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 22 2022
On 22 January 1961, Hirokazu Kanazawa was sent to Hawaii by the JKA, to become their Chief Instructor in Hawaii. He held this position for two years. Introducing the new art of Shotokan Karate to Hawaii was not without its problems. Kanazawa faced challenges from other instructors of other Karate styles and martial arts. They …
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Dec 20 2021
21 December On 21 December 1957 Trevor Guilfoyle and Gerald Tucker become the first karateka in Britain to be graded to 3rd kyu, under the British Karate Federation (BKF). The grading was conducted by Vernon Bell at 12 Maybush Road, Hornchurch, London. Guilfoyle and Tucker were two of Bell’s earliest students, taking part in 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 15 2021
15 November On 15 November 1968, Doug Perry was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. Perry was the first non-Okinawan promoted to 9th Dan within the Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Shorin-Kan Karate Association. He was one of the first group of students to practice Karate in its infancy in the United States. 16 November On 16 November 1928 Mitsusuke Harada …
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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 25 2021
25 October On 25 October 1936 several Karate masters gathered for a special meeting in Naha, Okinawa. While not attended by Gichin Funakoshi, this meeting was attended by Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Choki Motobu, Chojun Miyagi, Choshin Chibana, Juhatsu Kyoda, Shinpan Gusukuma, Genwa Nakasone, and others. Funakoshi would attend subsequent meetings. Chomo Hanashiro had first …
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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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Sep 06 2021
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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Aug 16 2021
16 August On 16 August 1940, Kiyoshi Yamazaki was born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His father was a Kendo master, who taught his Kiyoshi Yamasaki and his brother, martial arts from an early age. A student of one of the greatest Karate Masters of the 20th century in Yasuhiro Konishi, Kiyoshi Yamazaki has endeavoured to …
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