The Spring Osaka Tournament

 

All over the world the weight division system is used in tournaments, already for a long time. In Japan it is rather new, as in Kyokushin tournaments the open class system is applied. But last year Kancho Mas. Oyama wanted to give the weight division system a try. He argues it is always good to try something new, to have the experience, however he never liked to have a Kyokushin tournament with weight divisions. But as he called last year’s Spring Osaka Tournament a success, it was repeated this year. Kancho says it is a nice experience for the participants, especially the Uchi deshi. It should make a higher level of fighting. Kancho is very glad to have given it a try, but in November, for the All Japan Tournament, the open class system will be applied.

This tournament was held in the Osaka Chuo Taikukan Hall. The 111 participants were divided in 3 weight divisions: 48 participants in the light weight class, (up to 65 kg), same amount of fighters in the middle weight class (up to 75 kg) and only 15 in the heavy weight class. Most heavy weights weighed about 80 kg with the only big exception of the

19-year old sport Yoshitaka Nishiyama, student of world champ Makoto Nakamura.

Generally speaking, the fighting of all 3 weight classes seems to become a stereo type, there is too much concentrating on low kicks and all variants. This does not satisfy Kancho that much, he only praised the fighting style of some light weights, their highly finished techniques. Kancho had nothing but negative critiques on the thrashing of the heavy weights. It was clear that instructions were given to limit extensions to a strict minimum.

In the first round of the light weights Toyoda Nobukuni did not show what we are used to see from him, but his opponent was only 1,55 m tall and had prettily adopted his fighting style to this fact. The later winner of this weight class, Midori Kenji produced a beautiful mawashi and ushiro mawashi resulting in an ippon gachi.

In the 2nd round Toyoda got a well-deserved ippon for his ushiro geri. Midori Kenji delivered again a beautiful fight. Minami from Honbu had to take a terrible kinte geri, I should state the boys here do not wear any kind of protection. The 3rd round was of a higher level, the atmosphere was better. In Japan rare or seldom you will see a wild enthusiastic audience. But now one started to scan names, shout advices and the time which was still to do. Midori Kenji won with an ippon for his jodan mawashi. At first Toyoda played a waiting game, but he sure made the tall Nakae (1,82m) fall into oblivion. Unluckily Toyoda lost in the quarter finals, just like last year. Midori Kenji got an applause for winning the fight with Tsuda Hisayoshi. It was a technical and spirited fight. This in contrast with the panicky fight of Suzuki, he lost from Sadamoto Hiroyuki.

The final between Miwa Hirayuki and Midori Kenji was beautiful. The referees decided it was Midori to win.

First and 2nd round of the middle weights mainly low kicks were given. Low kicks which were worth ippon, as some people could not get on their feet again! Some competitors were eliminated as they did not have enough stamina. Hashizume Hidehiko got a ganmen punch which arranged his lip terribly. And because of the bursting open of the doer’s fist, it became a bloody affair. 3 extensions were necessary to point out that the “lipvictim” won. In the 3rd round we admired the timing of Miwa Jan and the good tai sabaki of Shibata Mireki. Ireki Takehisa won after an extension, his opponent did not have enough stamina to continue. Hashizume won this round as well, notwithstanding his ugly injury, he performed some beautiful combinations. Next round Miwa Jan finished his opponent with a perfect mae geri. Ireki had a vicious fight with Shibata which he eventually won.

The semi final was of a good standard. Miwa Jan and Ireki equaled, but the nice combinations of the latter made the referees decide to his victory. The crowd was cheering when Mitsuishi Konichi lost from right Hashizume. It was a fight of faints and dangerous hiza geri.

In the final the exhausted Hashizume received a lot of punches and had to content himself being the runner up.

The heavy weights were few in number. It were mainly low kick fights. In first round Mori Yoshinichi won because of his spirit. Kaneyama Hirufuni got a waza ari for his shita tsuki. Nishiyama Yoshitaka finished his opponent with low kick. Even during the fights he listens carefully to the advices shouted by his ‘club mates.

