This week in history…(16 October – 22 October)

18 October

On 18 October 1955, Dave Kershaw was born in Grimsby, England. At the time Grimsby was a successful port town, and his father was a trawler captain.

A longtime student of Shotokan masters, Hirokazu Kanazawa and Shiro Asano, Kershaw, was a very successful competitor in both kata and kumite. However, it is as an instructor that he has made his name. With over 40 years of teaching experience, his calmness and knowledge can be seen in the way he teaches.

On 18 October 1991, the IOGKF held a Goju-Ryu Karate Technical Seminar and All-American Tournament in Fort Smith Arkansas. As Chief instructor Morio Higaonna conducted the seminar. Bill Clinton, who was the Governor of Arkansas at the time, awarded him a commendation.

On 18 October 1997, Devorah Dometrich was promoted to 7th Dan by the Board of Directors of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai. She became the first woman to receive the rank in Okinawan Karate or Kobudo.

Dometrich is one of the foremost Kobudo practitioners in North America. She has done much to promote Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai in the United States as taught to her by Eisuke Akamine.

19 October

On 19 October 1991, the Mayor of Fort Smith designated 18 October as Morio Higaonna Day. He also made Higaonna an honorary citizen of Fort Smith.

20 October

On 20 October 1972, Howard Collins competed in the 4th All Japan Open Karate Tournament. He made it to the final where he lost to Miyuki Miura.

On 20 October 1982, martial arts historian, Donald Frederick “Donn” Draeger died from cancer at the Veteran’s Hospital located in Milwaukee. He was buried five days later at the Wood National Cemetery, in Milwaukee.

Unfortunately, Draeger’s death attracted very little attention. Many people did not even know he had returned to the United States.

On 20 October 2010, Kyokushin’s Miyuki Miura’s video, ‘Miura Miyuki Proposals for Karate Basics‘ was released. The video focuses on the essential basic techniques and ideas required for Karate.

21 October

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

Whitcher started training at the dawn of Shotokan Karate in the United Kingdom. He was the first British subject to be promoted to his 3rd Dan from the Japanese Karate Association (JKA), at their Tokyo headquarters in 1971.

On 21 October 1990, Anthony Mirakian was promoted to 9th Dan. He travelled to Okinawa where he received his promotion from Meitoku Yagi. Mirakian was the first foreigner to receive the rank from Yagi.

22 October

On 22 October 1972, Terutomo Yamazaki competed at the 4th All Japan Open Karate Tournament. Mas Oyama had requested he compete. Oyama knew what a popular competitor Yamazaki was. Yamazaki finished in fourth place. However, he set a new tournament record in the tameshiwara section, breaking 21 boards.

On 22 October 1972, Miyuki Miura competed in the 4th All Japan Open Karate Tournament. On his way to winning the title, he defeated Howard Collins, Toshikazu Sato, and Joko Ninomiya. This was an improvement from the previous year when he finished in fourth place.

On 22 October 20ll, Australian Judd Reid completed the 100-Man Kumite Challenge. He was a member of the World Karate Organisation (WKO) led by Kenji Midori.

In 1991, while in Japan as an uchi-deshi, Reid had fought Akira Masuda, twice during his challenge attempt.

A documentary film, ‘Journey to the 100 Man Fight – The Judd Reid Story‘, detailed Reid’s attempt at the challenge.