This week in history (13 September – 19 September)

14 September

On 14 September 2011, Edward ‘Bobby’ Lowe died peacefully in his sleep Edward ‘Bobby’ Lowe died peacefully in his sleep on 14 September 2011, 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 US 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, 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.