Category: Competition

Frank Smith

Karate should first be a martial art. Then, sport is used to test your levels and skill. Frank Smith The legendary Bill “Superfoot” Wallace named him in his list of “Top 10 Karate Fighters of All Time”, and he has also been described as “America’s greatest JKA Fighter“. Frank Smith was one of the big …

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Bob Rhodes

Spirit is essential to martial practise. In Karate the development of the technique of kiai is so important; is is more than just to shout. Without correct practise, you are losing the spiritual essence of effective martial arts. Harmonisation of body, spirit and mind is surely the only way you can be fully committed to …

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Kenji Midori

There are a few things that I tell my students. First is to prepare more than others. Second, do not ever give up. Third, do not be average. Kenji Midori Standing at around 5’4″ (1.6 m) in height, Kenji Midori is known as the “Little Giant“. He became the first lightweight competitor to win Kyokushin …

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Akira Masuda

Our new mission is to affect “human communication” through the Way of Karate, by means of which we want to “understand” the differences embodied in the various disparate cultures, and, through that “understanding,” to grasp its universality. In addition, we want to make the Way of Karate useful in fermenting an ideology and a sense …

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James Field

Through teaching I learned that Karate is for everybody, not just athletes and competitors. Everybody can get something out of it… James Field A pioneer of American Shotokan Karate, James Field is one of the first four Americans certified to teach Shotokan Karate in the United States. A technical martial artist, he was also a …

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Thomas ‘LaPuppet’ Caroll

If someone confronts me on the street, I will run like hell and hope he doesn’t catch me; if he does, he is in trouble. Thomas LaPuppet Known as the “Gentleman of Karate“, Thomas LaPuppet was a pioneer of American karate. A ferocious competitor, he was nicknamed “La Puppet (The Puppet)” for his ability to …

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Atsuko Wakai

Women first competed in the World Championships in 1980 at the tournament held in Madrid, Spain. Suzuko Okamura became the first individual kata world champion. Her victory was the start of total dominance of the kata events by the Japanese women. From 1980 to 2004 they remained undefeated in the event. Arguably the greatest of …

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Doug James

I see kata as something for developing the individual and that if that person performs the moves in a certain way and is happy, providing it is within the overall guidelines of the kata I see nothing wrong with some deviation. Doug James Considered one of the cornerstones of British Karate, Doug James has been …

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Chuck Merriman

Be as hard as the world makes you be and be as soft as the world will let you be! There is a difference between being kind, courteous and considerate because you chose to be and being kind, courteous and considerate because you are not strong enough to be otherwise! My Karate training allows me …

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Mie Nakayama

Firstly, I practise katas very accurately going through the basic again and again; I do this for about one hour every day. I then go through the katas imaging the attackers and how I would compete with them. I pay a lot of attention to imagination, feeling, and expression. Mie Nakayama Mie Nakayama can arguably …

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