Tag: Hirokazu Kanazawa

This week in history (1 Feb – 7 Feb)

1 February On 1 February 1960, Michael Manning became the first British Karate Federation (BKF) student to grade to 1st kyu. Manning was one of Vernon Bell‘s original Karate students. He was nineteen when he started training with Bell in Jiujitsu in 1956. Manning was described as having a withered right arm. By the time …

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Masao Kawasoe

Most people don’t understand the central role the hips have to play in Karate. Karate is about the hips first and then the other parts of the body coming into play picking up energy along the way. Masao Kawasoe The former Chief Instructor of the JKA, Masatoshi Nakayama, once said of Masao Kawasoe: Through his …

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This week in history (18 January – 24 January)

20 January On 20 January 1909 Gōju-ryu legend, Gōgen Yamaguchi, was born. Nicknamed the Cat, he was famed for his feline-like speed and prowess.Yamaguchi was a direct student of Gōju-ryu Karate founder, Chojun Miyagi. He began training with him in 1929. On 20 January 1938 Cyril Cummins, a pioneer of Shotokan in Central England, was …

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Tomohiro Arashiro

Not just kata, not just kumite, both. Tomohiro Arashiro An ambassador of the Okinawan Karate style of Ryuei-Ryu, Tomohiro Arashiho has helped build it from a family-style practised in Okinawa to a style practised internationally. Tomohiro Arashiro was born on 15 July 1954 in Naga City, Okinawa. His father was a farmer. Growing up he …

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Tomiko Mitsuoka

I feel I am nobody without Karate and will be lost without it. It provides me with guidance, discipline, perseverance and gives me respect as I respect others. Tomiko Mitsuoka Currently ranked as an 8th Dan, Tomiko Mitsuoka is one of the highest-ranked women in Shotokan Karate and the highest-ranked female instructor in the World …

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Yutaka Yaguchi

I would be very sad if all I thought about was winning or losing. Winning or losing is not important, but learning the mental aspects are the real challenge and benefits of training. I place more emphasis on the mental aspects of training because this will take my students beyond just sport Karate. Yutaka Yaguchi …

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This week in history (4 January – 10 January)

6 January On 6 January 1967, Michael Randall gained his 1st Dan from Hirokazu Kanazawa. He was one of the first men in Britain to gain the rank of 1st Dan from the Japan Karate Association (JKA). At the time of writing Randall is one of a handful of people currently training to have trained …

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This week in history (28 December – 3 January)

29 December On 29th December 2016 Frank Cope died aged 82 following a bout of illness. In many ways, Cope was ahead of his time practising things that would not gain major popularity for many years. He was also considered a great teacher, being able to identify a student’s weakness and provide a way for …

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Katsunori Tsuyama

At the end, there is only one thing that is kihon. Many complain about the monotonous basic training. The body may, however, be aware only by a uniform constant repetition of movements. One should look for the connection of conscious art and physical strength. The technique must be so trained that it settles in the …

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This week in history (7 December – 13 December)

7 December On 7 December 1912 Shigeru Egami, an early student of Gichin Funakoshi, was born in Omuta, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He is considered the one student who followed Funakoshi’s teachings most closely.  Egami began his Karate training in the 1932 as a student at Waseda University. He was instructed by Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka. He helped found the university’s Karate …

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