On this day….(March 3)

On this day, 3 March 1946, British Shotokan instructor, Robert Rhodes, was born in Leeds, England.

Rhodes began his training aged twenty, at the Leeds Shotokan Karate Club (Leeds SKC), under the instruction of Ronnie Wade.

As a green belt Rhodes started competing at the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) National Championships where he was part of a successful Leeds SKC team that came second in the team kumite event.

Rhodes went on to become a top competitor, winning events in both kata and kumite. His success eventually earned him a position on the England Karate squad. For eight years Rhodes was a member of of the KUGB National squad and the Great Britain All-Karate Styles squad.

The KUGB National squad was coached by Keinosuke Enoeda. As a member of this team Rhodes participated in many international kumite events.

Rhodes represented the KUGB several times at the All-Styles Championships in individual kumite. He was selected onto the Great Britain All-Karate Styles squad coached by Steve Arneil and featuring many greats of British karate, including Terry O’Neill, Billy Higgins and David ‘Ticky’ Donovan. In 1975 the squad won the World Championship kumite title, defeating the previously undefeated Japanese in the final.

At the time of writing Bob Rhodes is an 8th Dan and continues to teach and give seminars.