This week in history…(3 July – 9 July)

3 July

On 3 July 1965, Hirokazu Kanazawa took his first teaching trip to the British Karate Federation’s (BKF) York dojo. He was there for a week.

On 3 July 1971, the 5th KUGB Championships were held at Crystal Palace, London. Terry O’Neill won his first-ever KUGB kata title. G. Haslam became kumite champion. The Liverpool Red Triangle Club won its fifth straight team kumite title.

On 3 July 2006, multi-world champion, Christophe Pinna was awarded the National Order of Merit for his services to sport. The ceremony was held at the Beau Rivage Beach in his home city of Nice.

On 3 July 2019, the 11th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards was held at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Dolph Lundgren was the guest host of the event

4 July

On 4 July 1935, Keinosuke Enoeda, a legend of Shotokan Karate, was born in Fukuoka, Japan, to a family of samurai lineage.

Enoeda began his martial arts training in Judo aged 7. He eventually reached the grade of 2nd Dan. He entered Takushoku University, at the age of 19, because of its strong Karate club. Enoeda was awarded the rank of 1st Dan in 1955, aged 21. He later captained the university’s famed Karate Club.

After graduating from Takushoku University with a degree in Economics, Enoeda eventually entered the JKA’s Instructor program in 1959, under the instruction of Masatoshi Nakayama and Hidetaka Nishiyama.  In 1963 he became the JKA All-Japan Karate kumite champion.

Following a brief stay in Hawaii, Enoeda was invited to the UK to assist Hirokazu Kanazawa in developing Karate in Britain. He mainly taught in Liverpool.

On 4 July 1944, James Rousseau was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Alongside Stan Schmidt, Len Barnes, and Hugh Thomas, Rousseau, was a pioneer of Karate in South Africa. He is largely responsible for establishing Okinawan Goju-Ryu in Europe

On 4 July 1984, Damian Quintero was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Nicknamed, ‘Kingtero‘, Damian has won more than 100 medals nationally and internationally. He has won medals at Olympic, World, and European levels. For over 20 years, he has been a constant fixture on many podiums.

On 4 July 1987, the English Karate Board (EKB) held its 3rd National Championships at the Crystal Palace, London. The EKB consisted of members from all the major styles of Karate in England, and nine different associations took part in the individual and team events.

Like the previous year, Shotokan’s Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) won the majority of titles on offer. The KUGB won 12 golds, 8 silvers and 4 bronzes. Frank Brennan was once again the Grand Champion, winning both the Men’s Individual Kata and Heavyweight Kumite titles. He won a further two titles, winning the Men’s Team Kumite and Men’s Team Kata events.

On 4 July 1999, Kyokushin legend, Hiroki Kurosawa took part in Pride 6. He faced Nobuaki Kakuda. Kakuda had practised Kyokushin and Seidokaikan Karate and was also a kickboxer. Kurosawa defeated Kakuda in their match.

On 4 July 2004, history was made when Australian, Naomi Ali (Woods), a student of John Taylor, became the first woman to pass the 100-Man Kumite Challenge. She completed the challenge in a respectable 3 hours and 8 minutes. By the end of the challenge, she was almost unconscious and had sustained broken fingers and toes. Ali was the first was also the first woman to attempt a 50-Man Kumite Challenge. The gruelling challenge was officially adjudicated by Gary Viccars.

5 July

On 5 July 1922, Eiichi Miyazato was bornin Naha, Okinawa.

Known for his strong personality, Miyazato was considered one of Chojun Miyagi’s, most devoted and best students.

On 5 July 1957, the first photographs of karateka training in Britain appeared in the Romford Recorder. The photographs were part of an article, ‘Forbidden Sports Taught Here – Japanese Fights Often Ended in Death”‘ which was a follow-up to an article written on 21 June.

The two photographs were taken at 12 Maybush Road, Hornchurch, and showed Vernon Bell countering attacks from Trevor Guilfoyle, a white belt at the time.

6 July

On 6 July 1952, the Father of European Karate, Henri Plee, was graded to 2nd Dan In Judo under Mikinosuke Kawaishi.

7 July

On 7 July 1995 Shukokai master, Shigeru Kimura, died following a massive heart attack. He was only 54 years at the time. He was a lifelong student of Shukokai founder Chojiro Tani. A two-time All-Japan champion, he was dedicated to the promotion of Shukokai Karate around the world.

Between 7-8 July 2007, the 50th JKA All-Japan Prime Minister Cup was held. Yasuhiro Nakasone, a former Japanese Prime Minister, awarded Motokuni Sugiura with the rank of 10th Dan. This was for his contributions to JKA Karate.

On 7 July 2012, Kensei Taba died two days after his 79th birthday.

Kensei Taba, one of Shoshin Nagamine’s students, split from Matsubayashi-Ryu Shorin Ryu to form Shogen–Ryu Shorin-Ryu.

8 July

On 8 July 1927, Okinawan Karate master, Kentsu Yabu, give a Shorinji-Ryu demonstration at the Nuuanu YMCA in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assisted in the demonstration by Ankichi Arakaki. The demonstration was a young Richard Kim’s first introduction to Karate

9 July

On 9 July 1943, Andy Sherry, Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB), was born.

Sherry is one of the highest-ranked Shotokan practitioners in the United Kingdom, having been one of the first people awarded a JKA 1st Dan in Britain in 1966 by Keinosuke Enoeda. Now a 9th Dan and one of the most senior Shotokan karateka in Britain, he has been instrumental in the growth of Shotokan in the country.