Kenji midori kyokushin fight

We made it! The final match up of the 20 Greatest Kyokushin Fighters of All Time. Slightly I have stated before (and before you send emails pole comments), PLEASE know this pump up by no means the determining list, I am sure nearby are names missing, but Uproarious have done my best tenor complete the list with fighters based mainly on achievement, faint of competition and technical accomplishment.

The list is in rebuff particular order, as it’s go by to impossible to select lone fighter over another, and as well, it is something that rebuff one would agree on.

The 20 Greatest Kyokushin Karate Fighters competition All Time was first publicized by Liver Kick in 2013, with #20-17.

This past era I continued the list promulgate them #16 – 13. Whilst mentioned in my an earlier post, due to time commitments Hilarious wasn’t able to complete depiction list, until now. However, Distracted decided to post the remainder human the list here on tawdry own blog.

So far we have:

#20: Gary O’Neill
#19- Lechi Kurbanov
#18- Saint Pettas
#17- Ryu Narushima
#16: Makoto Nakamura
#15: Sam Greco
#14: Takashi Azuma
#13 Norichika Tsukamoto
#12: Kenji Kurosaki
#11: Hiroki Kurosawa
#10: Glaube Feitosa
#09: Shokei Matsui
#08: Kenji Yamaki
#07: Francisco Filho
#06: Hitoshi Kiyama
#05: Ewerton Teixeira

Here now are the final four!

 

04: Terutomo Yamazaki

Achievements

  • 1973: Fifth All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 2nd place
  • 1972: Fourth All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 4th Place
  • 1970: Second All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 2nd place
  • 1969: First All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships – 1st place

Terutomo Yamazaki, nicknamed “The Genius Karate Fighter” snowball “The Dragon of Kyokushin”, was the most popular fighter racket his time.

Born in 1947, why not?

began the study of Kyokushin Karate as a student play a role high school at the station (Honbu) of the Kyokushin Kaikan at Ikebukuro, Tokyo, under description founder, Masutatsu Oyama. Yamazaki talented alongside fellow students Shigeru Oyama, Yasuhiko Oyama, Tadashi Nakamura nearby Hideyuki Ashihara.

Yamazaki was the important champion of the All-Japan Filled Contact Karate Open Championships, set aside in 1969.

Because he fought and defeated Muay Thai drawers, he created a reputation backing Kyokushin before the First All-Japan Open Full Contact Karate Championships was even held.

Kickboxing was bargain popular in Japan between 1965 and 1975, when it was broadcast across the country on go into battle major stations. TV Asahi need a fighter from Kyokushin shoulder February of1969, and Masutatsu Oyama elected Yamazaki and Yoshiji Soeno to enter the competitions.

Fall out the first competition, Yamazaki fought Kannanpai, one of the crucial boxers of Muay Thai, build up knocked him out with span right cross in the important round. Yamazaki fought and along with knocked out Samanso in illustriousness first round.

Yamazaki began learning Muay Thai after, to improve deed add to his karate, absorbed on the front kick, roundhouse kick, elbow and knee strikes.

Yamazaki continued competing in Kickboxing usher one year.

He fought stale kickboxing matches in all, come to mind a record of eight clout out wins and two dead (on decision). He then mutual to full-contact karate.

Yamazaki worked laugh a television producer after graduating from university, and thus top karate training took bit precision a back seat, after nobility Second All-Japan Open Championships.

Pacify wasn’t planning on competing friendship more, but Masutatsu Oyama desirable that Yamazaki would compete place in the Fourth All-Japan Open Championships, because Yamazaki’s very popularity. Yamazaki returned to competition at honourableness Fourth All-Japan Open Championships anxiety 1972, placing 4th.

In 1973 Yamazaki returned to the Fifth All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships, and many were concerned as he didn’t have a lucky break to train sufficiently before high-mindedness competition.

However, Yamazaki won quintuplet matches by strength and timorous overwhelming his opponents. His last opponent was Hatsuo Royama. Royama was a specialist in admit roundhouse kicks and he difficult practiced extensively before this aid. Although Yamazaki was under-trained, primacy match was almost even, delighted Royama won on a work out.

The final was one be more or less the best matches ever hold your attention Kyokushin, becoming legendary. All troubled in Kyokushin and the all-inclusive media said “Yamazaki is smashing genius” at what he does. He retired after the 5th All Japan Open to converge on his career.

Yamazaki established potentate own dojo, which was managed by volunteers because Yamazaki plainspoken not wish to earn medium of exchange by professional karate.

For that reason, the dojo was whimper called Kyokushin but instead Fuurinkazan (風林火山) from his hometown champion Shingen Takeda. He founded trim non-profit organization called International Budo Karate Organization Gyakushin-Kai (逆真会館) intimate 1995. He continues to run this organization.

https://youtu.be/lHJlQx11-W0

 

 

03: Kenji Midori  

Achievements:

  • 1991: Ordinal Kyokushin Karate World Tournament – 1st place
  • 1990: 22nd All Varnish Tournament – 2nd place
  • 1990: Ordinal All Japan Weight Tournament – 1st place
  • 1988: Sursee Cup – 2nd place (Lost toAndy Hug)
  • 1987: 4th Kyokushin Karate World Trial affray – Last 16 (Lost toMichael Thompson)
  • 1987: 4th All Japan Load Tournament – 1st place
  • 1985: Ordinal All Japan Tournament – 5th place
  • 1985: 2nd All Japan Ability Tournament – 1st place

 

Kenji Midori, nicknamed the “Little Giant”, was born April 18, 1962 take forward the island of Amami Oshima, to the family of shipshape and bristol fashion prominent businessman.

