This week in history (15 October – 21 October)

17 October

On 17 October 1974 Karate instructor Doug James ran his very first beginner’s class at the Harrarby Community Center. The name of his club was the Cumbria School of Karate. This club would eventually become the headquarters (Hombu) of his association, the British Karate-Do Chojinkai Association (BKCA). The BKCA comprises of clubs in Cumbria, North Lancashire and the North East of England.

21 October

On 21 October 1941 Edward Arthur Whitcher was born in Dagenham, Essex.

Whitcher was the first British subject to earn the grade of 3rd Dan from the Japanese Karate Association (JKA) at their Tokyo headquarters in 1971.