This week in history…(12 September – 18 September)

12 September

On 12 September 1961, Molly Samuel, a multiple European and World Champion, was born in Paddington, West London.

Samuel was Britain’s first individual female World Karate Federation (WKF) World Champion. She was a pioneer of women’s competitive Karate, paving the way for many of Britain’s future world champions. Her major honours include:

• World Championships, Individual Kumite (-60-kg) – 1st Place (1992)
• World Championships, Individual Kumite (-60-kg) – 2nd Place (1986)
• World Championships, Individual Kumite (-60-kg) – 3rd Place (1990)
• World Championships, Team Kumite – 1st Place (1992)
• World Games, Individual Kumite (-60-kg) – 1st Place (1993)
• World Cup, Individual Kumite (-60-kg) – 1st Place (1987, 1989, 1993)
• World Cup, Team Kumite – 1st Place (1990, 1991, 1992 1994)
• World Cup, Team Kumite – 2nd Place (1989, 1993)
• European Championships, Individual Kumite (-60-kg) – 1st Place (1986, 1987, 1989, 1992)
• European Championships, Team Kumite – 1st Place (1990, 1992)
• European Championships, Team Kumite – 2nd Place (1991, 1993)
• British Championships, Individual Kumite (-60-kg) – 1st Place (1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992)
• British Championships, Team Kumite (-60-kg) – 1st Place (1987, 1988, 1990, 1992)
• English Championships, Individual Kumite (-60kg) – 1st Place (1985, 1986, 1987 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994)
• English Championships, Team Kumite – 1st Place (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994)

On 12 September 1971 Atsuko Wakai, a four-time kata World Champion, was born in Gifu, Japan.

At the time Wakai was the only woman to win four consecutive World Kata titles. This feat earned her an entry in the Guinness Book of Records and made her one of the most dominant World Champions, male or female.  Her major honours include:

• World Championships – Individual Kata – 1st place (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004)
• World Games – Individual Kata – 1st place (1997, 2001, 2005)
• World Cup – Individual Kata – 1st place (1997)
• Asian Karate Championships – 1st place (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004)
• Asian Games – Individual Kata – 1st place (1998, 2002)

14 September

On 14 September 2011, Edward ‘Bobby’ Lowe died peacefully in his sleep, at Queens Hospital Honolulu, Hawaii. He was survived by his wife Betty, daughter Barbara, and son Michael.

Known as the ‘Instructor’s Instructor‘, Lowe was Mas Oyama’s oldest and most senior student. He was Oyama’s first uchi-deshi (live-in student). He opened the first Kyokushin school outside of Japan.

15 September

On 15 September 1938, Fumio Demura, a pioneer of American Karate, was born in Yokohama, Japan.

Demura arrived in the United States in 1965 at the invitation of another American pioneer, Dan Ivan. He started teaching at Ivan’s dojo.

17 September

On 17 September 1936, Norman Robinson, a legend of South African Shotokan Karate alongside the likes of Stan Schmidt and Malcolm Dorfman, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the youngest of eight children (five boys and three girls). His father Jack, was a famous Judo instructor who helped introduce the sport to South Africa.

On 17 September 1966, Shigeru Oyama, no relation to the Kyokushin founder Mas Oyama, took the 100-Man Kumite Challenge. A renowned fighter, he was undefeated in Japan. During his challenge, he had 122 fights. He is quoted as saying:

100 kumite is the hardest thing I ever did in my life. It is probably the hardest thing anyone can do in the Karate world. You don’t beat the 65th man with your body. That’s all gone by then. You beat him with your spirit.

Shigeru Oyama

On 17 September 1988, the 1st Sursee Cup was held in Sursee, Switzerland. The Open Weight Tournament was organised by the Swiss Karate Association. Andy Hug defeated Kenji Midori in the final.

On 17 September 2005, the Japanese Cultural Centre of Hawaii recognised Bobby Lowe for his contributions to Karate. He and fellow recipient, James Miyagi were presented with their awards at the Celebration of Lifetime Achievement dinner, held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Known as the ‘Instructor’s Instructor‘, Lowe was Mas Oyama’s oldest and most senior student. He was Oyama’s first uchi-deshi (live-in student). He opened the first Kyokushin school outside of Japan.

18 September

On 18 September 2018, Peter Chong, a long-time practitioner of Kyokushin Karate, resigned from IKO. He wanted to return to the ideals of Kyokushin Karate, as taught by Mas Oyama. A week after leaving that IKO he established the International Karate Alliance Kyokushinryu. Chong was named Chairman, with Ryuko Take being named Vice-Chairman.