Category: This week in history

This week in history (20 August – 26 August)

On 26 August 1941 Karate instructor and humanitarian, John Van Weenen, was born in Enfield, just outside London. He was the second of six children. In 1964 Van Weenen, along with his brothers Jeff and Garry emigrated to Australia settling in Adelaide. He and his brother Jeff began Karate training under Moss Hollis, who originally …

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This week in history (13 August – 19 August)

14 August On 14 August 1934 the founder of American Goju-ryu Karate, Peter George Urban, was born in Jersey City, USA. Serving in the US Navy he was stationed in Yokohama, Japan. In 1953 he began studying Karate as a student of Richard Kim. In 1954 he was transferred to Tokyo. There he was introduced by Kim to Masutatsu Oyama and Gogen Yamaguchi …

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This week in history (6 August – 12 August)

6 August On 6 August 1930  Shotokan Karate master, Tsutomu Ohshima was born. He was a direct student of Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi. He was also influenced by Shigeru Egami at Waseda University. As an exchange student from Waseda University he began teaching Shotokan Karate in Los Angeles in 1955. The following year he founded Shotokan Karate of America (SKA).

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This week in history (30 July – 5 August)

30 July On 30 July 1949 KUGB stalwart, Robert Poynton, was born.  A member of the famed Liverpool Red Triangle Karate Club, he started training in 1965 aged 15. He was awarded his 1st Dan by Keinosuke Enoeda in 1968. A top competitor in the 1970s, he successfully transitioned into an administrative role in the KUGB …

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This week in history (23 July – 29 July)

27 July On 27 July 1923 the founder of Kyokushin Karate, Matsutatsu Oyama was born in Japanese occupied Korea. Born as Choi Yeong-eui, spent most of his life in Japan. He was a student of Gichin Funakoshi and later Gogen Yamaguchi. He founded his own style of Kyokushin in 1957.   ******************************************** On 27 July 1985 the Karate Championships were held …

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This week in history (16 July – 22 July)

18 July On 18 July 1959 Tetsuji Murakami made his first ever visit to England to teach for the British Karate Federation (BKF). He also conducted a number gradings at 12 Maybush Road, Hornchurch, Essex.   ******************************************** On 18 July 1963 Vernon Bell received a letter from his German counterpart, Jurgen Seydel, informing him that Tetsuji Murakami was not an official representative of the JKA …

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This week in history (9 July – 15 July)

9 July On 9 July 1943 Chief Instructor of the KUGB, Andy Sherry, was born.  Sherry is one of the highest ranked Shotokan practitioners in the United Kingdom, having been one of the first people awarded a JKA 1st Dan in Britain in 1966 by Keinosuke Enoeda. Now a 9th Dan and one of the most senior Shotokan Karate-ka in …

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This week in history (2 July – 8 July)

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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This week in history (18 June – 24 June)

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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This week in history (11 June – 17 June)

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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