1975, 1st World Open Tournament

[supergroup7]

Osu

Full results is here.
1st World Open Karate Tournament - Kyokushin 4 Life Wiki (http://kyokushin4life.com/wiki/index.php?title=1st_World_Open_Karate_Tournament)

I love learning about the past history of Kyokushin. I would like to know more about the very first World Tournament that happened in 1975 in Japan.

Are there any threads on this forum concerning this?

Would anyone know where I could find out about it on the internet?

Did any of you wonderful posters actually attend this event?

Would you know how many countries were able to participate? How many spectators there were? How did the event go? Are there any pictures? How did Sosai Oyama feel about his first tournament?

Thank you in advance

Osu

[StarKodama]

Sorry, I have nothing to contribute... but I too would really like to know! ;D

[jcc]

Osu!

You could start by beg, buying or borrowing :) the video made around the event - The Strongest Karate. There are a few clips from the film posted on yt.

YouTube - The Strongest Karate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ4YtZb3e0M)

Osu-EN1

[shurenkan]

Supergroup7,

The movie about the 1st WT, was released in the US under the name Fighting Black Kings. I live in NJ, and it plays on cable about 5 times each month. You can also Netflix it if you'd like. I credit that movie for helping me find my passion in life. I remember seeing Kancho Ninomiya in that movie and just being awed by him!!! That's a good place to start.

You can also read Kancho Ninomiya's biography "My Journey in Karate." He gives his account of coming to the US to prepare for that tournament and his experience fighting in it. It's only his perspective but it's a great read.

Then there is Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura's book, "The Human Face of Karate." He paints a less flattering picture of the 1st WT, and as he tells it, the tournament marked the beginning of the end for him as the North American Chairman of the Kyokushinkai. Again, it is only his perspective, but if you are interested in the history of Kyokushin, it deserves a mention.

Osu,
Miguel Rios

[Nix]

1st World Open Karate Tournament Results (http://www.kyokushin4life.com/wiki/index.php?title=1st_World_Open_Karate_Tournament).

[Lonewolf]

Osu! I remember that time period very well. Sosai(Kancho at that time) Oyama put alot of pressure on all the branches to produce big, strong knockout fighters. There was a tremendous amount of preparation and planning that went into that first world tournament. And then unexpectantly, shortly before the tournament was to take place, Sosai Oyama told all the Japanese fighters that if one of them did not win this tournament that he would commit Seppuku(Ritual suicide according to the Samurai code). There were 8 Japanese competitors, and 1st through 6th place went to Japan. The tournament was also filmed into a hit documentary called "THE STRONGEST KARATE" and now it is available on dvd. The interesting thing about this movie is that everytime it's released either on VHS or dvd, there is always additional footage that was not seen previously. The movie company must have had alot of footage during the making of this movie. I have at least 4 different versions of this movie, all different. Recently, I purchased the "Strongest Karate" boxset, which contains all four movies in that series, including a digest movie that again has footage not seen elsewhere. It is an essential piece of Kyokushin history. Budovideos.com sells this boxset, but you have to have a region 2 dvd player. Hope this helps. Osu!

[Brad]

Osu!

You could start by beg, buying or borrowing :) the video made around the event - The Strongest Karate. There are a few clips from the film posted on yt.

YouTube - The Strongest Karate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ4YtZb3e0M)

Osu-EN1

Osu Jcc.

i love the old school thanks for sharing....

[kakatootoshi]

Supergroup7,
The movie about the 1st WT, was released in the US under the name Fighting Black Kings. I live in NJ, and it plays on cable about 5 times each month.

Dear shurenkan,
Hey that is really impressive! I do not remember if it has been shown on Japanese TV at all!

OSU!

[Bloke]

SG7

World Tournament (http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/World/WTi.htm)

According to this site there were 128 competitors from 32 countries.

[Deaken]

OSU,

Shihan Andre Gilbert, Branch Chief for Eastern Canada IKO1, and Shihan Coulomb (now training in Florida, not sure if he's affiliate with any group any more) both represented Canada at that tournament. They are both also featured in Fighting Black Kings at certain moments. You can purchase it (used) on VHS at Amazon.com for under $20. I recently bought a second copy because my first was lent out to a student and accidentally got lost.

The Strongest Karate series is also excellent. I have never really discussed Shihan's experience at the tournament with him in detail. I know that he and Shihan Coulomb both trained extensively in New York with Shihan’s Oyama and Nakamura in preparation for the tournament. I think that Shihan Coulomb went further than Shihan Gilbert, but this is based on my interpretation from the tapes above and it's really not clear so I don't know for a fact.