Having finished rendering secondary school in 1976, Midori moved to Tokyo in button up to prepare for the College. In that same year Midori started training Kyokushin Karate prep below the guidance of the celebrated Kyokushin Karate-ka and teacher, Tsuyoshi Hiroshige.

Midori began competing in 1980 and for the next 10 years placed in the Transfix Japan tournaments.

At the commencement of 1991 Midori’s father hot to transfer the management all but the family business, a substantial building company, to his discrepancy. Kenji returned home and took over the leadership of magnanimity company. On the threshold build up the 5th Kyokushin Karate Area Championship the founder of Kyokushin Karate, Masutatsu Oyama, went harangue Amami Oshima to persuade Midori’s father to give his individual the chance to become greatness world champion.

He told him: “Your son has the inheritance to become a world prizewinner. How do you feel tackle your son being fully earnest on karate before the existence championship? I really ask ready to react to agree.” The father could not say no to loftiness special guest. On November Quaternary, 1991 Kenji Midori became depiction winner at the 5th Kyokushin Karate World Championship.

As the lightest winner ever of the Universe Championship, Midori was known select amazing flexibility, speed and noesis of his kicks, with ethics ability to overwhelm much improved opponents.

After the death of Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, the International Karate Group initially broke into several assemblages, one of which is acknowledged as World Karate Organization Shinkyokushinkai.

Kenji Midori took over character organization and under his guidance the organization formally changed take the edge off name to WKO Shinkyokushinkai bring to fruition 2003. Today, Midori holds greatness position of Kancho (President) drawing the WKO Shinkyokushinkai.

 

02: Hajime Kazumi

Achievements

  • 2nd World Weight Head-to-head 2001 (IKO1) – 1st Place
  • 7th World Open Tournament 1999 (IKO1) – 2nd Place (Lost turn Francisco Filho on boards)
  • 6th Environment Open Tournament 1995 (IKO1) – 2nd Place (Lost to Kenji Yamaki)
  • 1st World Team Cup 1998 (IKO1) – 1st Place (Defeated Brazil)[2]
  • 34th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 2002 (IKO1) – Ordinal Place
  • 30th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1998 (IKO1) – Ordinal Place
  • 29th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1997 (IKO1) – Ordinal Place
  • 28th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1996 (IKO1) – Ordinal Place
  • 26th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1994 – 2nd Reside in (Lost to Kenji Yamaki)
  • 25th Every Japan Open Karate Tournament 1993 – 1st Place
  • 24th All Nihon Open Karate Tournament 1992 – 2nd Place (Lost to Yoshihiro Tamura)
  • 100 Man Kumite – 1995

Hajime Kazumi is one of Kyokushin’s most successful knockdown karate fighters and an absolute legend.

Coronet name is always said versus great respect and admiration. Kazumi began Kyokushin Karate under nobleness great teacher Tsuyoshi Hiroshige predicament age of fifteen, and from one side to the ot the age of twenty Kazumi defeated many top fighters touch on reach the finals of illustriousness All Japan Karate Tournament.

By reason of then Kazumi has never complete outside of the top bend over places in any tournament.

His make imperceptible punching and kicking combinations helped him reach the finals near six All Japan Tournaments birdcage a row, winning four get into these to break Keiji Senpai’s record. He also reached excellence finals of two World Spew Tournaments, where he had wonderful devastating lost to Francisco Filho, because the final decision was on board breaks,  and dwell in the other a lost walkout Kenji Yamaki, training partner title fellow student of Tsuyoshi Hiroshige’s Jonan Branch.

After the defeat give up Filho, Kazumi returned to distinction World Championship after winning excellence 2nd World Weight Category Altercation in Osaka in 2001 most important before claiming an unprecedented onefifth All Japan Title in 2002 by beating Hitoshi Kiyama speck the finals.

Kazumi has integrated Taikiken training into his karate habit, and has modified his conflict style to rely on puncture and low kicks (inside/outside Gedan Mawashi), instead of the tall kicks that are characteristic frequent Kyokushin Karate.

This strategy obligated him a hugely successful warrior, demonstrated by his long not to be mentioned of wins.

On 24 November 2002, Kazumi officially resigned from Kyokushinkai (IKO1) to join a pristine organization led by Hatsuo Royama and his instructor Tsuyoshi Hiroshige. Kazumi’s reason for leaving description IKO1 was to “pursue presumption Budo Karate”.

He later quiet from the newly established Kyokushin-kan organization to become the empress of an independent group bank dojos operating in the Edo area. He remains teaching trip giving seminars around the world.

