Gilbert Gruss

Considered one of the pioneers and greats of French Karate, Gilbert Gruss has dedicated his life to the study and practice of Karate. He went from being a student to a competitor, to a coach, and finally to a teacher and mentor. He was a deep thinker and was always looking to improve himself through his study of Karate.

Gilbert Gruss was born on 10th February 1943, in the small mining town of Algrange, France. His father was a miner.

When Gruss turned 16 He began working in the mines like his father. He did this during his school holidays. Working as a labourer made him physically strong.

After completing secondary school, Gruss enrolled at medical school in Strasbourg in 1962.

At university, Gruss participated in many sports, including swimming, weightlifting, and Judo. However, he eventually settled on learning Karate. He trained under Roland Habersetzer, an early pioneer of Karate in France. Gruss trained with Habersetzer for two years.

Gruss obtained a Baccalaureate in Experimental Sciences, after studying a year of medicine in Strasbourg.

In 1965 Gruss became the Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences at the Fameck High School.

In 1965 Gruss also began competing by entering several regional tournaments. He became the Eastern League Champion (Alsace-Lorraine).

Gruss retained his regional title by becoming the Eastern League Champion (Alsace-Lorraine) In 1966. He also took part in the French Championships for the first time.

In 1967 Gruss changed jobs. He became the supervisor of the Charlemagne High School in Thionville.

With his successes on the regional tournament scene, Gruss was elected to the French National Team in 1968. He and his teammate, Dominique Valera, began to dominate French and European Karate.

1969 was a big year competitively for Gruss. He became the Eastern League Champion (Alsace-Lorraine). At the French Championships, he finished in second place. He also became the Coupe de France Champion.

Between 2-4 May 1969, the 4th European Karate Championships was held in Crystal Palace, London. Gruss lost to teammate Dominique Valera in the final of the Individual Kumite event. He was also a member of the French side that the beat the United Kingdom in the final of the Team Kumite event.

In 1969 Gruss was appointed the Technical Director of the Lorraine Karate League.

Gruss appeared in another French Championships final in 1970, finishing in second place.

Between 5-7 May 1970, the 5th European Karate Championships was held in Hamburg, Germany. In a repeat of the previous championship final, Gruss lost to Dominique Valera in the final of the Individual Kumite event. Billy Higgins of England finished in third place. As a member of the French Team Gruss reached another final. This time the team lost to West Germany.

In 1971 Gruss became French Champion. He also reached his third consecutive Individual Kumite final at the 6th European Karate Championships, held between 2-4 May in Paris, France. Again, he lost to teammate Dominique Valera in the final. However, as a member of the French team, he helped defeat Belgium in the team final.

In 1972 Gruss reached another French Championships final, finishing in second place.

Between 21-22 April 1972, the 2nd World Karate Championships was held in Paris, France. The French squad believed they had a good chance of becoming World Champions. To do this, the team trained very hard. They sacrificed personal rivalries and individual glory, to focus on team success.

The French team consisted of captain, Dominique Valera, Francis Didier, Guy Sauvin, Alaine Setrouck, François Pettidemange, Patrice Lenoir, and Gruss. They defeated Italy in the final. Gruss won the decisive bout and gave the French Team victory.

Between 4-6 May 1972, the 7th European Karate Championships was held in Brussels, Belgium. Gruss reached the final of the Open Kumite event, where he defeated teammate Dominique Valera to become the European Champion.

Gross retired from actively competing in 1972. In the same year, he was appointed the National Karate trainer of the Federal Republic of Germany. He held the position until 1975.

In 1975 Gruss was appointed the National Coach of the French Karate Federation. He held the position until 1981. He coached successful teams at the European Championship held in Finland, Spain, and Italy, from 1979 to 1981.

In 1981 Gruss opened a Karate school in the French commune of Terville.

In 1985 Gruss was appointed the head of the children’s department of the FFKAMA. Several years later he was appointed the Deputy National Technical Director in 1992.

Gruss was promoted to 8th Dan in 1996.

In 1998 Gruss was appointed a member of the Steering Committee of the French Karate Federation, as a representative for the Karate teachers. Two years later, he was appointed Federal Technical Director.

Gruss left the French Karate Federation in 2001. He founded the FEKAMT( European Federation of Karate and Traditional Martial Arts) alongside Gerard Garson. He was appointed the Technical Director of the new Federation.

In 2002 Gruss was appointed the President of the European College of Karatedo Black Belts.

Gruss was promoted to 9th Dan by the DKV (German Karate Federation) in September 2007.

On 1 October 2016, Gilbert Gruss died in the city of Thionville, France. This was after a long illness. He was survived by his wife, Lilliane, and their daughter. His funeral was held on 7 October at the Saint-Pierre Church. He was posthumously promoted to 10th Dan by the FEKAMT.

A popular and well-respected instructor, Gruss was a guide to those following the martial path. He saw himself as a guide to those seeking self-discovery and self-mastery, and not as a master to be followed.

Gruss was the creator of Goshin-Jutsu Karate. The style aims to go back to the roots of teaching Karate as a form of self-defence.

Apart from Karate, Gruss also practised Tai Chi for over 15 years.