[smoothsake]

I have a NetFlix membership in the US and you can't rent Fighting Black Kings on DVD, but you can (if using IE6+) watch it immediately on your computer in full screen. I just watched it yesterday. 90 minutes. Great quality.

Thanks, shurenkan! Osu-EN1

[kakatootoshi]

OSU,

Shihan Andre Gilbert, Branch Chief for Eastern Canada IKO1, and Shihan Coulomb (now training in Florida, not sure if he's affiliate with any group any more) both represented Canada at that tournament.

Dear Deaken,
I cannot recognize too many gaijin Shihans, but I remember Gilbert Shihan in the original "Strongest Karate" because of the wooden floor of his dojo (a big kanku on it), and also his hair.

OSU!

[Deaken]

Yes, he had quite the affro style hair back then.

[kakatootoshi]

Dear Deaken,
Is that very same dojo with the kanku floor still there?

OSU!

[supergroup7]

OH Thank you so much all of you for giving us such valuable guidance, and information. I will look up the books, and videos that you mention.

Would any of the newspapers, or magazines, have covered the event during that time? Maybe I could find something at my library if I knew what to look under...

Thank you Lonewolf for sharing about Sosai, and that "condition". Wow.. I was taken by that.. Honestly, I think that my heart would tremble at the thought of losing my Sensei because I didn't win, or because I was judging and I gave a point to someone else. I know that Japanese people do not make these kinds of statements lightly. I'm glad that things went well. Did everyone know about this, or was it only the Japanese fighters who knew?

I am going to invest in the books, and videos that were mentioned in this thread. My only obstacle will be getting things delivered to Canada. Since I tend to be an impatient person, I will also follow your advice, and try to watch the whole thing (All 90 minutes) on my computer.. Thank you for the link!

Thank you Deaken for speaking about the Canadian representatives! How did you know that this was one of the more important aspects of my search? I really would like to know more about the history of Kyokushin in Canada!! Shihan Gilbert, and Shihan Coulomb were THERE! Wow!! Now I HAVE to get the Fighting Black Kings movie.. with no ands, ifs, or buts... If only to see Shihan Gilbert, and Shihan Coulomb! But I'm sure that I will enjoy much more. I'd love to know more about Canada's involvement, and how things went for the Canadians.

[Deaken]

Shihan's dojo moved in the early 80's to it's present location. It has a traditional wooden floor, no longer the huge maple leaf in the middle. I never trained at the original, it was before my time in Kyokushin so I have also ony seen it in the movie.

Shihan wrote a book some time ago. It's only in French and I haven't looked at it in years but I am curious if he wrote about his experience at the WT in it. I will also be seeing him this coming weekend, so if I have an opportunity and if I remember I will ask him.

If you are ever in Montreal you should try and visit his dojo and take one of his classes. I think that you would really enjoy the experience.

[supergroup7]

Well.. thank you for the invite Deacon. I really appreciate it. In fact, I am going to be near Montreal very soon, and I have been actively looking for a place to visit, and train near my brother's home. I'm not too sure about this, but I'm thinking that maybe one of my stumbling blocks might be which IKO organization that I belong to.. When I was looking for a chance to participate in Kata competition, I was kindly, and gently informed that the doors were closed in that direction outside of my IKO group.

Me? I'm thrilled to train with anybody, and everybody.. but then I'm still young in the Arts, and I'm still wet behind the ears when it comes to this sort of thing. I have no experiences other than the few years that I've lived through so far.

I will look and see if Shihan Gilbert's book is available in our French Library. Who knows maybe I will find it?? :-)

[Deaken]

IKO3 has a pretty big group in the Montreal area as well. For tournaments, I think that only us (IKO1) do not allow other groups to participate, but most of the other IKO's and Kyokushin organizations allow open participation.

If you just go by yourself to a class, you may be allowed to participate at Shihan's dojo, but I wouldn't publicise your organization affiliation too much. Don't ask don't tell often works well in these types of situations.

Let me know where in Montreal you are going and I can try and suggest some places to train. I'm in Toronto now, but lived in Montreal for 30 years and go back about every 2-3 months for work or to visit firends and family (and of course train with my Shihan).
OSU-EN2

[supergroup7]

Oh my Gosh.. I have found a goldmine in the following webpage:

Ïåðâûé ×åìïèîíàò ìèðà (http://www.superkarate.ru/e_h_c_1chemp.htm)

These are the countries that participated in the event:

A.(Asia Area): 1 Japan

B. (North American Area)

PARTICIPATING NATIONS

1 United States of America ( including Puerto Rico and Guam). 2 Canada. 3 Mexico

C. (South American Aria)

1 Brazil. 2 Argentina . 3 Uruguay . 4 Chile . 5 Guyana . 6 Surinam . 7 Venezuera

D (South Pacific Aiea)

