This is a “Thank You” letter to Karate. To the martial art, to the numerous styles, to the talented practitioners.
Thank you to those who entered the ring/cage, for in a world where Muay Thai and Boxing are seen as superior striking arts while other Martial Arts are seen as outdated by the uninformed, without you our art would be seen as weak and not worthy of anyone’s time. Thank you to the world champions who emerged, who inspire us fellow Karateka’s to push forward ourselves towards that same leap of faith.
*Note: All Fighters seen in this tribute have a extensive background in a style of Karate, choosing to fight under different rule sets while also staying true to their respective Karate roots.
- * All Notable Karateka’s * -
Lyoto Machida, 3rd Dan in Shotokan Karate, former Light-Heavyweight UFC World Champion. 0:11
Stephen Thompson, 5th Dan in Tetsushin-Ryu Kempo, 57-0 undefeated in Kickboxing. 0:18
Kyoji Horiguchi, 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate, former Bantamweight World Champion in both Bellator MMA and Rizin FF. 0:28
Andy Hug, 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, Winner of the 1996 K-1 Grand Prix Championship and first non-Japanese to reach the finals of the Kyokushin World Open in 1987. 0:30
Francisco Filho, 7th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, completed the “100-Man Kumite” more than once and won two K-1 World Grand Prix qualifier tournaments. 0:44
Lechi Kurbanov, 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate, placed 5th in the 2003 Kyokushin World Open and former European and Japanese Kyokushin Champion. 0:46
Hideaki Yamazaki, 1st Dan in Shotokan Karate, Former: Krush Lightweight Champion, Krush Super-Lightweight Champion and K-1 Super-Lightweight Champion. 0:57
Sam Greco, 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 1994 Karate World Cup champion. 0:59
Tenshin Nasukawa, 1st Dan in Kyokushin and Shin Karate, 44-0 in Kickboxing and former: RISE Bantamweight and RISE World Featherweight Champion. 1:00
Hiroki Akimoto, 1st Dan in Kyokushin Karate, former ONE FC Bantamweight World Kickboxing Champion. 1:06
Mas Oyama, 10th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, founder of Kyokushin Karate (The first and most influential style of Full-Contact Karate). 1:16
Gichin Funakoshi, 5th Dan in Shotokan Karate (10th Dan Post-Death), founder of Shotokan Karate (The most famous style of Karate). 1:20
( 1:23 )
Front row from left to right:
- Chotoku Kyan; (A large influence on Shorin-Ryu and it’s related styles)
- Kentsu Yabu; (Among the first to demonstrate Karate in hawaii)
- Chomo Hanashiro; (Master and Aid of evolving Shorin-Ryu Karate)
- Chojin Miyagi; (Founder of Goju-Ryu)
Back row from left to right:
- Shinpan Shiroma; (Co-Founder of Shito-Ryu)
- Choryo Maeshiro;
- Chosin Chibana; (Developed Shorin-Ryu and was last of the pre-World War Karate Master’s)
- Genwa Nakasone; (An early Editor and Publisher of Karate works, acted as a Politician as well)
Judd Reid, 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, completed the “100-Man Kumite.” 1:33
Bill Wallace, 10th Dan in Shorin Ryu Karate, PKA World Middleweight Champion and went 23-0 undefeated. 1:47
Gunnar Nelson, 1st Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate, credits a portion of success in his MMA and Submission game to the distance management that his Karate Background gave to him. 1:50
