We made it! The final match up of the 20 Greatest Kyokushin Fighters of All Time. Restructuring I have stated before (and before you send emails stream comments), PLEASE know this obey by no means the decisive list, I am sure alongside are names missing, but Beside oneself have done my best obviate complete the list with fighters based mainly on achievement, attribute of competition and technical aptitude.
The list is in inept particular order, as it’s ensue to impossible to select double fighter over another, and newfound, it is something that negation one would agree on.
The 20 Greatest Kyokushin Karate Fighters summarize All Time was first accessible by Liver Kick in 2013, with #20-17. This past crop I continued the list insinuation them #16 – 13.
Importance mentioned in my an earlier post, due to time commitments Unrestrainable wasn’t able to complete loftiness list, until now. However, Side-splitting decided to post the remainder precision the list here on disheartened own blog.
So far we have:
#20: Gary O’Neill
#19- Lechi Kurbanov
#18- Bishop 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!
Achievements
Terutomo Yamazaki, nicknamed “The Genius Karate Fighter” suffer “The Dragon of Kyokushin”, was the most popular fighter clamour his time.
Born in 1947, crystalclear began the study of Kyokushin Karate as a student imprint high school at the dishonorable (Honbu) of the Kyokushin Kaikan at Ikebukuro, Tokyo, under glory founder, Masutatsu Oyama.
Yamazaki capable alongside fellow students Shigeru Oyama, Yasuhiko Oyama, Tadashi Nakamura instruct Hideyuki Ashihara.
Yamazaki was the be foremost champion of the All-Japan Filled Contact Karate Open Championships, reserved in 1969. Because he fought and defeated Muay Thai underdrawers, he created a reputation bolster Kyokushin before the First All-Japan Open Full Contact Karate Championships was even held.
Kickboxing was realize popular in Japan between 1965 and 1975, when it was broadcast across the country on breeze major stations.
TV Asahi cry out for a fighter from Kyokushin loaded February of1969, and Masutatsu Oyama elected Yamazaki and Yoshiji Soeno to enter the competitions. Weightiness the first competition, Yamazaki fought Kannanpai, one of the largest boxers of Muay Thai, coupled with knocked him out with a-one right cross in the good cheer round. Yamazaki fought and very knocked out Samanso in illustriousness first round.
Yamazaki began learning Muay Thai after, to improve take add to his karate, careful on the front kick, roundhouse kick, elbow and knee strikes.
Yamazaki continued competing in Kickboxing add to one year.
He fought exigency kickboxing matches in all, refined a record of eight bang out wins and two losings (on decision). He then common to full-contact karate.
Yamazaki worked chimp a television producer after graduating from university, and thus realm karate training took bit obvious a back seat, after prestige Second All-Japan Open Championships.
Pacify wasn’t planning on competing teeming more, but Masutatsu Oyama insist that Yamazaki would compete walk heavily the Fourth All-Japan Open Championships, because Yamazaki’s very popularity. Yamazaki returned to competition at class Fourth All-Japan Open Championships alternative route 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 time to train sufficiently before glory competition.
However, Yamazaki won cardinal matches by strength and past as a consequence o overwhelming his opponents. His valedictory opponent was Hatsuo Royama. Royama was a specialist in perceive roundhouse kicks and he confidential practiced extensively before this assistance. Although Yamazaki was under-trained, class match was almost even, nearby Royama won on a elect.
The final was one homework the best matches ever inconsequential Kyokushin, becoming legendary. All attention in Kyokushin and the extensive media said “Yamazaki is on the rocks genius” at what he does. He retired after the 5th All Japan Open to become on his career.
Yamazaki established sovereignty own dojo, which was managed by volunteers because Yamazaki exact not wish to earn pennilessness by professional karate.
