Category: This week in history

This week in history (18 May – 24 May)

18 May On 18 May 1966, Wayne Otto, a multiple World Champion, was born in Hackney, London. Otto is one of the most successful fighters to come out of Britain. He has appeared in the Guinness Book of Records as having won the most Karate championship medals for a male competitor. Nicknamed the “Black Shark” …

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This week in history (11 May – 17 May)

11 May On 11 May 1966, Hirokazu Kanazawa departed the UK for South Africa, much to the dismay of many of his British students. Kanazawa’s contract with the British Karate Federation (BKF) came to an end and was not renewed. He had built a fierce and loyal devotion from his students, especially those from the …

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This week in history (4 May – 10 May)

3 May On 3 May 1931, Shotokan master, Hirokazu Kanazawa was born in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. A legend of Karate much has been written about Kanazawa. For many years he has been one of the most recognisable faces of Karate. Considered by many to be the greatest of the Shotokan Masters, he is arguably one …

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This week in history (27 Apr – 3 May)

27 April On 27 April 1928 Tatsuo Suzuki, a master of Wado-ryū Karate, was born in Yokohama, Japan. Suzuki began training under Wado-ryū Karate founder, Hironori Ohtsuka, while still a teenager. In 1956 Ohtsuka dispatched Suzuki to spread the style of Wado-ryū around the world. On 27 April 1965, a JKA group of instructors consisting …

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This week in history (20 Apr – 26 Apr)

20 April On 20 April 1960, Luis Maria Sanz was born in Vallodolid, Spain. He has been described as “the last link between traditional and competitive Karate“. Luis Maria Sanz holds a notable place in competitive Karate, being the first non-Japanese man and the first Shotokan karateka to become WKF World champion in 1992. On …

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This week in history (13 Apr – 19 Apr)

13 April On 13 April 1973, Miyuki Mimura became the next man to complete the 100-Man Kumite Challenge. However, there would be a 13-year wait until the next successful challenge completion. Perhaps the most unique challenge in all of Karate is Kyokushin Karate’s Hyakunin Kumite or 100-man Kumite Challenge. Devised by Kyokushin Karate founder, Mas …

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This week in history (6 April – 12 April)

7 April On 7 April 1963 Yoshiaki Ajari a student of Hironri Ohtsuka, established the United States Wado-Kai Karate-Do Federation. Ajari had originally moved to the United States in 1957 to study Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. On 7 April 2004, American Karate pioneer, Peter Urban died. Urban began training in Goju-ryu Karate …

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This week in history (30 March – 5 April)

31 March On 31 March 1921, Tetsuji Murakami was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Described as a Karate missionary, Murakami began teaching Karate across Europe and North Africa during the infancy of the art outside of Japan. He was one of the first Japanese instructors to settle in Europe. Growing up Murakami was not interested …

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This week in history (23 March – 29 March)

23 March On 23 March 1996, South African, Marius Schoeman, became the thirteenth man to complete the 100-Man Kumite Challenge. 25 March On 25 March 2017, Hiroki Kurosawa died from acute heart failure. He was only 54 years old. At his family’s request, he was cremated in a small private summer ceremony. One of the …

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This week in history (16 March – 22 March)

17 March On 17 March 1990, the 7th World Championships (3rd Shoto Cup) took place at the Crowtree Leisure Centre, Sunderland, England. The two-day saw competitors from thirty countries taking part in seven events, i.e. four individual events and three team events. 18 March On 18 March 1964 Shotokan legend Keinosuke Enoeda was promoted to …

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