Tag: Hiroshi Shirai

This week in history (26 April – 2 May)

26 April On 26 April 1957, Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate, died in a Tokyo hospital, aged 88. His family and close student Shigeru Egami were at his bedside. On 26 April 1965, a touring party from the JKA gave their third authorized demonstration in Britain. The party consisted of Taiji Kase, Hirokazu …

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This week in history (19 April – 25 April)

20 April On 20th April 1960, Luis Maria Sanz was born in Valladolid, Spain. Described as “the last link between traditional and competitive Karate“, Luis Maria Sanz holds a notable place in Karate, being the first non-Japanese man and the first Shotokan karateka to become WKF World champion, in 1992. On 20 April 1965, a …

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This week in history (12 April – 18 April)

12 April On 12 April 1998, Osamu Ozawa host the 18th Annual Traditional Karate Tournament International for the last time. Since its inception in 1981, the tournament had become a showcase for traditional Karate styles. Many of the world’s top masters would give demonstrations and seminars at the event. The 18th running of the event …

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This week in history (5 April – 11 April)

5 April On April 5, 1870 founder of Motobu Ryu, Chōki Motobu, was born in Okinawa. Motobu was the third son of a noble family. As the third son, he was not allowed to learn the family martial art of Motobu Udundi. This meant he trained under various Okinawan masters such as Anko Itosu, and Sokon Matsumura. A …

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This week in history (29 March – 4 April)

29 March On 29 March 1965, the JKA World Tour commenced at Hanada Airport, Tokyo. The touring party consisted of Taiji Kase, 6th Dan, who had started training in 1944 at the original Shoto-Kan under Yoshitaka Funakoshi. Hirokazu Kanazawa, 5th Dan, was the next member of the party. He was the first All Japan JKA …

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Takeshi Naito

Each era must accept tradition to grow, but not remain as it was 30 or 40 years ago. As I said “traditional” means “to continue” but accepting changes and improvements. Over time, everything undergoes an evolution, we always try to improve, to keep the positive and remove the negative: then it is a question of …

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Takeshi Oishi

Everything, in my opinion, is in the training, so there are no tips to give, only quantity of training, in order to automate the techniques, so as not to think, when it will be time for the fight. Takeshi Oishi One of the longest-serving instructors at the JKA, Takeshi Oishi was a formidable fighter. Known …

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This week in history (8 Feb – 14 Feb)

8 February On 8 February 1985, Kyoshi Yamazaki’s daughter, Mina, was born in California. In November 2012, Mina Yamazaki represented the United States at the 21st World Karate Championships, held in Paris, France. She had started learning Karate from her father, at the age of three. 9 February On 9 February 1929 Shotokan master Taiji …

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Toru Yamaguchi

Technique will keep on improving, I hope, as instructors understand more about modern technology and its uses. I believe we can develop new technology for our bodies too. Toru Yamaguchi Considered one of the best ever JKA instructors, Toru Yamaguchi was a well-rounded karateka. He had good kihon, kata, and kumite. Masatoshi Nakayama once described …

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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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