This week in history (19 August – 25 August)

19 August

On 19 August 2017 Henri Plee, the Father of European Karate, died in Paris, France.

Held a 10th Dan in Karate, a 5th Dan in Judo, a 3rd Dan in Aikido and a 1st Dan in Kendo, it can be argued that no one has done more to promote Karate in Europe than Plee. His publication Budo Magazine Europe introduced many people in Europe to Eastern martial arts.

Plee was responsible for bringing many top martial artist to teach in Europe. Some of these include Tetsuji Murakami, Hiroo Mochizuki, Taiji Kase, Yoshinao Nanbu, Mitsusuke Harada, Tsutomo Ohshima, Hiroshi Shirai, and Keinosuke Enoeda.