Tag: Tetsuji Murakami

Jim Alcheik

It is arguable that the name Jim Alcheik is not as revered as it should be in martial arts circles. Alcheik was a true pioneer of martial arts in Europe, being one of the first Europeans to train in Japan. He was proficient in Aikido, Kendo, Karate and Judo. Vernon Bell, the father of British Karate, described …

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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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Walter Seaton

Remember: it’s through basic techniques that we learn how best to use our weight and speed, that’s why basics are the most fundamental part of Karate practice. Walter Seaton A true pioneer of Karate in the United Kingdom, Walter Seaton was one of the first instructors to teach Karate to women at his Middlesbrough dojo. …

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This week in history (11 May – 17 May)

11 May On 11 May 1966, Hirokazu Kanazawa departed the UK for South Africa, much to the dismay of many of his British students. Kanazawa’s contract with the British Karate Federation (BKF) came to an end and was not renewed. He had built a fierce and loyal devotion from his students, especially those from the …

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This week in history (6 April – 12 April)

7 April On 7 April 1963 Yoshiaki Ajari a student of Hironri Ohtsuka, established the United States Wado-Kai Karate-Do Federation. Ajari had originally moved to the United States in 1957 to study Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. On 7 April 2004, American Karate pioneer, Peter Urban died. Urban began training in Goju-ryu Karate …

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This week in history (30 March – 5 April)

31 March On 31 March 1921, Tetsuji Murakami was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Described as a Karate missionary, Murakami began teaching Karate across Europe and North Africa during the infancy of the art outside of Japan. He was one of the first Japanese instructors to settle in Europe. Growing up Murakami was not interested …

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This week in history (24 February – 1 March)

24 February On 24 February 1941, Shotokan master, Masahiko Tanaka, was born in Tokyo, Japan. Known for his great skill in kumite, Tanaka, a long-time member of the JKA, won the 1st and 2nd IAKF World Karate Championships held in Los Angeles and Bremen. He also won the JKA All-Japan Individual kumite on two occasions. On …

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This week in history (27 January – 2 February)

27 January On 27 January 1934, Raymond Fuller, one of the students present at the founding of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB), was born. Fuller started his Karate training in January of 1964 at Vernon Bell‘s Horseshoe pub dojo, located in London. At the time the British Karate Federation (BKF) were affiliated with …

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This week in history (20 January – 26 January)

20 January On 20 January 1909 Gōju-ryu legend, Gōgen Yamaguchi, was born. Nicknamed the Cat, he was famed for his feline-like speed and prowess.Yamaguchi was a direct student of Gōju-ryu Karate founder, Chojun Miyagi. He began training with him in 1929. On 20 January 1938 Cyril Cummins, a pioneer of Shotokan in Central England, was …

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This week in history (16 December – 22 December)

19 December On 19 December 1963 Vernon Bell received a letter from Masatomo Takagi, the General Manager of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), requesting that the British Karate Federation officially act as the authorized representative of the JKA in Britain. Earlier that year Bell had received a letter from Takagi indicating that Tetsuji Murakami (Yoseikan …

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