Kiyoshi Yamazaki, the son of a kendo teacher, was born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on August 16, 1940. His martial arts training began during his childhood days under his father. In 1956, he joined Konishi Sensei's Ryobu-Kan. He received his first teaching license for karate in 1962. During his university days, Kiyoshi Yamazaki continued to train with Konishi Sensei as often as possible. After graduating from Senshu University in 1964 with a degree in Economics, he continued to train at the Ryobu-Kan. .

Yamazaki Sensei moved to the United States in 1969. He first started teaching at Citrus College in Azusa, California. He later opened a dojo in Anaheim, California and participated in karate demonstrations with Fumio Demura (Itosu-Kai Shito-Ryu) at the Japanese Village and Deer Park in Buena Park, California.Today, in addition to teaching at his dojo in Anaheim, he maintains a very busy schedule promoting the philosophy of Shindo Jinen Ryu and supervising and developing all the schools of Japan Karate-Do Ryobu-Kai outside Japan. In addition to karate and kobudo, Yamazaki Sensei is an accomplished exponent of Iaido in the traditions of Omori-Ryu and Kashima Shin-Ryu.

Sensei Yamazaki is the current Chairman of the USA National Karate-do Federation's Technical Committee. As an official with the World Karate Federation, he travels the world assisting in the coordination of Karate as a future event in the Olympics. Additionally, Sensei Yamazaki is a member of the World Karate Federation's Referee Council.