1 Australia . 2 New Zealand

E (South East Asia )

1 Republic of China. 2 Philippines. 3 Singapore. 4 Hongkong. 5 Indonesia. 6 Malaysia. 7 Sri Lanka. 8 India

F (Europe)

1 England. 2 France. 3 Italy. 4 Holland. 5 West Germany. 6 Spain. 7 Sweden. 8 Norway. 9 Denmark. 10 Switzerland. 11 Austria. 12 Belgium

G (The Middle and Near East)

1 Isral. 2 Jordan. 3 Lebanon. 4 Siria

H (Africa)

1 South Africa. 2 Mozambigue. 3 Rhodesia. 4 Zambia

[shokei]

I have heard that before the 4th world tournament, Matsui Kancho was sent to Soshu Shigeru Oyama Dojo in the us for some special training by Sosai.Have any heard same and please elaborate more. Thanks.

[yoshukai]

I have also heard this. I believe I read this in an interview given by Soshu Oyama. Mas Oyama sent Matsui to train with Soshu Oyama even after Shigeru Oyama split from Kyokushin. It makes sense, since Shigeru Oyama was his top instructor before splitting.

[MilkManX]

Interesting!

I still wish I could get the full uncut version of this footage for 2 reasons.

My Sensei trained with Shigeru Oyama at the time and that is when he became friends with Ninomiya and there is footage of him sparring at that dojo! Also I want to see Ninomiya's final fight as it is not in the "Fighting Black Kings" version.

[ashiharakaicho]

OSU,Shihan Andre Gilbert, Branch Chief for Eastern Canada IKO1, and Shihan Coulomb (now training in Florida, not sure if he's affiliate with any group any more) both represented Canada at that tournament.

I think Shihan Coulombe started his own group - something to do with Matayoshi Kobudo and Kyokushin. I met him at the US Kyokushin championships organised by Martin Petrovich in 1999.
http://www.ashiharakarate.org/ShihanCoulombe.jpg


The Strongest Karate series is also excellent. I have never really discussed Shihan's experience at the tournament with him in detail. I know that he and Shihan Coulomb both trained extensively in New York with Shihan’s Oyama and Nakamura in preparation for the tournament. I think that Shihan Coulomb went further than Shihan Gilbert, but this is based on my interpretation from the tapes above and it's really not clear so I don't know for a fact.

Shihan Gilbert features a bit more in the copy I have - they show some dojo scenes and training of combination technique with him.

In that tournament, Shihan Gilbert was matched against D.W. Smith of Rhodesia which he won. The next fight was against C. Ching of Malaysia and Ching went through to fight B. Fribert of Sweden who then won.

Shihan Coulombe was matched against C. Antonio of Switzerland which he won. His next fight was against Bruce Anthony of South Africa. In the movie, one sees Bruce Anthony connecting Shihan Coulombe with a stunning mawashi geri to win.

Based on the draw, they appeared to have done equally well.
Osu-JP1

Shihan wrote a book some time ago. It's only in French and I haven't looked at it in years but I am curious if he wrote about his experience at the WT in it. I will also be seeing him this coming weekend, so if I have an opportunity and if I remember I will ask him.QUOTE]

Just hd a quick look through it, does not seem as if there is much written about him itself.
Osu-JP1

[quote=supergroup7;61272]Osu I love learning about the past history of Kyokushin. I would like to know more about the very first World Tournament that happened in 1975 in Japan. Are there any threads on this forum concerning this? Would anyone know where I could find out about it on the internet? Did any of you wonderful posters actually attend this event? Would you know how many countries were able to participate? How many spectators there were? How did the event go? Are there any pictures? How did Sosai Oyama feel about his first tournament? Thank you in advance Osu

A souvenir photo book was produced after the tournament entitled " The Strongest Karate" - see the image below
http://www.ashiharakarate.org/thestrongestkarate.jpg

It was published by Kodansha International and has 128 pages of great information. The information you ask above is possibly all encapsulated in the book.
Osu-JP1

[sparkie]

Hi Osu,
I have an original program from the tournament, with all the teams and team members, if this is of some help. I was in the Australian team, and have kept all of my original docs. from 1975.
Regards
Mick

[sandman]

Hi Osu,
I have an original program from the tournament, with all the teams and team members, if this is of some help. I was in the Australian team, and have kept all of my original docs. from 1975.
Regards
Mick

Cool! Would you be so kind as to go to the Introductions forum and start a thread to tell us a bit about yourself? I'm sure a lot of our members would be interested to hear about your experience on the Australian team :)

Osu!