All Wado Karate Forum

blackcat wrote:The UKKF/W hosted a couple of matches against Japanese teams in the 1970's - I think it was 1973 Birmingham (Oneya was officiating according to the programme) and again in London in 1976. The 73 team for Britain looks like it was all UKKW members but the 76 one may have been a mixed team with KGB.

Maybe it was the Luton competition where Murase fought Geoff Thompson?

Ben

According to the running order I have Thompson fought twice; opponents were Aihara and Shiomitsu. Murase's name does not appear on the card.

I am fairly sure that Fighting Arts International did a report on this event - you know how hot the editorial staff were on anything involving the KUGB.

Tim

I think there might have been another write up in Traditional Karate magazine as well.

I have thrown them out a long time back unfortunately. That was before eBay!

jacob wrote:

blackcat wrote:The UKKF/W hosted a couple of matches against Japanese teams in the 1970's - I think it was 1973 Birmingham (Oneya was officiating according to the programme) and again in London in 1976. The 73 team for Britain looks like it was all UKKW members but the 76 one may have been a mixed team with KGB.

Maybe it was the Luton competition where Murase fought Geoff Thompson?

Ben

Hi Ben

does that programme relating to the 1973 Birmingham match name the UK team members?

I think so - Mel Parry and David Allsop were on there and there was a fellow called Constantine from London who I haven't heard of for years but was one of Suzuki's early students in London. I'll have a root about and see if I can find it.

There is an account of an even early GB v Japan match here:

http://www.wadokaratemagic.co.uk/about.html

blackcat wrote:The UKKF/W hosted a couple of matches against Japanese teams in the 1970's - I think it was 1973 Birmingham (Oneya was officiating according to the programme) and again in London in 1976. The 73 team for Britain looks like it was all UKKW members but the 76 one may have been a mixed team with KGB.

Maybe it was the Luton competition where Murase fought Geoff Thompson?

Ben

I thought 1973 was the last bit of bloodletting that Ken Dicks and I practiced on each other but I could be wrong, It could well have been the year before cause we were frequent visitors to the Birmingham sandpit. Officiating was less messy but not necessarily less dangerous.


oneya

[quote="oneyaI thought 1973 was the last bit of bloodletting that Ken Dicks and I practiced on each other but I could be wrong, It could well have been the year before cause we were frequent visitors to the Birmingham sandpit. Officiating was less messy but not necessarily less dangerous.


oneya[/quote]

Ken Dicks isn't a name I am familiar with. Google came up with someone by that name holding an 8th Dan Wadoryu no less, so intrigue had me follow and this is what I found: http://www.phoenixshadow.com/DojoTesterWadoRyu.html


Same person?

Ben

blackcat wrote:[quote="oneyaI thought 1973 was the last bit of bloodletting that Ken Dicks and I practiced on each other but I could be wrong, It could well have been the year before cause we were frequent visitors to the Birmingham sandpit. Officiating was less messy but not necessarily less dangerous.


oneya

Ken Dicks isn't a name I am familiar with. Google came up with someone by that name holding an 8th Dan Wadoryu no less, so intrigue had me follow and this is what I found: http://www.phoenixshadow.com/DojoTesterWadoRyu.html


Same person?

Ben[/quote]

Certainly looks like him, though I remember him without the white hair.

Tim

Yep same person, here's a website with some early photographs of Mr Dicks.

http://www.fkk88.co.uk/.

I don't think we ever spoke to each other but we did share a moment or two of wado ryu history.

oneya...

Here is another batch of demonstrations:

http://www.japanartscentre.co.uk/karate_demos.html

Link should take you to the 1978 UKKW film. Interesting mix with the added amusement of a musical montage. Sakagami is on there doing his mighty mawashi geri with poor old Peter May on the receiving end, Shiomitsu makes an interesting demonstration with Sugasawa (he was not long back from Madagascar at this point). Possibly Kono is on there too at the end of Shiomitsu - Sugasawa demo? I can't be sure though.

The Suzuki - Sakagami - Sugasawa section is the sequence they ended up filming for the BBC's 'Way of the Warrior' series.

Ben

I should try and speak to BOb and see if I can get hold of the original footage, without said accompanying music.

I spoke to the man and over time he will get me the original tapes he has and I will make them available when I get the chance.

There are probably some golden oldies in there. We said both said what's the point of having them if we can't all enjoy them. It wont happen quickly but watch this space.