This week in history (12 July – 18 July)

12 July On 12 July 1956, Hiroo Mochizuki, the son of Yoseikan founder Minoru Mochizuki, arrived in France to conduct a number of Karate courses. Born in 1936 Hiroo Mochizuki began his martial arts training in the eclectic Yoseikan system of his father, Minoru, who had studied under the two great Budo masters, Morihei Ueshiba …

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Douglas Brose

Believe what you are doing. Faith is one of the most important things for you to get where you want, just believe. Douglas Brose Known for his lightning-fast, and dynamic techniques, Douglas Brose is one of the most imaginative fighters. Winning all the possible international competitions available to him, he was the first Brazilian to …

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Trevor Tockar

Only when you recognise your own weaknesses can you improve and develop. Trevor Tockar One of the most respected names in South African and Australian Kyokushin Karate, Trevor Tockar, was one of the youngest men graded to 5th Dan by Kyokushin founder Mas Oyama. He was one of the men at the forefront of Kyokushin …

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Tatsuya Naka

Kata is like the seed and roots of the flower. By developing one’s understanding of kata, one can then express oneself through that kata. As a result, it is no longer just the root, but through understanding and ultimately one’s own creation, it spawns leaves and petals becoming the flower we see. Tatsuya Naka One …

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This week in history (5 July – 11 July)

5 July On 5 July 1957 the first photographs of karateka training in Britain, appeared in the Romford Recorder. The photographs were part of an article, ‘Forbidden Sport Taught Here – Japanese Fights Often Ended in Death”‘ which was a follow-up to an article written on 21 June. The two photographs were taken at 12 …

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This week in history (28 June – 4 July)

30 June On 30 June 1956, martial arts historian, Donn Draeger left the Marine Corps. He held the rank of lieutenant. After leaving the army he attended Georgetown University in Washington DC. However, he moved to Japan, where he continued his studies at Sophia University. 2 July On 2 July 2013, Shoei Miyazato, a Kobayashi …

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This week in history (21 June – 27 June)

22 June On 22 June 1931, Teruyuki Okazaki was born in Nogata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He was the second son of a family that came from a samurai lineage on his grandmother’s side. Okazaki has been described by some, as one of the most technically gifted karatekas to come from the Japanese Karate Association (JKA). …

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Teruo Hayashi

I have not invented any katas, what I have done is give them back the sense of force that they should have. Teruo Hayashi The founder of the Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu school of Karate, Teruo Hayashi has been described as one of the last great Japanese Budo masters. He dedicated his life to the pursuit of …

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This week in history (14 June – 20 June)

17 June On 17 June 1938, the former Chief Instructor of the JKA in Belgium, Satoshi Miyazaki, was born in Sagai, Japan. In 1956 Miyazaki enrolled at Takushoku University to study economics, having been persuaded by Masatoshi Nakayama to do so. He joined the university’s famed Shotokan Karate school as a white belt, studying under …

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Luca Valdesi

Karate is Karate – and the training must always be complete: kata, kihon, kumite, self-defense, philosophy. Luca Valdesi Following the likes of Dario Marchini, Luca Valdesi is an icon of Italian Karate. Considered one of the greatest kata competitors, he ranks alongside Tsuguo Sakumoto and Michael Milon as the most successful competitors at the World …

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