founded one of the biggest Kyokushinkai clubs in Japan, and the activities were extended to two additional cities, Uwa and Uwajima. It was during this period that the concept of Sabaki was developed by him. Three principal points for Ashihara Karate were formed. Preparation, and the use of the four positions represented by the circular symbol of Ashihara Karate became the first point. The importance of timing and evaluation of distance (maai) became the second point. The third point is the stance, which must always be maintained whatever the situation to give maximum mobility. He expanded to the city of Matsuyama, and Ashihara Karate quickly became popular there as well. He started to instruct the police force, and universities started clubs in the area. Clubs were also established in Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Shiga and other places. In March 1978, the construction of the Dojo in Matsuyama commenced and he moved there at the end of the year. In 1979, the building was completed. He was still associated with the Kyokushinkai organisation, but instructors in neighbouring districts were complaining about his expansion of clubs. To avoid conflict within Kyokushinkai, he choose to resign from actively practising Karate at an official meeting in Tokyo in March 1978. He announced that he was willing to give up leadership for the clubs, as he had intended to concentrate on running his club in Matsuyama. It turned out that this was not enough, and he was expelled from Kyokushinkai shortly thereafter, following urge by competing instructors. Ashihara Karate It was with this background that he created the New International Karate Organisation (NIKO) - Ashihara Karate Kaikan in September 1980 based at his Dojo in Matsuyama and adopted the title Kancho (Grandmaster). Students include Joko Ninomiya, Kazuyoshi Ishii and Makoto Yoshida. Joko Ninomiya was a very successful tournament fighter (8th 1973 All-Japan, 3rd 1975 World Open, 2nd 1976 All-Japan and 1978 All-Japan champion) and would later go on to establish Enshin Karate in 1988. Ninomiya described him as his "first and only karate teacher". Kazuyoshi Ishii established the Seidokaikan karate style and later created the K-1 kickboxing competitions. Makoto Yoshida, who changed his name to Makoto Hirohara, was a successful tournament fighter (1987 Sabaki US Open Karate Challenge Heavyweight champion and again in 1988) and his student was the 1991 Middleweight Sabaki Challenge champion (Enshin karate). He established Shintaiikudo karate in 1995. In 1987,