Tag: Mas Oyama

This week in history (19 October – 25 October)

20 October On 20 October 1972, Kyokushin legend, Howard Collins competed in the 4th All Japan Open Karate Tournament. He made it to the final where he lost to Miyuki Miura. On 20 October 1982, martial arts historian, Donald Frederick “Donn” Draeger died from cancer at the Veteran’s Hospital located in Milwaukee. He was buried …

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Bobby Lowe

The ABC of Karate is the basis of kihon. And a lot in the technique depends on kihon. If you know the ABC, you can write words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, and then books. Bobby Lowe Known as the ‘Instructor’s Instructor‘, Bobby Lowe was Mas Oyama’s oldest and most senior student. He was Oyama’s first uchi-deshi …

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Hideyuki Ashihara

A direct student of Mas Oyama, Hideyuki Ashihara was known as a phenomenal fighter. However, it was at an instructor that he had the biggest impact. Students would travel from miles just to train with him. Hideyuki Ashihara was born on 5 December 1944 near the city of Hiroshima, Japan. He was raised by his …

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Tadashi Nakamura

What I would like to say is that modern Karate is now quite popular compared to the past. There are more people studying Karate, more people teaching and more schools compared to before, not only in America but in Japan and elsewhere too. One good thing is that now people have more places to study …

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Norman Robinson

A legend of South African Shotokan Karate, Norman Robinson, alongside Stan Schmidt, was responsible for introducing Shotokan into South Africa. Known as a ferocious fighter, JKA great, Masahiko Tanaka, once referred to him as ‘a monster‘. Norman Robinson was born on 17 September 1936 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the youngest of eight children …

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Hatsuo Royama

Without presence and without intention, technique cannot live, it cannot inhabit the body. Hatsuo Royama The name Hatsuo Royama is synonymous with Kyokushin Karate. Around at the birth of Kyokushin Karate, he was one of the few students to be involved with Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin, from the start of the art, until …

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Francisco Filho

That is to show in life you must never give up. Always have to persist, try harder, wish more Francisco Filho Known as the “Kyokushin Monster” by the Japanese, Brazilian Francisco Filho, was the first non-Japanese to win the Kyokushin World Championship. He was also one of the few people to complete the 100-man Kumite …

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This week in history (24 Aug – 30 Aug)

24 August On 24 August 2000 Andy Hug died from breathing difficulties and multiple organ failure. He was only 35 years old. His death was reported on all the major news channels in Japan. He was survived by his wife Ilona and their son Seya. 25 August On 26 August 1941 Karate instructor and humanitarian, …

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Musings: Hyakunin Kumite – The Ultimate Challenge of Kyokushin Karate

Perhaps the most unique challenge in all of Karate is Kyokushin Karate’s Hyakunin Kumite or 100-man Kumite Challenge. Devised by Kyokushin Karate founder, Mas Oyama, the challenge is the ultimate mental and physical challenge, designed to test one’s spirit. Kenji Yamaki described the challenge as a transformative experience. Howard Collins said it was the hardest …

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Hajime Kazumi

…. I started to think about the significance of Karate. I wanted to know what is Karate really. I began to question what I was doing; the way I was approaching this martial art. I now think that Karate is all about kata.  Hajime Kazumi Known for his devastating low kicks, Hajime Kazumi, was one …

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