Tag: Hiroshi Shirai

Tetsuhiko Asai

In the past not everybody could do Karate in the standard way, particularly after the war, there was a closed-off mentality, a physical hardness in karate, aiming primarily to build spirit, rather than effective martial arts technique. Many people in Shotokan had, and still have, closed minds thinking this is the only way to do …

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Moments in history: The JKA tour of 1965

For many people around the world, the Japan Karate Association (JKA) are synonymous with Shotokan Karate. The technical excellence of their instructors are well respected, regardless of the style of Karate practised. Masters like Nakayama, Nishiyama, Okazaki, Kanazawa and Enoeda, to name a few, are held as the pinnacle of Shotokan Karate. Gichin Funakoshi introduced …

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Terry O’Neill

I don’t think that tradition should be kept alive for it’s own sake. If you can prove that something is better, that it’s a better training method, then you should use it. Terry O’Neill Terry O’Neill is a true legend of British martial arts and Shotokan Karate. As a competitor and instructor, he is one …

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Hiroshi Shirai

Breathing is very important in karate. You should first start with breathing exercise very slowly. Inhale 30 seconds exhale 30 seconds. After you inhale slowly and exhale fast, inhale fast, exhale slowly, and the opposite way around. You also can go to the forest, to a quiet place, close your eyes, and just breath slowly …

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Takayuki Mikami

Water can adapt itself totally to its environment and still maintain its identity. Calm water reflects a total picture and troubled water reflect confusion. So approaching a problem with a calm and adaptable mind is very important to making the wise choices. Takayuki Mikami Takayuki Mikami has had a lot of firsts in his Karate …

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Andy Sherry

Andy Sherry can arguably be called a pioneer of Shotokan Karate in the United Kingdom. He is currently ranked as a 9th Dan, with over fifty years of training in the style of Shotokan. His passion and dedication epitomize all that is good in Karate. Andrew William Sherry was born on 9 July 1943 in …

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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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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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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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Stan Schmidt

I learned that you can achieve more by remaining calm, and keeping your emotions stable, than by trying too hard to overpower an opponent. I found that correct utilisation of energy was very necessary. Stan Schmidt Stan Schmidt can be considered a trailblazer when it comes to Karate. With over fifty years of training in …

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