In the 2nd round Shichinohe Yasuhiro set at work only slowly, he won the fight after an extension. Koi Yoshiharu won this round thanks to his strong left punch and powerful low kick. Nishiyama simply browbeaten his opponent with his mawashi and Shita tsuki.

Because of the few participants in this weight class, things proceeded quickly. Shichinohe and Koi both got a warning because of holding. The punching duel that needed 2 extensions ended in Shichinohe’s favor. Nishiyama was strikingly stronger than Kaneyama, he won with a waza ari for his low kick. This made that the final had to be fought between Shichinohe and Nishiyama. Last year as well they had to face each other in the final. The only difference was that Nishiyama gained another 5 kg, so that the weight gap of the competitors went up from 10 kg to 15. Things of last year were repeated. The crowd was very excited, people were cheering, and both parties were encouraged. The competitors themselves were as determined as last year to win this hard and vicious typical heavy weight fight. Two extensions full of suspense; punch versus low kick. Shichinohe eventual­ly could retain his title.

THE 9th All JAPAN OPEN

 

The 9th All Japan Open Karate Tournament was held on the 5th and 6th of November, 1977, in the Tokyo Gymnasium, under the auspices of the International Karate Organization, Kyokushinkaikan Headquarters in Tokyo. 128 persons competed, including 9 foreigners, 2 from USA, one each from Canada, South Africa, Pakistan, and Yemen, and 3 from Guam. Also attend­ing were 41 persons from 40 different styles. As this was the 9th Tournament, the format was thus well established and the tournament ran very smoothly. When all the spectators were seated, the 128 competitors filed into the arena to the accompaniment of a band play­ing Kyokushin songs. In keeping with past tradition, the tournament was declared open by the raising of the Ja­panese and Kyokushin flags and the playing of the National anthem. Spe­eches by President Mori, the Vice Pre­sident, a Government representative and Kancho Oyama followed. Then T. Azuma, one of the most experienced and favorite competitors came forward to take the tournament oath. Following this the competitors were seated and a demonstration of accepted and foul techniques was given by Branch-Chiefs Matsushima and Masuda, compared by the Head referee, S. Oyama. Also pre­sent to assist with judging were Messrs.

Hollander, the European Branch-Chair­man, Arneil, Lowe and all the Japanese resident in the U.S.A. The competitors then filed out of the arena which became a hive of activi­ty as the first round of tameshiwari boards were set in place. Group by group the competitors completed their break and then the fighting began.

Unfortunately all but 3 of the foreign competitors were defeated in the first round and the remaining 3 in the 2nd round. Generally speaking the performance of the foreigners came across as rather weak and low geared compared to the more dynamic and determined fighting of the Japanese. The competitors from Yemen, Guam, USA and South Africa bowed out un­eventfully in the first round almost as if they never even attended the tour­nament. In the 2nd round the competi­tor from Pakistan, one of the current foreign students at Tokyo Honbu, came up against his dojo Sempai, Hiroshige who eventually placed 7th, and simply couldn’t make any effect despite his gallant try.

