Masaru Shintani

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. Masaru Shintani A pioneer of Wado-Ryu Karate in Canada, Masaru Shintani developed one of the largest Karate organisations in North America. He has been described as a modern Karate maestro and a rare treasure. …

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William Dometrich

A Karate instructor’s first and foremost obligation is to teach new students one or two strong techniques – techniques that could be used effectively if the student was attacked. William Dometrich A pioneer of Chito-Ryu Karate in the United States, William Dometrich trained with Chito-Ryu founder, Tsuyoshi Chitose, and was the first non-Japanese person to …

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Yukio Nishida

A direct and longtime student of Kyokushin Karate founder, Mas Oyama, Yukio Nishida is a pioneer of Kyokushin Karate. He was a long time student of Seigo Okamoto, the founder of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujitsu Doppokai. He is primarily known for combining Kyokushin with other martial arts to form a unique style of Budo. Yukio Nishida began …

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Yasunari Ishimi

Once you reach a certain level, it is good to train something from all the schools, because they all have good things. I teach Shito-Ryu 70%, but I reserve the rest for Shotokan, Goju, and Wado. It is about finding the best of each style and applying it to your own. Yasunari Ishimi A pioneer …

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Joko Ninomiya

Never stay at the same level of training. Always push yourself to do a little more. Joko Ninomiya Widely regarded as a phenomenal fighter, Joko Ninomiya is also known for his strong fighting spirit. He was a longtime student of Hideyuki Ashihara and the founder of Enshin Karate and the Sabaki Challenge. Joko Ninomiya was …

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Gilbert Gruss

Personally I would define Karate-do as the way of the free hand rather than that of the empty hand. Because the goal is to make what you have learned bare fruit. Nothing is fixed in the combat arts. Gilbert Gruss Considered one of the pioneers and greats of French Karate, Gilbert Gruss has dedicated his …

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Seiji Kanamura

One of Mas Oyama’s top students, Seiji Kanamura has been involved in Karate since its early days. He has done much to establish Kyokushin Karate in the United States and the wider world. Seiji Kanamura was born in 1944, in Tokyo, Japan. Kanamura’s father was a friend of Mas Oyama. In 1958 Kanamura began training …

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Bernard Bilicki

What makes a martial artist’s heartbeat? For me, it’s the quest for perfection, not just in technique, but in life itself. Bernard Bilicki With the likes of Dominique Valera, Jean-Pierre Lavorato, and Patrice Belrhiti, Bernard Bilicki is a legend of French Karate. He has practised martial arts for over 60 years. He began practising Karate …

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Jiro Ohtsuka (Hironori Ohtsuka II)

In learning Karate simply as a sport, one will surely quit or retire from it as physical strength declines. Jiro Ohtsuka The son of one of Karate’s true legends, Jiro Ohtsuka had one of the best Karate teachers in his father. He developed into a phenomenal martial artist. He was described as a protector of …

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Ryozo Tsukada

I may not be very rich financially. But I am very very rich, intensely rich even, in human relations and this is thanks to Karate Ryozo Tsukada Known as a technical and patient instructor, Ryozo Tsukada was among the early cohort of Japanese instructors to teach Karate in Europe. For many years he was one …

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