Manzo Iwata

One of Shito-ryu founder, Kenwa Mabuni’s top students, Manzo Iwata was a phenomenal martial artist, who was a long time member of the Federation of All Japan Karate-do Organisation (FAJKO). A well-respected Shito-ryu master, he was known for his superb technical ability. Manzo Iwata was born on 9 February 1924, in Tokyo, Japan. He was …

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Hideyuki Ashihara

A direct student of Mas Oyama, Hideyuki Ashihara was known as a phenomenal fighter. However, it was at an instructor that he had the biggest impact. Students would travel from miles just to train with him. Hideyuki Ashihara was born on 5 December 1944 near the city of Hiroshima, Japan. He was raised by his …

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This week in history (5 October – 11 October)

5 October On 5 October 1955 Guusje van Mourik, one of the most successful kumite competitors, was born in the Central Netherlands town of Zeist. Her early exposure to the martial arts was through the sport of Judo. She would eventually receive the grade of 2nd Dan. She competed in the Dutch Championships and won …

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This week in history (28 Sep – 4 Oct)

28 September On 28 September 1897, Shinkin Gima was born in Shuri, Okinawa. Growing up he studied Karate under both Yasutsune Itosu and Kentsu Yabu before attending university in Tokyo. In 1922 he met and began training with Gichin Funakoshi. He was Funakoshi’s first black belt and would eventually reach the rank of 10th Dan. …

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Mas Tsuroka

I have seen the best Karate. All that really matters is what kind of human being you are. Mas Tsuroka Rightly known as the ‘Father of Canadian Karate‘ Mas Tsuroka did a lot to establish Karate in Canada. Many instructors teaching Karate in Canada today, can trace their lineage back to Tsuroka. Masami Tsuroka was …

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This week in history (21 Sep – 27 Sep)

21 September On 21 September 1980 Ronnie Christopher was promoted to 1st Dan by Keinosuke Enoeda. One of the best competitors of his generation, Christopher won numerous titles nationally and internationally. He was part of the British team that won the 1990 Shoto Cup in Sunderland, England, defeating the previously undefeated Japan in the team …

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Tadashi Nakamura

What I would like to say is that modern Karate is now quite popular compared to the past. There are more people studying Karate, more people teaching and more schools compared to before, not only in America but in Japan and elsewhere too. One good thing is that now people have more places to study …

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Norman Robinson

A legend of South African Shotokan Karate, Norman Robinson, alongside Stan Schmidt, was responsible for introducing Shotokan into South Africa. Known as a ferocious fighter, JKA great, Masahiko Tanaka, once referred to him as ‘a monster‘. Norman Robinson was born on 17 September 1936 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the youngest of eight children …

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Hatsuo Royama

Without presence and without intention, technique cannot live, it cannot inhabit the body. Hatsuo Royama The name Hatsuo Royama is synonymous with Kyokushin Karate. Around at the birth of Kyokushin Karate, he was one of the few students to be involved with Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin, from the start of the art, until …

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This week in history (14 Sep – 20 Sep)

15 September On 15 September 1938 Fumio Demura, a pioneer of American Karate, was born in Yokohama, Japan. Demura arrived in the US in 1965 at the invitation of another American pioneer, Dan Ivan. He started teaching at Ivan’s dojo. 17 September On 17 September 1966, Shigeru Oyama, no relation to the Kyokushin founder, took …

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