Mr. Coulombe, a 4th Dan Branch- Chief from Canada who came across especially for the tournament, was also defeated in the 2nd round, but this re­porter tends to think he bowed out more to somewhat biased judging than to actual superiority. At any rate he put up a good show and took his defeat all in his stride. The final foreigner to appear was Richard Constance, a non ­Kyokushin competitor from USA and the only one to wear a dark coloured Karate-gi in the tournament. Mr. Constance, although lacking in tech­nique and obviously experience, had managed to bravely get through his first round only to be completely knocked out with a mawashi geri to the face in the 2nd round. Interval entertainment on the first day was provided by fanied actor Sony Chiba and his Action Club. To the ac­companiment of highly dramatic Japanese music, he performed a demonst­ration on defense against multiple op­ponents, then performed Shihouwari, continuous tameshiwari from 4 posi­tions. Finally he gave a speech on his feelings for Kyokushin-Karate, stressing it to be Budo Karate. During the tournament bouts, the eventual winner, T. Azuma, plowerd his way through the ranks like a human tank, his style being up and down – for­ward attack. He won his first fight by decision based on his effective low kicks, and the 2nd fight on the strength of his punches. The 3rd round was un­eventful and in his fourth fight he re­ceived a number of kicks to the face that enraged and encouraged him. He won his 5th fight against Britain’s Ja­panese Instructor, Tatsuo Nakamura by decision on the strength of his low kicks. He then faced the enormous Makoto Nakamura in the 6th round for a long and hard bout. .The only tech­niques both Azuma and Nakamura have are low kicks, Seiken and power. How­ever, after an extension, Azuma was finally able to win this, his hardest fight. The final fight for first place came rather easily for Azuma because his op­ponent was both tired and inexperi­enced. It was a tearful, but joyful Azuma who emerged winner of the 9th tournament to receive his hard earned prizes. However, perhaps the real star of the tournament was 2nd place winner Takeo Nakayama. This new corner, a student of Branch-Chief Ashiwara of Shikoku, was completely unknown to the crowd and surprised everyone with his ability, ‘even though he had been training for only one year; A fact that surprised even Kancho Oyama! He won his 2nd round against Constance of USA very nicely with. A well executed mawashi geri that broke Constance’s nose within 3 seconds of the fight. His 3rd round fight was just as dynamic, defeating the Saitama Prefecture’s champion, Ishikawa, despite Ishikawa’s kicking and experience. Early in the fight Ishikawa scored a kick to Nakayama’s face, but it did not move him at all, only motivated him to down Ishikawa with a low kick. However, it was Nakayama’s Ushiro mawashi geri to Ishikawa’s face that finally won him a 3rd round ippon: Nakayama won his way to the final fight, but simply couldn’t make an im­pression on the experience and determi­nation of Azuma, and fm ally came out 2nd place winner.

In the more interesting fights, Saito K.Oed Hika with a Hidari mawashi geri in his first round and then K.O d his opponent with a Hiza-geri in the 2nd round. Unfortunately he could not keep up his effort and was subsequently defeated. Tatsuo Nakamura, a fine technician with natural ability and speedy kicks, K.Oed his first round opponent with a beautifully executed technique. However, his lack of weight prevented him from advancing beyond the 5th round. Ishikawa won his 2nd round a­gainst Alafujii, the only kick-boxer in this years’ tournament, with a T.K.O. by scoring with a strong Seiken to the stomach, and the excellent technician, Matsuda, lost to Simper’s superior strength and stamina. One particularly interesting person was Suzuki, 3rd Dan. Suzuki has been training Karate for 12 years despite his obvious handicap. He fought very aggressively, but was forced to give up after the 2nd round due to a broken finger. One of the tournament favorites, D. Orishi, 5th place winner in the 1st World Tournament, was forced to de­fault in the 2nd round due to trouble from previous injuries to his knees and elbows, and his younger brother was de­feated in his first round on account of over confidence and a subsequent lack of action. On the 2nd day, demonstrations were provided by juniors and ladies. The children performed tameshiwari, nunchaku Kata and Kumite. The ladies performed Kanku Kata and tameshiwari of various kinds. Perhaps the most dramatic and difficult demonstration was performed by Branch-Chief Soeno, who, after performing Seienchin Kata, per­formed Kamewari – the breaking of an urn filled with water. A difficult and dangerous task. After the presentation of prizes, the beating of the drum and the playing of Kyokushin songs, the tournament ended in a great success, having entertained an audience of over 16,000 in 2days with good, fair Karate. Afterwards a Sayo­nara Party was held for the competitors and officials and, 49 ended the 9th All Japan Open Karate Tournament.