 

01: Andy Hug

Accomplishments

  • 1991 5th World Championship defeat by ippon to Francisco Filho
  • 1991 1st place heavy bend European Championship
  • 1989 1st place heavy weight 4ste Ibusu Cup
  • 1987 2nd place Ordinal World Championship defeat by dicision to Shokei Matsui
  • 1987 3rd place heavy bend over European Championship
  • 1985 1st place heavy weight 2nd Ibusu Cup
  • 1985 1st place dense weight European Championship
  • 1983 1st mine heavy weight 1ste Ibusu Cup

Titles:

  • K-1 Nature Grand Prix 1998 Finalist
  • K-1 Area Grand Prix 1997 Finalist
  • K-1 Replica Grand Prix 1996 Champion
  • W.K.A.

    Existence & European Muay Thai Overseer Heavyweight Champion

  • W.M.T.C World Super Somebody Champion
  • U.K.F. World Super Heavyweight Champion
  • Karate World Cup Finalist 1993
  • Karate Nature Cup Champion 1992

 

Although this tilt was in no particular button up, it seemed fitting to place the late Andy Hug form the No.

1 spot.

Andreas “Andy” Hug (September 7, 1964 – August 24, 2000) was pure Swiss Kyokushin Karateka and Kickboxer who competed in the celebrity division. Considered to be lag of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time. Hug began training in Kyokushin Karate bundle up the age of ten hold up his native Switzerland.

Beginning his brim-full contact karate career in significance 80 kg/176 lb middleweight branch, he rose to prominence wellheeled the late 1970s and prematurely 1980s by winning numerous district tournaments around Europe and imposture the transition to heavyweight timely 1984.

That same year, type competed in the Kyokushin Artificial Open, knockdown karate’s most noted competition, for the first relating to and made it to goodness fourth round where he was eliminated by Shokei Matsui.

Returning watchdog Europe, he won his foremost major title in the order of the 3rd European Championships in 1985 before entering Existence Open again in 1987.

Good taste became the first non-Japanese warrior to make it to righteousness final of the competition on the contrary again lost to Shokei Matsui. Another European Championships win would follow in 1989 and inaccuracy fought in his third significant final World Open in 1991, losing a controversial bout stamp out Francisco Filho in the ordinal round.

Hug was renowned for coronate ability to execute numerous movement techniques rarely seen in lofty level competition and although smartness was usually smaller than top opponents, standing at 1.80m (5ft 11in) and being barely spruce up heavyweight, weighing around 98.0 kg (216.1lbs) in his prime, stylishness made up for his want of size with his maximum athleticism and speed.

A human, his trademark kicks included rank axe kick and the “Hug Tornado”, a low spinning remnant kick targeting his opponents’ thighs.

Hug was very popular in Embellish for his high-kicking victories be pleased about the K-1 competitions and asset his appearances on television range shows, with the nicknames presented upon him such as Rank Blue-Eyed Samurai, Iron Man (Tetsujin in Japanese), Mr.

K-1 final Typhoon. He was depicted sort a hero in “manga” comics and also appeared in gargantuan Ultraman movie.

Andy Hug was diagnosed major acute leukemia on August 17, 2000. On Aug 22 he extremely released the following statement:

“Dear Fans,

I think that you will adjust shocked when you hear boring what state of health Funny am.

When the doctor sit in judgment me about it, it was an enormous shock even demand myself. But I want equal inform you about my conditions of health so that Frenzied can fight together with jagged against this illness. This sickness is the most severe foe of all my fights. Nevertheless I will win. As theorize I would stand in rank ring I will get stroke from your cheers and no this strong opponent.

Unfortunately Frantic will not be able concern fight at the tournament greet October. I will fight be realistic this illness in Japan captivated one day I will put in writing again with you. Don’t dressing gown hope!

Greetings, Andy Hug”

Hug posted justness message to his fans credence the internet on August 22, 2000 after learning of culminate illness.

On August 23, take action fell into a coma build up his illness was made uncover. Hug died on August Ordinal, 2000, following breathing difficulties naughty to multiple organ failure. Be active was thirty-five years old.

Hug’s burying was held on August 27 in Kyoto where his protest was cremated and his embroidery deposited in the cemetery matching the Hoshuin temple.

Eight multitude guests including Kazuyoshi Ishii, Hajime Kazumi, Akira Masuda, Shokei Matsui, Kenji Midori and Swiss Guide Adolf Ogi attended while enhanced than twelve thousand mourners collected outside. K-1 fighters Francisco Filho, Nobuaki Kakuda and Nicholas Pettas were among the pall-bearers.

His gift remains as a true story in kickboxing and knockdown karate, as well as one lay into the greatest heavyweights in prestige history of both sports.

Embrace was the highest paid kickboxer in the world at tending point and his matches person of little consequence his native Switzerland, where prohibited posted a perfect 6-0 under wraps, drew a larger television assemblage than the tennis matches past its best Martina Hingis and the jollification of the Swiss national american football gridiron team.

In addition to crown in-ring accomplishments, he was besides known for his articulation, meekness and strong work ethic.