Teruo Kono

Karate is Karate. The main thing is the man himself – not the school he belongs to, not the style he practices. Teruo Kono A direct student of Wado-ryu founder, Hironori Ohtsuka, Teruo Kono was among the first instructors to teach Wado-ryu Karate in Europe. British pioneers Peter Spanton and Walter Seaton recalled training with …

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Eddie Whitcher

….probably the finest Shotokan practitioner this country has ever produced. Clive Layton (“Shotokan Dawn Vol 2) Described as “Embodying the spirit of Karate-do”, Eddie Whitcher started training at the dawn of Karate in the United Kingdom. He was the first British subject to earn the grade of 3rd Dan from the Japanese Karate Association (JKA) at …

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Pauline Laville-Bindra

All I wanted to do was to compete against the men. Pauline Laville-Bindra Pauline Laville-Bindra is a true pioneer in the world of Karate. She was the first woman in Britain to earn a JKA (Japan Karate Association) black belt in Karate and went on to train for over forty years, eventually reaching the rank …

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Frank Cope

The way I judge people’s Karate and standard; the first thing I would look for is their ‘footwork‘, which obviously ties in with their ‘stances’. If their footwork and their stances are good, then I feel that they have been well taught and trained. Good stances and footwork produce good Karate, in my opinion. Frank Cope …

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Toru Takamizawa

Over the years Britain has been blessed with many top Japanese masters, of various styles, teaching in the United Kingdom. Masters such as Tatsuo Suzuki, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Mitsusuke Harada and Keinosuke Enoeda have inspired many with their skill and spirit. One master, considered by many to be one of the best Japanese instructors to ever …

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Kenko (Noritaka) Nakaima

Although his name is not immediately recognizable as some other Okinawan masters, Kenko Nakaima is responsible for making the family Karate style of Ryūei-ryū open to the wider public. It is this style that introduced the kata Anan to the Karate tournament world. Kenko Nakaima was born on 23 December 1911, in Naha, Okinawa. His …

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Jim Alcheik

It is arguable that the name Jim Alcheik is not as revered as it should be in martial arts circles. Alcheik was a true pioneer of martial arts in Europe, being one of the first Europeans to train in Japan. He was proficient in Aikido, Kendo, Karate and Judo. Vernon Bell, the father of British Karate, described …

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Henri Plee

Considered the “Father of European Karate”, Henri Plee is a true pioneer. He studied many martial arts with some of the world’s top masters. He held a 10th Dan in Karate, a 5th Dan in Judo, a 3rd Dan in Aikido and a 1st Dan in Kendo. He made it his mission to promote martial …

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Walter Seaton

Remember: it’s through basic techniques that we learn how best to use our weight and speed, that’s why basics are the most fundamental part of Karate practice. Walter Seaton A true pioneer of Karate in the United Kingdom, Walter Seaton was one of the first instructors to teach Karate to women at his Middlesbrough dojo. …

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Yukiyoshi Marutani

Karate should allow individuals to develop their own ethics, spirits, values, and integrity. Karate is an individual accomplishment rather than a public recognition of improvement. Yukiyoshi Marutani Described as a master of kumite, Yukiyoshi Marutani is known for his kumite and his exceptional teaching. He is unique in that he stresses learning kumite before learning …

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