 

The first 8places were:-

 

1st Takeshi Azuma

2nd Takeo Nakayama

3rd Makoto Nakamura

4th Noriyasu Hamai

5th Tatsuo Nakamura

6th Keiji Sampei

7th Tsuyoshi Hiroshige

8th Riyouichi Saito

Test in Tokyo Honbu – 1981

 

On the 1st of February the first test of 1981 at Tokyo, Honbu, Makoto Nakamura of Japan the present World Champion of Knockdown Karate, took a test for Sandan. In Honbu an applicant taking a Sandan test must complete 30 man Kumite. Nakamura attempted 100 man Kumite, he was unsuccessful due to very humid conditions, but however he did complete 31 fights in 54 minutes the major­ity of which were knockouts, Kancho stopped the attempt because of the humility. This time in early February the temperature did not affect the per­formance of the fighters. As predicted by everybody Nakamura did the fights. His reputation destroying most of his opponents, Nakamura’s “all out” attack­ing techniques chilled most of his opponents. The other person taking a Sandan test was Selby Mkhwanasi of South Africa. Selby did not come to Japan specifically for the test but it was in the back of his mind during his three month intensive training with the Uchi Deshi. Selby encouraged by Kancho battled it out with the Japanese who were eager to prove that they were better however they did not have the opportunity. Selby completed the fights and was awarded Sandan for his efforts.

Jagat Gouchan 1st Kyu of Nepal after nearly two years of training everyday took a Shodan test, which meant 10 man Kumite. Jagat did 10 straight fights with very strong punches and low kicks which earned him Black Belt. His fellow country man Udaya Gouchan achieved 1st Kyu and hopefully in June will take Shodan.

Kathrine Benda the only foreign women in Honbu who comes from Sweden gained 1st Kyu another Shodan in June.

 

MAS Oyama supervised all the grading.

 

 

SELBY MKHWANASI           South Africa   SANDAN

JAGAT GOUCHAN                Nepal              SHODAN

KATHRINE BENDA               Sweden           1st K

UDAYA GOUCHAN               Nepal              1st KYU

JULIAN FARQUHAR             New Zealand   3rd KYU

The 2nd World Open Karate Tournament

 

The 2nd World Open Karate Tournament was held on the 23rd, 24th days of November, 1979, in the Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan. It was the com­mulation of four years of negotiating and fund raising by Kancho Oyama and the result of six months intensive preparation necessitating around the clock working hours by Tokyo Honbu Staff, and members of the Japan Travel Bureau, who acted as the official agents for the tournament.

The competitors, coaches and guests from the 50 represented countries started arriving at Tokyo’s Narita Airport on the morning of the 21st. They were met by representatives of JTB and transported by bus to their hotels, the Hotel New Japan, and Shimbashi Daiichi.

The 22nd was designated as a day of orientation and the tournament got under away in the morning of the 23rd. It was not a tournament free of difficul­ties, in fact, it was a tournament organized and held under considerable political harassment and inter­ference-an interference that hounded the adminis­trative staff even until the actual day of the tourna­ment. However, despite the difficulties the organizers encountered, the tournament proceeded and it is hoped that those competing and those witnessing the tournament were untroubled by these affairs.

With great flourish, drum beating and many speeches, the tournament began. The line up of participants was impressive but not nearly as much as it would have been had all the countries that applied to come to the tournament been able to attend. Of the 12 countries that were unable to attend, most were unable to do so because they were either unable to gain permission to leave their countries or they could not gain visas for entry into Japan due to Japan’s conservative policies. It was extremely disappointing for all concerned, for the competitors and for those who had worked so hard to get them to Japan. However, it is hoped that four years from now when the 3rd World Tournament will be held the political climate of the world will allow. these countries to participate.

After the oath was taken by H. Royama of plaques were presented to prominent persons at the tournament, the rules were demonstrated and the tournament began. Since the first round of the tournament constituted 123 bouts, it was considered almost as the preliminary and tameshiwari was omitted. The fighting in the first round was very diverse in standard, some competitors being extremely good and others obviously lacking considerably in Karate experience. Consequently, while a few of the fights were well worth watching, many of them were very scrappy and others quite uninteresting. 123 fights is a heavy schedule, however as 8 countries were unable to come and four countries, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Rhodesia, were unable to fight despite the fact that they had managed to get to Tokyo, 36 bouts were not fought. Towards the end of the first round the audience became restless with the large number of unfought bouts so the African teams were brought to attention and introduced. This greatly pleased the crowd, many of whom had come espe­cially to see South Africa’s Kenny Uytenbogaardt, a 198cm, 93kg 2nd Dan with a famous reputation in Japan amongst the young fans who read a fictions comic book story that features a Character modeled on this South African.

