Jul 02 2018
2 July On 2 July 2013 Shoei Miyazato, a Kobayashi Shorin-ryu master and early student of Katsuya Miyahira (the successor to Chosin Chibana), died aged 85 years. Although born in Okinawa, Miyazato attended elementary and high school in Osaka, Japan. As it was during the 2nd World War he had to undergo mandatory training in Kendo, Judo and military affairs. At the age of …
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Jun 25 2018
25 June On 25 June 1959 the first written correspondence between Vernon Bell and head of Yoseikan Karate, Minoru Mochizuki took place. Mochizuki had first come to France in the early 1950s to conduct a number of training sessions in Judo and Aikido. All correspondence between Mochizuki and Bell had previously gone through Henri Plee. It was through Plee that Bell had the opportunity …
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Jun 18 2018
On 18 June 1938 former European and World kata champion, Luca Valdesi, was born in Palermo, Sicily. Valdesi is widely regarded as one of the greatest tournament kata competitors. He is a 22-time European Champion and 6-time World Champion in individual and team kata. His performances are characterized by his strength and rhythm. Away from tournament karate, Luca …
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Jun 11 2018
On 12 June 1965 Hirokazu Kanazawa took his first teaching trip outside of London to the British Karate Federation’s (BKF) Liverpool dojo. The trip lasted from the 12th to 19th of June. Kanazawa’s teaching schedule included teaching on the Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On the weekdays he taught from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. During his visit Kanazawa …
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Jun 04 2018
On 3 June 1922 the earliest known Japanese newspaper article on Karate was published in the Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbun. The title of the article was “The Mystical Martial Art – Karate: (Chinese Fist) from Ryukyu (Okinawa Prefecture). Wonderful Technique to Defend from an Opponent with Bare Hands. Kodokan to Study“. ******************************************** On 3 June 1959 the final known letter between …
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May 28 2018
On 28 May 1952 Clive Layton, a prolific author on Karate, was born. Layton began training in Shotokan Karate under Michael Randall ,Chris Adamou, and Nick Adamou. In 1977 he received his 1st Dan from Hirokazu Kanazawa. His books [amazon text=Shotokan Dawn: Vol 1 %26 2&asin=0955512204] detail the beginnings of Karate in Britain under Vernon Bell. On …
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May 21 2018
On 23 May 1952 the founder of the Shito-ryu style of Karate, Kenwa Mabuni, died aged 63. Mabuni trained under two of Okinawa’s greatest masters, Anko Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna. His style of Karate combined the linear techniques of Itosu with the circular movements of Higaonna. In the 1920s Mabuni frequently traveled to Osaka, Japan where …
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May 14 2018
On 15 May 1947 Steve Cattle was born. Until his untimely death, aged only forty-seven, he was one of the longest practicing Shotokan practitioners in Britain. He was also a keen historian of Karate. Nicknamed ‘Stumpy’ as he was only 5ft 6in, Cattle began training in Judo in 1961, eventually reaching the rank of 2nd Dan. He …
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May 07 2018
On 8 May 1941, Terence ‘Terry’ Stanley Victor Wingrove, an early practitioner of Karate in Britain, was born in London. Wingrove started practicing Judo and Jujitsu in 1957 under Vernon Bell, who later invited him to take part in a Karate lesson with the British Karate Federation (BKF) in 1959. He was eighteen at the time. …
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Apr 30 2018
On 30 April 1957 the British Karate Federation (BKF) held its very first grading in Britain, on the lawn at 12 Maybush Road, Hornchurch. Two students, Trevor Guilfoyle and Gerald Tucker were both graded to 6th kyu. On 3 May 1931, Shotokan master and legend, Hirokazu Kanazawa, was born in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Kanazawa, a student of …
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