This week in history (19 February – 25 February)

On 20 February 1986 Kata World Champion Rika Usami was born in Tokyo, Japan. A student of Karate master Yoshimi Inoue, Usami won the 2012 WKF World Championship Kata final held in Paris, France. She is known for her grace, strength and speed that mesmerize fans in equal measures. On 21 February 1956 the earliest known letter was written …

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Cover Star: Tsutomu Ohshima

Famed for his intense stare Shotokan master, Tsutomu Ohshima, is one of the last living masters to have trained with Gichin Funakoshi. A graduate of Waseda University, he trained with the legendary Shigeru Egami at the university’s Karate club. In 1957 he founded the first university Karate club in the USA at the California Institute …

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Cover Star: Kenneth Funakoshi

A distant cousin of Shotokan Karate founder, Gichin Funakoshi, Kenneth Funakoshi was a longtime member of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), before leaving to form his own association, the Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association (FSKA). A top instructor in all forms of Karate, he was inducted into Black Belt Magazine’s Black Belt Hall of Fame in …

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Cover Star: Richard Kim

A legendary martial artist, Richard Kim was proficient in several martial arts, including Karate, Kobudo, Aiki-Jujitsu and Pa Kua. Inducted into Black Belt Magazine’s Black Belt Hall of Fame, he was known as a phenomenal teacher. Below are some of the magazine covers featuring Kim.  May 1976   April 1984  1993   March 1996   

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This week in history (12 February – 18 February)

On 17 February 1947 Nicholas Adamou was born. Adamou began his Karate training, alongside his older brother Chris, in 1964  at the British Karate Federation’s (BKF) London dojo. When the JKA’s Hirokazu Kanazawa began teaching Shotokan for the BKF in 1965. Adamou and his brother become devoted students of Kanazawa alongside Eddie Whitcher, Michael Randall, Mike Peachey, Will …

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Cover Star: Patrick McCarthy

Patrick McCarthy is one of the world’s top Karate Historians. A prolific writer, his book “The Bubushi – The Bible of Karate” can be found on the book shelves of many martial artists. Having practiced martial arts since the 1960s he has gained much knowledge of kata, kobudo and kumite. Below are some of the magazine covers …

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Cover Star: Hidetaka Nishiyama

Hidetaka Nishiyama was a founding member of the Japan Karate Association (JKA). He is also the author of one of the most influential Karate books, “The Art Of Empty Handed Fighting”, alongside co-author Richard C. Brown. Nishiyama was passionate about the growth of Shotokan Karate outside of Japan, especially in the United States. Below are some …

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Cover Star: Steve Arneil

The true essence of Karate is the forging of one’s character/spirit through hard training. No man typifies this principle more than Steve Arneil. He was the second man to complete the grueling One Hundred Man Kumite Challenge, after the great Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama.  January 1968  October 1976  April 1982   February 1986   March 1992    June 2000 …

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This week in history (5 February – 11 February)

On 5 February 1964 Vernon Bell received his 1st Dan from the Japan Karate Association’s (JKA), following the British Karate Federation (BKF) formally agreeing to become the JKA’s agents in Britain. This was an honorary grade, as Bell never took a grading examination. On 9 February 1929 Shotokan master Taiji Kase was born in Chiba, Japan. Kase …

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Cover Star: Michael Milon

Widely regarded as a true legend in the world of tournament karate Michael Milon was one of the most famous and talented karateka of the late 1990s. Milon was considered an inovative competitor. His kata performances were characterized by quick, fluid and powerful techniques. Below are some of the magazine covers to feature Milon.  June …

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