Tag: Takayuki Mikami

Katsuya Kisaka

Known for his aggressive fighting style, and exceptional kicking ability, Katsuya Kisaka was the Chief Instructor of the JKA New Jersey dojo for over 40 years. Katsuya Kisaka was born in Hiroshima, Japan, on 21 July 1937 On 6 August 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Kisaka’s home city of Hiroshima, during …

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This week in history…(4 December – 10 December)

4 December On 4 December 1965, the Japan Karate Association (JKA) moved their headquarters from Yotsuya to Koraku, in the Bunkyo-ku district of Tokyo. Yotsuya, located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, had been the JKA’s headquarters since 1955. The author C. W. Nicol described what it was like training at the Yotsuya Hombu in his book, Moving Zen: Karate as …

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James Yabe

Teachers, young and old, are like all other students of the art. If they miss practice, their level and knowledge goes down. The one, and only way to keep up their knowledge, skill and physical condition is through lots of consistent workouts. James Yabe Among the first of Hidetaka Nishiyama’s students in the United States, …

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Morio Higaonna

I think that people start learning Karate with different goals in their minds. However, whatever style they choose, I believe the most important factor is a good instructor… also one must never forget that Karate is not only about fighting. Morio Higaonna It could be argued that no one has done more to popularise Okinawan …

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This week in history…(31 July – 6 August)

31 July On 31 July 1937, former JKA Grand Champion, Hiroshi Shirai, was born in Nagasaki, Japan. Currently holding the rank of 9th Dan, he began his Karate training at Komazawa University in 1955. A graduate of the Kenshusei (Instructors Training Course) he became the JKA Grand Champion in 1962 winning the individual kumite title …

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This week in history…(5 June – 11 June)

5 June On 5 June 1965, Yutaka Yaguchi, arrived in Los Angeles, to assist Hidetaka Nishiyama at his Los Angeles dojo. James Field, who would go on to become one of the top Shotokan practitioners in the United States, remembered Yaguchi’s arrival. He had been close to quitting Karate at the time. However, when he …

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This week in history…(5 December – 11 December)

5 December On 5 December 1944, the founder of Ashihara Karate, Hideyuki Ashihara, was born in Hiroshima, Japan. He was a direct student of Kyokushin founder, Mas Oyama. Ashihara was considered a formidable fighter, and by 1966 he was an instructor of Kyokushin Karate at the organisation’s Hombu (headquarters). In 1987 Ashihara started showing the first signs of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). His condition gradually worsened and on 24 …

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Teruo Chinen

In a violent culture, people think ‘action first, decision later’. Karate students learn to make quick decisions, good decisions. They learn to avoid bad situations. Teruo Chinen A pioneer of Okinawan Goju–Ryu Karate in the United States, Teruo Chinen was known for his ability to teach Goju-Ryu kata and bunkai. A traditional Karate master, his …

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This week in history… (25 July – 31 July)

25 July Between 25 and 27 July 1981, the Karate event took place at Santa Clara University, at the 1st World Games held in Santa Clara, California. Tokey Hill won a bronze medal in the Men’s Individual -80kg Kumite event. Yukiyoshi Marutani defeated teammate, Seiji Nishimura, to win the bronze medal in the Men’s Individual …

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Masataka Mori

Everybody who comes to Karate in the beginning thinks they’re learning how to defend themselves and be good at fighting, but I like to teach the moral aspect of it. If I teach this, the technique and spirit of my students join together. Masataka Mori Known as “hawk eyes” because of his intense stare, Masataka …

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