shuren Taira, and Kenko Nakaima.

Upon returning to Japan in 1959, Hayashi succeeded Sensei Kuniba but later stepped down from that role in 1970 to form his own organization, Hayashi-ha Shitoryukai Karate-do. He also founded Kenshinryu Kobudo, both of which he led with distinction until his passing in 2004. Both Shihan Koh and Shihan Denis Purvis were direct students of the late, great Soke Teruo Hayashi.

There was no other master more knowledgeable or more richly steeped in the history, adventure, and achievements of Karatedo during the early post-war years in Japan. Soke Hayashi’s legacy remains one of the most profound in the world of traditional martial arts.