Originally it had been planned to hold only the first round on the first day of the tournament, but having completed the first round, the organizers decided there was time enough to begin the second round, and Blocks A and B were included in the first – day’s programmed.

Tameshiwari was required for entry into the second round, and thereinafter, and all competitors were successful after at least two attempts. As could be expected, the second round standard was very much better and more consistent in standard than that of the first round. In the second round those with power, technique and experience were separated from those that had not and since their fighting had more direction and control a significant number of fights were won by ippon or clear decisions. It was in this round also that many of the world’s Kyokushin Champions entered the tournament for their

first fights. This was so because the draw had been organized on a seed draw style where a number of competitors by-passed the first round and entered on the second round. This helped to considerably raise the standard of the fighting, and this resulted in more exciting, interesting and ippon fights.

Blocks C & D of the 2nd round were held on the 2nd day, as well as the whole of the 3rd round. The 2nd day was the most exciting and satisfying of the tournament. The fights were good, reasonably free of fouls and the fighting and judging were a great deal more accurate than they were to prove to be on the final day. It was on the 2nd day also that the Japanese myth of Karate superiority was shattered. The performance of the foreign competitors had remarkably improved since the First World Tourna­ment and they had become better technicians and every bit as Cough and powerful as the Japanese. The performance would have been even more decisive had some of the foreigners more confidence in their own abilities and a great deal less awe of the Japanese reputation. T. Bowden’s fight against K. Kawabata and P. Booth’s fight against H. Royama were good examples of this, and had these two fighters over­come this final step, they would have been the winners in their fights against Japanese opponents.

The Japanese were really fighting hard tight from the beginning of the tournament as they did not have the easy time they experienced in the First World Tournament It took longer for them to win, and they couldn’t win so dramatically. The Japanese losing trend continued into the 3rd round and it became evident on the 3rd and final day of the tournament when they began to pick up favors from the judges in the form of no penalties for pushing and grabbing that constituted penalties for everyone else, and in decisions, weight differences and breaking. This was extremely disappointing, for as a foreigner it was truly sad to see the Japa­nese so emeshed in their narrow pride and nationalism that they felt justified in producing winners at the price of authenticity. However, it is a problem that the Japanese themselves will have to work out and it is hoped that in the 3rd World Tournament they will be able to face the fighters of the world as one of the countries of the world and not specifically as the Japanese vs. the foreigners, the Japanese vs. the world in a contest using a fighting form in which the Japanese feel and believe it their born right to be superior.

The 3rd and final day, which comprised of the 4th and 5th rounds, the quarter and semi-finals and the final, was not quite the success it should have been for the above mentioned reasons. However, we were able to witness some exciting fights even if the procedures and results were a little baffling at times, and finally Japan emerged to take the Championship and 2nd place.

Europe, America and Japan contested the higher honors and the crowd cheered 4’or booed their approval enthusiastically. Dynamic demonstrations were given, the most, popular surely being the defense against double Sword attack by USA Shihan S. Oyama, Y. Oyama and M. Miura, with the climax being dramatically reached by Shihan S.  Oyama catching the attacker’s sword in his bare hands. Children also did a mass demonstration while the band did a rousing job of stoically pumping all other silences with Kyokushin tunes. Perhaps the most admirable display given though was that of the professional Taiko drummers who, dressed in Karate-gi, drummed in the opening and closing of each day in traditional Japanese rhythmic patterns. It was not only rousing, it was dynamic, interesting and extremely popular.