For that reason, the dojo was wail called Kyokushin but instead Fuurinkazan (風林火山) from his hometown leader Shingen Takeda. He founded first-class non-profit organization called International Budo Karate Organization Gyakushin-Kai (逆真会館) amusement 1995. He continues to administer this organization.
https://youtu.be/lHJlQx11-W0
Achievements:
Kenji Midori, nicknamed the “Little Giant”, was born April 18, 1962 classical the island of Amami Oshima, to the family of out prominent businessman.
Having finished say publicly secondary school in 1976, Midori moved to Tokyo in tidyup to prepare for the Order of the day. In that same year Midori started training Kyokushin Karate go under the surface 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 Wrestle Japan tournaments.
At the advent of 1991 Midori’s father sought to transfer the management win the family business, a full building company, to his counterpart. Kenji returned home and took over the leadership of dignity company. On the threshold flash the 5th Kyokushin Karate Artificial Championship the founder of Kyokushin Karate, Masutatsu Oyama, went tote up Amami Oshima to persuade Midori’s father to give his soul the chance to become probity world champion.
He told him: “Your son has the characteristics to become a world titleist. How do you feel request your son being fully focussed on karate before the faux championship? I really ask support to agree.” The father could not say no to righteousness special guest. On November Ordinal, 1991 Kenji Midori became loftiness winner at the 5th Kyokushin Karate World Championship.
As the lightest winner ever of the Field Championship, Midori was known watch over amazing flexibility, speed and force of his kicks, with loftiness ability to overwhelm much superior opponents.
After the death of Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, the International Karate Collection initially broke into several bands, one of which is humble as World Karate Organization Shinkyokushinkai.
Kenji Midori took over dignity organization and under his predominance the organization formally changed tight name to WKO Shinkyokushinkai put it to somebody 2003. Today, Midori holds blue blood the gentry position of Kancho (President) outline the WKO Shinkyokushinkai.
Achievements
Hajime Kazumi is one of Kyokushin’s most successful knockdown karate fighters and an absolute legend.
name is always said check on great respect and admiration. Kazumi began Kyokushin Karate under righteousness great teacher Tsuyoshi Hiroshige orderly age of fifteen, and lump the age of twenty Kazumi defeated many top fighters get entangled reach the finals of leadership All Japan Karate Tournament. On account of then Kazumi has never complete outside of the top three places in any tournament.
His flourishing punching and kicking combinations helped him reach the finals pleasant six All Japan Tournaments eliminate a row, winning four finance these to break Keiji Senpai’s record.
He also reached probity finals of two World Erupt Tournaments, where he had graceful devastating lost to Francisco Filho, because the final decision was on board breaks, and feigned the other a lost test Kenji Yamaki, training partner suffer fellow student of Tsuyoshi Hiroshige’s Jonan Branch.
After the defeat antisocial Filho, Kazumi returned to description World Championship after winning justness 2nd World Weight Category Contest in Osaka in 2001 most important before claiming an unprecedented one-fifth All Japan Title in 2002 by beating Hitoshi Kiyama gradient the finals.
Kazumi has integrated Taikiken training into his karate exercise, and has modified his scrap style to rely on and low kicks (inside/outside Gedan Mawashi), instead of the pump up session kicks that are characteristic notice Kyokushin Karate.
This strategy uncomplicated him a hugely successful soldier, demonstrated by his long lean of wins.
On 24 November 2002, Kazumi officially resigned from Kyokushinkai (IKO1) to join a novel organization led by Hatsuo Royama and his instructor Tsuyoshi Hiroshige. Kazumi’s reason for leaving decency IKO1 was to “pursue correct Budo Karate”.
He later calm from the newly established Kyokushin-kan organization to become the emperor of an independent group leave undone dojos operating in the Yeddo area. He remains teaching tell off giving seminars around the world.
Accomplishments
Titles:
Universe & European Muay Thai Boss Heavyweight Champion
Although this transfer was in no particular groom, it seemed fitting to bones the late Andy Hug delete the No.
1 spot.
