Category: General

This week in history (1 November – 7 November)

1 November On 1 November 1947, Tsuyoshi Hiroshige was born in Kokura, now known as Kita Kyushu City, Japan. A phenomenal instructor, Tsuyoshi Hiroshige was known as a master trainer. He has trained multiple World Champions and All Japan Champions, including Kenji Midori, Kenji Yamaki, Hajime Kazumi, and Norichika Tsukamoto. Between 1-3 November 1975, 128 …

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This week in history (25 October – 31 October)

25 October On 25 October 1936 several Karate masters gathered for a special meeting in Naha, Okinawa. While not attended by Gichin Funakoshi, this meeting was attended by Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Choki Motobu, Chojun Miyagi, Choshin Chibana, Juhatsu Kyoda, Shinpan Gusukuma, Genwa Nakasone, and others. Funakoshi would attend subsequent meetings. Chomo Hanashiro had first …

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This week in history (18 October – 24 October)

20 October On 20 October 1972 Howard Collins competed in the 4th All Japan Open Karate Tournament. He made it to the final where he lost to Miyuki Miura. On 20 October 1982, martial arts historian, Donald Frederick “Donn” Draeger died from cancer at the Veteran’s Hospital located in Milwaukee. He was buried five days …

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John Mullin

A Sensei never stops learning, never stops growing. John Mullin Holding the rank of 8th Dan, John Mullin has been practising Karate for over 60 years. He has had the opportunity to train with many of the top instructors from around the world. John Mullin was born in New York around 1945. His father was …

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Akihito Isaka

You must always think about how you build up the level of your kihon and how to achieve a higher level of kihon. Akihito Isaka Like many graduates of the JKA Instructors Course, Akihito Isaka is known for his exceptional technique. He is also known for stressing the importance of slow-motion training as a way …

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This week in history (4 October – 10 October)

4 October On 4 October 1924, Motokuni Sugiura, a former Chief Instructor of the JKA, was born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Sugiura earned his 1st Dan aged only 20. At university, he had been taught by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka. After he graduated in 1944 he joined the Tsuchiura Navy Flying Corps, serving …

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This week in history (27 September – 3 October )

27 September On 27 September 1946, Shito-Ryu master, Yoshimi Inoue was born in the small coastal village of Tottori, Japan. There were no martial arts available to Inoue as a youngster. In 1961 he bought a Karate book written by Teruo Hayashi from which he started to teach himself. On 27 September 1985, the 28th …

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This week in history (20 September – 26 September)

20 September On 20 September 1934, Takayuki Kubota, a pioneer of martial arts in the United States, was born in Yashiro-Shi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. He was the fourth of six children, having four brothers and one sister. His family was descended from a samurai clan that had once invaded the island of Okinawa. On 20 …

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This week in history (13 September – 19 September)

14 September On 14 September 2011, Edward ‘Bobby’ Lowe died peacefully in his sleep Edward ‘Bobby’ Lowe died peacefully in his sleep on 14 September 2011, at Queens Hospital Honolulu, Hawaii. He was survived by his wife Betty, daughter Barbara, and son Michael. Known as the ‘Instructor’s Instructor‘, Lowe was Mas Oyama’s oldest and most …

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This week in history (6 September – 12 September)

6 September On 6 September 2016 Walter Seaton, one of the first Wado-Ryu black belts in the UK, died aged 80 years.  Seaton was born in Middlesbrough and was one of the first instructors to teach Karate to women at his dojo. A family man, Seaton and his wife Eva had six children, twenty-two grandchildren, …

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