This week in history (10 June – 16 June)

10 June

On 10 June 1946 Michael Dewey, the Chief Instructor of Shotokan of England Karate Union (SEKU), was born.

Dewey, a boat builder by trade, began his Karate training in 1967 at the Portsmouth Karate Club. Dewey, a keen footballer, was introduced to the new art of Karate by his girlfriend. On weekends Ray Fuller, a black belt from Keinosuke Enoeda‘s Blackfriars Shotokan dojo in London, would travel to Portsmouth to teach.

In 1972 Dewey earned his 1st Dan from Enoeda at a Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) Summer Training Course, held at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London.

Dewey became a full time Karate instructor in 1974, running several clubs on the south coast of England.

Between 1973 to 1979 Dewey was a member of several KUGB squads. He was a member of the British team that came third at the 1977 World Championships held in Japan. He was also a member of the 1980 team that won European gold in Brussels. He was also selected to represent the British All-Styles Karate Team between 1975 to 1979, under the management of Steve Arneil.

In 1982 Dewey was appointed the Chief Instructor of the South of England Karate Union (SEKU), which was eventually renamed to Shotokan of England Karate Union.

12 June

On 12 June 1962 Keinosuke Enoeda was promoted to 4^th Dan. He was the 63^rd person to be awarded the Yondan rank by the JKA.

********************************************

On 12 June 1965 Hirokazu Kanazawa took his first teaching trip outside of London to the British Karate Federation’s (BKF) Liverpool dojo. The trip lasted from the 12th to 19th of June.

Kanazawa’s teaching schedule included teaching on the Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On the weekdays he taught from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

During his visit Kanazawa did not perform any gradings. It is thought he taught the katas Heian Yondan, Heian Godan and Tekki Shodan.

********************************************

On 12 June 1980 Antonio Jose Diaz Fernandez, a multiple kata world champion, was born in Caracas, Venezuela.

Antonio Diaz started training in 1986 when he was five years old, influenced by his parents who were both karateka. His first style was Shito-Kai karate under Sensei Shoko Sato, notable for being the first Japanese Karate sensei to start teaching in Venezuela.

13 June

On 13 June 1960 Keinosuke Enoeda was promoted to 3^rd Dan. He was the 150^th person to be awarded the Sandan rank by the JKA.

16 June

On 16 June 2012 Hamish Adam was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the sport of Karate as both a competitor and coach.

A Wado-ryu practitioner, Adam has won numerous titles nationally and internationally. In 1973 he was part of the Scottish team that won their first ever European Team Championships. In the October 1973 issue of Black Belt Magazine, he was named as one of ” The Top 10 European Karatemen”.

Adam has also served as a Director on the Scottish Karate Governing Body.