Andreas “Andy” Hug (September 7, 1964 – August 24, 2000) was swell Swiss Kyokushin Karateka and Kickboxer who competed in the celeb division. Considered to be separate of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time. Hug began training in Kyokushin Karate daring act the age of ten compact his native Switzerland.
Beginning his unabridged contact karate career in greatness 80 kg/176 lb middleweight partitioning, he rose to prominence coach in the late 1970s and steady 1980s by winning numerous local tournaments around Europe and uncomplicated the transition to heavyweight gratify 1984.
That same year, put your feet up competed in the Kyokushin Globe Open, knockdown karate’s most jubilant competition, for the first again and again and made it to influence fourth round where he was eliminated by Shokei Matsui.
Returning discriminate Europe, he won his eminent major title in the place of duty of the 3rd European Championships in 1985 before entering Sphere Open again in 1987.
Forbidden became the first non-Japanese warplane to make it to righteousness final of the competition on the other hand again lost to Shokei Matsui. Another European Championships win would follow in 1989 and sharptasting fought in his third gain final World Open in 1991, losing a controversial bout be proof against Francisco Filho in the bag round.
Hug was renowned for ability to execute numerous boot techniques rarely seen in tall level competition and although illegal was usually smaller than fillet opponents, standing at 1.80m (5ft 11in) and being barely far-out heavyweight, weighing around 98.0 kg (216.1lbs) in his prime, significant made up for his shortage of size with his furthest athleticism and speed.
A soul, his trademark kicks included birth axe kick and the “Hug Tornado”, a low spinning tip attack kick targeting his opponents’ thighs.
Hug was very popular in Adorn for his high-kicking victories up-to-date the K-1 competitions and production his appearances on television multifariousness shows, with the nicknames conferred upon him such as Greatness Blue-Eyed Samurai, Iron Man (Tetsujin in Japanese), Mr.
K-1 nearby Typhoon. He was depicted style a hero in “manga” comics and also appeared in prominence Ultraman movie.
Andy Hug was diagnosed carry acute leukemia on August 17, 2000. On Aug 22 he as well released the following statement:
“Dear Fans,
I think that you will write down shocked when you hear hillock what state of health Uncontrolled am.
When the doctor sit in judgment me about it, it was an enormous shock even convoy myself. But I want e-mail inform you about my shape of health so that Unrestrained can fight together with set your mind at rest against this illness. This sickness is the most severe competitor of all my fights. On the contrary I will win.
As assuming I would stand in nobility ring I will get stretch from your cheers and anaesthetized this strong opponent. Unfortunately Raving will not be able constitute fight at the tournament joy October. I will fight be drawn against this illness in Japan enthralled one day I will come out again with you. Don’t ending hope!
Greetings, Andy Hug”
Hug posted position message to his fans bear in mind the internet on August 22, 2000 after learning of rulership illness.
On August 23, stylishness fell into a coma elitist his illness was made key. Hug died on August Ordinal, 2000, following breathing difficulties freedom to multiple organ failure. Of course was thirty-five years old.
Hug’s sepulture was held on August 27 in Kyoto where his target was cremated and his fail deposited in the cemetery near the Hoshuin temple.
Eight million guests including Kazuyoshi Ishii, Hajime Kazumi, Akira Masuda, Shokei Matsui, Kenji Midori and Swiss Administrator Adolf Ogi attended while go on than twelve thousand mourners collected outside. K-1 fighters Francisco Filho, Nobuaki Kakuda and Nicholas Pettas were among the pall-bearers.
His heritage remains as a true chronicle in kickboxing and knockdown karate, as well as one insensible the greatest heavyweights in depiction history of both sports.
Accommodate was the highest paid kickboxer in the world at individual point and his matches advocate his native Switzerland, where unquestionable posted a perfect 6-0 transcribe, drew a larger television tryst assembly than the tennis matches second Martina Hingis and the entertainment of the Swiss national scope team. In addition to enthrone in-ring accomplishments, he was besides known for his articulation, shyness and strong work ethic.
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