Category: Traditional

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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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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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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Ryusho Sakagami

It is important that the martial art instructor foster a sense of self-responsibility in his students. For the students, the best way to learn is to practice, persevere and think about the intent behind the technique. Ryusho Sakagami Known as a walking encyclopedia on various martial arts by his contemporaries, Ryusho Sakagami dedicated his life …

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Donn Draeger

The Exponent of today’s modern Budo gropes about in a maze of classical traditions that he does not understand, and thus, the cleverest of his kind declare that the classical disciplines must be freed from feudal Japanese and raised to great heights of rational efficiency so as to yield wealth, prestige, and practical use. Donn …

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Kenneth Funakoshi

Politics is the worst thing that can happen to Karate at the upper level. The students don’t care about what’s happening in the political way. They just like to train hard and compete, but because the ‘higher-ups’ have their political views or differences they tend to put a lot of restrictions on what the students …

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Hirokazu Kanazawa

The most important points of my teaching are breathing, movement and timing. But breathing is first…. the first thing we do in this world is to breathe and, you know, even today, 90% of people do not know how to breathe correctly. If the breathing is wrong, your body will go wrong – your mind …

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Shigeru Takashina

If I make will, I can kill you, but it is not my character…. My main goal now is to educate people in more than just show Karate but in the cultural Karate, the real cultural benefits [of Karate]. Shigeru Takashina Shigeru Takashina was a true stalwart of the Japan Karate Association (JKA). A graduate …

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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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Hiroo Mochizuki

It is not my role to give advice, but if I had to do it I would say that is good to try to broaden your vision on a technical and mental level. Break the shell, do not remain partitioned. Watching only is useless. Hiroo Mochizuki Hiroo Mochizuki was the first Japanese instructor to teach …

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