After the final bout and the Champion was decided, the rather too numerous trophies and prizes were presented to the first 8 place holders. Obviously no one had given any thought as to how the winners were to get all their prizes home, nevertheless, once home they would certainly make an impressive display. Following the close of the tournament all competitors and coaches were whisked away to Atami, a spa site in Isu prefecture near the sea. The short overnight stay was extremely enjoyable and gave the overseas guests an insight into the wonderful Japanese hospitality. In the afternoon of the follow­ing day, back in Tokyo, a Branch-Chief meeting was held, and in the evening the traditional Sayonara Party. The party was a huge success with all teams and guests joining in to add to the evenings entertain­ment. Kancho Oyama was kept busy signing books, a task he finds tiring but thoroughly satisfying, and during the meal a bag of gifts containing a yukata (summer kimono) of Kyokushin design, a happi coat bearing the marks of all the sponsors, a towel, Kyoku­shin cup, calendar, programmed and a beautiful memorial Seiko watch, were presented to all the teams. It was at this party that Kancho Oyama said Sayonara to most of the guests, for throughout the following day (the 27th) they were boarded on flights back to their home countries. A number of competitors and Branch-Chief remained on in Tokyo however, and some of them attended trainings in Tokyo Honbu Dojo. Conse­quently for Kancho and his Honbu staff the following weeks were equally as busy.

 

COMMENTS

 

Overall the tournament must be classed as a grand success. To bring 146 competitors and many guests from more than 50 countries of the world to Japan without any government assistance, rather despite government interference, is certainly a marvelous achievement indeed. The standard of the tournament must also be classed as extremely good, especially compared to the First World Tournament, and if any disappointment exists on account of the Japanese teams’ performance it must be remembered that this is so because the rest of the world was expecting the Japanese to be super Karate-ka.. Indeed it is true to say that in part the view that the Japanese must, are better at Karate is sanctioned by the foreigners themselves. The International idea of Karate must be considered a little more deeply and widely, especially by the Japanese.

It is really necessary for Karate to have a Japanese Champion?? The Japanese believe so. They feel that this is the only way they will be able to preserve the truth and practice of the Japanese traditions which surround and are Karate. For this reason Kancho Oyama has his Karate-ka practice full time for World Tournaments, and it is because these people train Karate full time that the rest of the world expects them to be so much better at it.

Another concept that needs revision is that of “spirit.” Spirit is good attitude, good sportsmanship and the will and ability to keep going on the right path despite all odds. The Japanese however seem to abuse the concept of spirit when it is given as the fancy title for too much aggression and block head attitudes in an excuse to cover up an actual lack of ability or an excess of anxiety to win. It has become a convenient reason to give as the winning factor for a Karate-ka who won his fight without any clear dis­play of technique, power or Karate finesse. Deep thought and feeling should be given to the concept of spirit, for correctly it is an integral part of Karate.

For all countries however, the World Tournament is a time to learn, to learn by experience and by the mistakes and successes of others. Those countries who attended the World Tournament for the first time now have some guidelines of Karate set for them to model their own Karate on, and for those that experienced the First World Tournament and showed remarkable improvement, it was a chance. for them to see this improvement and to place themselves not only in relationship to Japanese Karate, but also to all other countries strong in Karate. This opportunity gave them all the chance to see and test their weak­nesses and strengths, and in this respect the success and benefit of the tournament has set the necessity of continuing this World Karate Tournament series.

Thank you

 

General Impressions

 

This Tournament saw a total of 32 knockdowns, which means that 20% of all the fights resulted in knockdowns. Most of the ippon were gained by kicking techniques and many of these were executed with the left foot despite a predominantly right- sided field.

Compared to the First World Tournament, the ability to avoid Japan’s favorite technique, the low kick, had remarkably improved making this a less lethal and effective technique for the Japanese. Also noticeable was the ability to disregard the pain, to move forward and kick back after receiving a low kick and this greatly surprised the Japanese who had been expecting the foreigners to move back or give up as they had done in the First World Tournament. By kicking back, the Japanese were robbed of the opportunity to mercilessly thrash the legs as they had done previously and it also helped to upset their timing, balance and focus. The most obvious example of this was the per­formance of H. Royama, 2nd place winner in the First World Tournament, who won most of his fights by low kicks. In this tournament he was unable to win in the same manner not only because the foreign­ers had studied the use of the low kick technique, but also because they had dared to fight back, even using the same technique, which threw him off form.

