This week in history (22 October – 28 October)

25 October

On 25 October 2013 Scottish karate-ka David Coulter took part in the annual 100 Kata Challenge.

The 100 Kata Challenge is a worldwide event to commemorate Okinawa Karate Day. Participants have to perform 100 repetitions of a Karate kata of their choice.

26 October

On 26 October 1957 the Federation Internationale De Karate (FIK) was formed at the headquarters of the French Karate Federation, located at 34 rue de la Montagne Sainte Genevieve, Paris.

Present at the creation of the FIK was Vladimiro Malatesti (representing Italy), Vernon Bell (representing Great Britain), Jurgen Seydel (representing Germany), Henri Plee (representing France) and Hiroo Mochizuki (representing Japan and Yoseikan Karate).

The Federation Internationale De Karate had the following aims:

• To foster closer ties between karate-ka from around the world.
• To co-ordinate the activity of Karate in all nations
• To establish technical and organisational rules
• to organise and supervise international events
• To represent Karate on the international sports scene

27 October

On 27 October 1964 the 3rd All-American Karate Tournament was held in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Chief Judge of the tournament was Hidetaka Nishiyama, the President of the All-American Karate Federation (AAKF). Masataka Mori, the Chief Instructor of the Karate Association of Hawaii, was the Chairman of the tournament. Yasu Uyehara won the kumite event. Thomas Morikawa won the kata event.

28 October

On 28 October 1939 Shotokan Karate Master, Keigo Abe was born in Iyoshi, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

A direct student of Masatoshi Nakayama, Abe graduated from the JKA Instructors Program in 1965. He was a long serving instructor at the Japan Karate Association’s hombu. After the JKA split in 1990 he joined the faction of the JKA led by Tetsuhiko Asai. In 1999 Abe resigned from the JKA and formed his own association, the Japan Shotokan Karate Association (JSK).

Noted for his phenomenal back fist, Keigo Abe is featured in three volumes of Masatoshi Nakayama’s Best Karate Series (volumes 3, 4, 9)

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On 28 October 1957 the 1st All Japan Karate Association Championships were held at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and was organised by the JKA. The tournament was formulated by Masatoshi Nakayama to add a more competitive approach to training. It was the first tournament to have match rules.

The tournament was limited to individual men’s kata and kumite; and team kata and kumite. The first kata champion was Hiroshi Shoji who performed Unsu. Hirokazu Kanazawa was the first kumite champion.

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On 28 October 1957 the 1st All Japan University Karate Tournament was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Shiro Asano becomes the first All Japan University Champion.