June 2021 archive

This week in history (28 June – 4 July)

30 June On 30 June 1956, martial arts historian, Donn Draeger left the Marine Corps. He held the rank of lieutenant. After leaving the army he attended Georgetown University in Washington DC. However, he moved to Japan, where he continued his studies at Sophia University. 2 July On 2 July 2013, Shoei Miyazato, a Kobayashi …

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This week in history (21 June – 27 June)

22 June On 22 June 1931, Teruyuki Okazaki was born in Nogata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He was the second son of a family that came from a samurai lineage on his grandmother’s side. Okazaki has been described by some, as one of the most technically gifted karatekas to come from the Japanese Karate Association (JKA). …

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Teruo Hayashi

I have not invented any katas, what I have done is give them back the sense of force that they should have. Teruo Hayashi The founder of the Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu school of Karate, Teruo Hayashi has been described as one of the last great Japanese Budo masters. He dedicated his life to the pursuit of …

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This week in history (14 June – 20 June)

17 June On 17 June 1938, the former Chief Instructor of the JKA in Belgium, Satoshi Miyazaki, was born in Sagai, Japan. In 1956 Miyazaki enrolled at Takushoku University to study economics, having been persuaded by Masatoshi Nakayama to do so. He joined the university’s famed Shotokan Karate school as a white belt, studying under …

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Luca Valdesi

Karate is Karate – and the training must always be complete: kata, kihon, kumite, self-defense, philosophy. Luca Valdesi Following the likes of Dario Marchini, Luca Valdesi is an icon of Italian Karate. Considered one of the greatest kata competitors, he ranks alongside Tsuguo Sakumoto and Michael Milon as the most successful competitors at the World …

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Seiji Nishimura

True Karate-Do it’s not strictly for technique but for developing your mind. Karate is for life. It is a way of life, a way of thinking. Seiji Nishimura Having a competitive career second to none, Seiji Nishimura is one of Japan’s most successful, kumite competitors, spanning over an eight-year period. Being both a Wado-Ryu and …

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Ray Fuller

… I had to learn Karate, I had to look after myself… Ray Fuller A pioneer of Shotokan Karate, Ray Fuller was one of Vernon Bell’s first Karate students. His association was a founding member of the EKGB (English Karate Governing Body). Raymond Edward Fuller was born on 27 January 1934. After leaving school he …

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This week in history (7 June – 13 June)

7 June On 7 June 1935 Shotokan master and former Technical Director of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), Tetsuhiko Asai was born in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As a boy, Asai had trained in Sumo, Judo, and Kendo. He became interested in Karate after seeing a karateka defeat a boxer in a fight.  Upon entering Takushoku …

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