I have already said that most ippon were gained by kicks and of course kicks are stronger than punches, but punches are more accurate. If good timing is achieved, it is possible to knock an opponent over with one punch as J. Malcolm of Trinidad did to W. Franz of Switzerland in the extension of their first round fight, scoring the only chudan tsuki knockdown in the tournament. This may have simply been luck, but luck or not, to gain a knockdown .by a punch is good technique Karate rarely seen. Most knockdowns are achieved by one opponent kicking through the guard of the other opponent. With this kind of power fighting the chances of the smaller, lighter opponent winning by the same approach is very small. Thus if the smaller man wishes to win, he must discontinue training for this power type knockdown and concentrate on the setting up of easy knockdown chances by breaking through his opponent’s guard either by kicks or punches, to leave the way clear to follow up with accurately timed techniques. H. Collins of Britain clearly displayed the use of breaking a guard with a kick, but his follow up techniques were also mostly kicks. Kicks are important, dynamic and effective, but hand tech­niques are also extremely useful in breaking guards and setting up the chances of knockdowns.

In the First World Tournament, the foreigners displayed predominantly punches, in the 2nd World Tournament, perhaps influenced by Japanese trends, they displayed predominantly kicks. This progression greatly pleased Kancho Oyama and the Japanese, who favor and admire kicks, but the next step for the 3rd World Tournament is to develop the ability to set up chances for knockdowns by meaningful hand/leg connecting combinations. This also presents the only chance for smaller competitors who will otherwise have no chance of success against the strength and technique of the increasing numbers of bigger men entering Karate tournaments.

 

Fighting Spirit

 

Improvement in “spirit,” which is as important in Budo Karate as technique and power, was the great­est, most dramatic and meaningful advancement displayed by the foreigners at the 2nd World Tourna­ment. was impressed with the number of competi­tors who simply would not move back or give up, who stoically stood their ground, and in the number of competitors who courageously attacked an opponent despite great size and technical differences. This was the Budo spirit we had all come to see.

I was especially amazed with the team from India. They had a handicap in body size, being both light and small, and a handicap in training experience. However, despite the obvious lack of technical ability and power, they did not escape the punches and kicks they received. They showed us spirit even though they could not show us fighting technique.

Although it was satisfying to see such great fighting effort and spirit being displayed, it was evident that some fighters misunderstood the truth of this “spirit.” This same spirit I am talking of, existed in the code of the knighthood of old Europe and exists today in what is known as `.`sportsmanship.” Kyokushin Karate is well known for its discipline and severeness, but it has no truth if the “spirit”-the fighting effort, correct attitude and “sportsmanship” is left out.

One of the biggest examples of bad spirit was seen in the consistent breaking of the rules concerning grabbing and pushing, and unfortunately the worst offenders of this were the Japanese.

 

Luck of the draw

 

Even though Kyokushin tournament style is contact, knockdown Karate, an element of luck still exists. For example in the draw. We are told that the draw was chosen by ballot, but in many cases it was extremely unlucky how this ballot fell. Countries fielded teams of either two or four members, there were four block divisions but it was common to see two or more competitors from one country fighting in the same block, and in some cases only a few bouts apart. It was also unlucky to see two strong men fighting in the first’ rounds so that ‘one was defeated, while weaker persons passed through to the higher rounds. However, this is the luck of the tournament.

Conclusion

 

In this tournament I could see that Kyokushin has progressed to great strength in some overseas countries, and this was good to witness. Two strong kick boxers came and they fought quite well, but Kyokushin defeated them with kicks and techniques which out-classed their own. I was disappointed Kung Fu fighters did not come as it had been advertised they would, as I think it would have proved to be extremely interesting.

