Tag: Mas Oyama

This week in history (13 September – 19 September)

14 September On 14 September 2011, Edward ‘Bobby’ Lowe died peacefully in his sleep Edward ‘Bobby’ Lowe died peacefully in his sleep on 14 September 2011, at Queens Hospital Honolulu, Hawaii. He was survived by his wife Betty, daughter Barbara, and son Michael. Known as the ‘Instructor’s Instructor‘, Lowe was Mas Oyama’s oldest and most …

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This week in history (23 August – 29 August)

23 August On 23 July 2011, Steve Arneil was awarded his 10th Dan. 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 …

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Nicholas Pettas

The most important thing I learned as a dormitory student at the Kyokushinkaikan, the headquarters of Kyokushin, was to be courageous in the face of any obstacle, the spirit of never giving up, and the motivation to want to succeed in everything you do in life. Nicholas Pettas Sometimes known as the ‘Blue-eyed Samurai‘, Nicholas …

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This week in history (9 August – 15 August)

9 August On 9 August 1945, the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. This was three days after they dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Hiroshi Shirai and his family survived the dropping of the bomb. On 9 August 1975, the film ‘Karate Bullfighter‘ …

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This week in history (26 July – 1 August)

27 July On 27 July 1923 the founder of Kyokushin Karate, Matsutatsu (Mas) Oyama was born in Japanese occupied Korea. Born Choi Yeong-eui, he spent most of his life in Japan. He was a student of Gichin Funakoshi and later Gogen Yamaguchi. On 27 July 1985, the Karate Championships were held as part of the …

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This week in history (19 July – 25 July)

19 July On 19 July 1957 Hoang Nam, working on behalf of the French Karate Federation, conducted his first lesson and grading for the British Karate Federation (BKF) at 12 Maybush Road, Hornchurch, Essex. On 19 July 1957, the first black and white film was taken by Independent Television News (ITN) showing Karate training in …

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Trevor Tockar

Only when you recognise your own weaknesses can you improve and develop. Trevor Tockar One of the most respected names in South African and Australian Kyokushin Karate, Trevor Tockar, was one of the youngest men graded to 5th Dan by Kyokushin founder Mas Oyama. He was one of the men at the forefront of Kyokushin …

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This week in history (21 June – 27 June)

22 June On 22 June 1931, Teruyuki Okazaki was born in Nogata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He was the second son of a family that came from a samurai lineage on his grandmother’s side. Okazaki has been described by some, as one of the most technically gifted karatekas to come from the Japanese Karate Association (JKA). …

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Yoshiji Soeno

Known as the ‘Tiger of Josai‘, Yoshiji Soeno was one of Mas Oyama’s early Kyokushin students. The character, Ryu, from the Street Fighter game, is said to have been based on him. Yoshiji Soeno was born in Tokorozawa, Japan, on 29 September 1947. He was descended from an ancient samurai family on both his father …

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This week in history (10 May – 16 May)

10 May On 10 May 1957, the founder of Shotokan Karate, Gichin Funakoshi, was laid to rest at the Zen Sho-ji temple in Kakiu. He was cremated and his ashes laid alongside those of his wife. Funakoshi had died on 26 April, in a Tokyo hospital, surrounded by his close family and his student Shigeru …

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