This week in history…(12 December -18 December)

12 December On 12 December 1965 Hirokazu Kanazawa held his first grading at the BKF (British Karate Federation)’s Nottingham dojo. The BKF had arranged with the JKA (Japan Karate Association) for Kanazawa to reside in the United Kingdom for a year, teaching Shotokan Karate. On 12 December 2008, Henri Plee was honoured for his services …

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This week in history…(5 December – 11 December)

5 December On 5 December 1944, the founder of Ashihara Karate, Hideyuki Ashihara, was born in Hiroshima, Japan. He was a direct student of Kyokushin founder, Mas Oyama. Ashihara was considered a formidable fighter, and by 1966 he was an instructor of Kyokushin Karate at the organisation’s Hombu (headquarters). In 1987 Ashihara started showing the first signs of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). His condition gradually worsened and on 24 …

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Bakkies Laubscher

You can’t have good Karate without good character. No matter what it looks like on the inside, the flaws will show. Bakkies Laubscher With over six decades in martial arts, Bakkies Laubscher is one of Morio Higaonna’s most senior students. A firm believer in the constant drilling of basic techniques, he has become a renowned …

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This week in history…(28 November – 4 December)

28 November On 28 November 1934 Frank Cope, a pioneer of British Shotokan Karate, was born in Liverpool. A long-time member of the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) he would become one of the first Karate black belts in Britain. On 28 November 2009, the 9th Open Weight Kyokushin Championships were held in Paris. There were 166 …

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Don Buck

People who learn Karate today should learn the basics better. Don Buck Probably not as well known as he should be, Don Buck was a pioneer of Kyokushin Karate in the United States. Described as a physically strong man, he was one of the first non-Japanese Kyokushin instructors in the world. Donald Buck was born …

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Daigo Oishi

A lifelong karateka, Daigo Oishi was known for his footwork and his powerfully destructive kicks. Mas Oyama called his kick “Muramasa” after a famous Japanese blade. Daigo Oishi was born on 15 July 1950 in Shizuoka, Japan. While at school Oishi read Oyama’s book “World, Combat Journey“. The book had a profound effect on him. …

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This week in history…(21 November – 27 November)

21 November On 21 November 1982, the 6th World Championships commenced in Taipei, Taiwan, finishing on 25 November. Japan continued their dominance of World Karate by topping the medal table with six golds, two silvers and four bronzes. Mie Nakayama began her dominance of the Women’s Individual Kata event by winning the first of her …

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Zenpo Shimabukuro

Just because one believes in the modern, one should not forget the old. Zenpo Shimabukuro An instructor who believes in both traditional and modern approaches to Karate training, Zenpo Shimabukuro believes that is up that it is up to a student to find the appropriate balance in their training. On 11 October 1943 Zenpo Shimabukuro …

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This week in history…(14 November – 20 November)

14 November On 14 November 1889  Shito-Ryu Karate founder, Kenwa Mabuni, was born in Okinawa. Mabuni was one of the first Okinawan masters to teach his style of Karate on the Japanese mainland, eventually settling in Osaka in 1929. He initially trained under Yasutsune Itosu learning Shuri te, He later trained under Kanryo Higaonna learning …

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Zenryo Shimabukuro

A highly respected Okinawan Karate master Zenryo Shimabukuro was the founder of Shorin-Ryu Seibukan Karate. An unassuming man, very little is known of him in the west. Shimabukuro was a student of the pre-war Okinawan master, Chotoku Kyan. He was one of Kyan’s few students to teach his style of karate. Zenryo Shimabukuro was born …

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