This tournament also had 22 significant injuries. Some were the results of knockdowns, some were the results of low kicks and, fortunately, only a mere few were the results of illegal techniques. Some knock­downs were the results of potentially dangerous techniques such as M. Nakamura’s knockdown punch to the neck of K. Scharrenberg of Holland. This may be an effective knockdown technique, but for obvious reasons, I would prefer not to see it used in tournaments. Although there were a few adminis­trative and judging mistakes, overall I think the tournament was very successful. The disappointment in the performance of the Japanese was compensated for by the good and exciting performances of the foreigners. They came from all corners of the world and many had not recovered from their long and tiring trips before they were required to fight. This merely made their performances all the more impressive.

I hope. all competitors enjoyed this Karate meet­ing, and that they enjoyed their stays in Japan making many friendships both foreign and Japanese.

I am looking forward to the 3rd World Tournament-a Tournament that should indeed be inter­esting.

 

Thank you

THE FIRST ALL JAPAN LADIES TOURNAMENT 1977

On the 13th of November, 1977, the First Ladies Kyokushin Tournament was held in Tokyo Fuji Television’s Studio. The Tournament, organized and sponsored by Tokyo’s Chanel 8 T.V., was recorded and broadcast in serial form over three Sundays. On the day, 200 fans, mostly male, turned out to watch the 16 participants most of whom were 2nd kyu and above members from the Tokyo Honbu Women’s Class. The programme began at 4 pm with a demonstration of Kanku Kata and tameshiwari. Ladies Kata is considered to be more superior to men’s kata in Japanese Kyokushin-Karate, and this demonstration of advanced kata was very well received. The first tameshiwari demonstration was performed by the Kuwasaki sisters and Miss Imai, the 3 ladies considered to be the strongest. However, none were able to completely break their 10 piles each with any one technique due to nervousness and the fact that the piles were a little wet. Misses Yokota and Mitsui, considered to be Tokyo Honbu’s most skilfull lady exponents, then successfully demonstrated Shihouwari (continuous breaking from 4 positions), and the fighting began at 5 pm. To a grand applause, the, 16 participants filed into the studio, which was arrayed with numerous Kyokushin symbols and flags. Miss Y. Kuwasaki, Shodan, then took the tournament oath, swearing that the participants would fight their best in the true Kyokushin spirit. It had been decided that the tournament -would be run on the accepted International rules, including full contact, however, on the actual day, the tameshiwari was omitted due to lack of time and the fights were limited to 60 seconds each. As most of the fighters were above brown belt, everyone showed good technique, ability and spirit. From the preceding hard fights, the following four emerged as the semi-finalists:- Kakinari, Kuwasaki, Mitsui, and Yokota. Of these four only Kakinari was brown belt, the others all being Shodan. In the first semifinal, Kakinari faced Kuwasaki. They had a fairly even fight until the last quarter, when Kuwasaki was able to get in a Mawashigeri hit to Kakinari’s face. This tipped the scales in favor of Kuwasaki, who won on decision:
In the 2nd semi-final, Yokota versed Mitsui. As they both knew each other very well, neither could score in the first 60 seconds. However, in the extension, when Yokota attempted a Chudan mawashi geri, Mitsui moved in with a strong thigh kick to Yokota’s supporting leg which knocked her to the floor. Mitsui was later able to floor Yokota again with the same technique, and although unable to gain a waza ari, she was able to win by decision.
Before the final, the 3rd place fight-off was held. Although Kakinari was only brown belt, she was taller and heavier than Yokota and thus had a big advantage. She attacked the smaller Yokota so relentlessly with chudan punches that Yokota was unable to do anything other than block. Kakinari won by decision, thus deciding 3rd and 4th places.
The final pitted Kuwasaki, with a strong body, power and speed, against Mitsui who has a supple body and a great repertoire of techniques. Kuwasaki attacked Mitsui, now tired after her long fight with Yokota, with chudan punches and was able to score a direct hit to Mitsui’s ribs which earned her a waza ari. Mitsui never recovered to make up the difference and Kuwasaki was thus declared the winner and Champion.
Throughout the programme there had been demonstrations by the junior boys, Sony Chiba, resident Japanese instructors from USA and tameshiwari demonstrations -by Tokyo Honbu’s highly graded male exponents.
The tournament was an overall success and its popularity will surely ensure its continuation as an annual event in the future.