Aug 08 2022
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 were one of the few people to survive the dropping of the bomb. On …
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Jul 18 2022
18 July On 18 July 1959, Tetsuji Murakami made his first-ever visit to England to teach for the BKF (British Karate Federation). He also conducted a number of gradings at 12 Maybush Road, Hornchurch, Essex. On 18 July 1963 Vernon Bell received a letter from his German counterpart, Jurgen Seydel, informing him that Tetsuji Murakami …
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May 09 2022
9 May Between 9 – 12 May at the 48th European Karate Championships was held in Budapest, Hungry, Rafael Aghayev returned to his winning ways. He defeated Dutchman, René Smaal in the final of the -75 kg kumite event. 10 May On 10 May 1957, the founder of Shotokan Karate, Gichin Funakoshi, was laid to …
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Feb 01 2022
On 1 February 1960, Michael Manning became the first British Karate Federation (BKF) student to grade to 1st kyu. Manning was one of Vernon Bell‘s original Karate students. He was nineteen when he started training with Bell in Jiujitsu in 1956. Manning was described as having a withered right arm. By the time he graded, …
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Jan 26 2022
On 26 January 1964 Tetsuji Murakami performed his last official grading for the British Karate Federation (BKF) at their Blackpool dojo. Murakami’s association with the BKF had begun in July 1959, when he arrived in England from France. He conducted his first lesson and grading at 12 Maybush Road, Hornchurch. Murakami has been described as …
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Jan 24 2022
On 24 January 1987, Tetsuji Murakami, an early pioneer of Karate in Europe, died from an incurable disease after a long illness, in his adopted city of Paris. He was only 59 years old.
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Jan 06 2022
On 6 January 1967, Michael Randall gained his 1st Dan from Hirokazu Kanazawa. He was one of the first men in Britain to gain the rank of 1st Dan from the Japan Karate Association (JKA). At the time of writing Randall is one of a handful of people currently training to have trained under the …
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Dec 13 2021
13 December On 13 December 1943 David ‘Ticky’ Donovan was born in Loughton, just outside London. As a boy, he was into many sports. However, boxing was his main passion. He would go on to become the most successful coach of the British and English National sides. On 13 December 1947 Tsuguo Sakumoto was born …
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Nov 01 2021
1 November On 1 November 1947, Tsuyoshi Hiroshige was born in Kokura, now known as Kita Kyushu City, Japan. A phenomenal instructor, Tsuyoshi Hiroshige was known as a master trainer. He has trained multiple World Champions and All Japan Champions, including Kenji Midori, Kenji Yamaki, Hajime Kazumi, and Norichika Tsukamoto. Between 1-3 November 1975, 128 …
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Oct 04 2021
4 October On 4 October 1924, Motokuni Sugiura, a former Chief Instructor of the JKA, was born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Sugiura earned his 1st Dan aged only 20. At university, he had been taught by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka. After he graduated in 1944 he joined the Tsuchiura Navy Flying Corps, serving …
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