Tag: Vernon Bell

This week in history…(3 October – 9 October)

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

6 September On 6 September 2016 Walter Seaton, one of the first Wado-Ryu black belts in the UK, died aged 80 years. Seaton was born in Middlesbrough and was one of the first instructors to teach Karate to women at his dojo. A family man, Seaton and his wife Eva had six children, twenty-two grandchildren, …

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This week in history… (15 August – 21 August)

15 August On 15 August 2006, Shotokan master, Tetsuhiko Asai, died from heart failure aged 71 years. Asai was one of the most unique masters to come out of the JKA (Japan Karate Association). Nicknamed “Kaminari-Arashi” meaning “Thunderous Storm”, he was a Shotokan Karate practitioner that infused other martial arts such as White Crane Kung Fu into his …

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This week in history… (8 August – 14 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 were one of the few people to survive the dropping of the bomb. On …

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This week in history… (18 July – 24 July)

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

4 July On 4 July 1935, Keinosuke Enoeda, a legend of Shotokan Karate, was born in Fukuoka, Japan, to a family of samurai lineage. Enoeda began his martial arts training in Judo aged 7. He eventually reached the grade of 2nd Dan. He entered Takushoku University, aged 19, because of its strong Karate club. Enoeda …

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This week in history (20 June – 26 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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This week in history (6 June – 12 June)

7 June On 7 June 1935 Shotokan master and former Technical Director of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), Tetsuhiko Asai was born in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As a boy, Asai had trained in Sumo, Judo, and Kendo. He became interested in Karate after seeing a karateka defeat a boxer in a fight.  Upon entering Takushoku …

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This week in history (30 May – 5 June)

30 May On 30 May 1978, Yoshizo Machida and his wife, Ana Claudia’s third son, Lyoto, was born. Like his father, Lyoto Machida is known for his Shotokan Karate. He is also known for his mixed martial arts career. On 30 May 2003, Minoru Mochizuki, the founder of the Yoseikan School, died in Aix-en-Provence, France …

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This week in history (9 May – 15 May)

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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