Hideyuki Ashihara was a giant in the world of martial arts. A former Kyokushin instructor, he eventually broke away to form . His approach was revolutionary because it moved away from the "tank-like" head-on collisions of traditional karate and toward Sabaki —the art of using an opponent's power against them through circular movement and positioning.

In the case of Ashihara's work, the issue is complicated by the fact that his ideas and methods were developed in a context of secrecy and exclusivity. As a member of Oyama's Kyokushin organization, Ashihara had access to a unique and proprietary system of martial arts knowledge. By developing and sharing his own approach, Ashihara aimed to democratize martial arts knowledge and make it more accessible.

: Many Ashihara Karate branches and the New International Karate Organization (NIKO) maintain the history and teachings of Kancho Hideyuki Ashihara. They occasionally offer resources or information on where to find authorized instructional materials.