Jul 23 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/spotlight-jim-alcheik-a-forgotten-great/
Apr 06 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-6-april-12-april/
Mar 09 2020
10 March On 10 March 1945, the Shotokan dojo was destroyed during the bombing raid of Tokyo by American B29 bombers, during World War II. The bombing raid had started the previous evening. An estimated 1665 tons of bombs were dropped on Tokyo. Much of Tokyo was destroyed, with an estimate 100000 people losing their …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-9-march-15-march/
Jan 27 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-27-january-2-february/
Jan 20 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-20-january-26-january/
Nov 11 2019
11 November On 11 November 1934 Colin Williams was born. Williams a Shotokan practitioner, started his training during the early days of Karate in the United Kingdom, in the 1950s. In the 1980s he founded the Bukonkai Karate International (BKI) association. He was the association’s Chief Instructor. In 1998 he founded the Malta Bukonkai Karate …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-11-november-17-november/
Jul 15 2019
18 July On 18 July 1959 Tetsuji Murakami made his first ever visit to England to teach for the British Karate Federation (BKF). He also conducted a number 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 …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-15-july-21-july/
Jul 08 2019
9 July On 9 July 1943 Chief Instructor of the KUGB, Andy Sherry, was born. Sherry is one of the highest ranked Shotokan practitioners in the United Kingdom, having been one of the first people awarded a JKA 1st Dan in Britain in 1966 by Keinosuke Enoeda. Now a 9th Dan and one of the …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-8-july-14-july/
Mar 11 2019
13 March On 13 March 1957 Vernon Bell was awarded his black belt in Yoseikan Karate from the Fédération Française de Karaté, under Hiroo Mochizuki and Henri Plee. Bell had started training with Plee towards the end of 1955. He had made frequent visits to Plee’s Paris dojo. After around eighteen monthes he graded for …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-11-mar-17-mar/
Feb 18 2019
20 February On 20 February 1986 Kata World Champion Rika Usami was born in Tokyo, Japan. A student of Karate master Yoshimi Inoue, Usami won the 2012 WKF World Championship Kata final held in Paris, France. She is known for her grace, strength and speed that mesmerise in equal measures. 21 February On 21 February …
Permanent link to this article: http://findingkarate.com/wordpress/this-week-in-history-18-feb-24-feb/
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