Karate in the United Kingdom

Karate was first introduced in the United Kingdom by Vernon Bell, a judo instructor who attended karate classes with Henry Plée in Paris.[1]

Karate in the United Kingdom
CountryUnited Kingdom
Governing bodyBritish Karate Federation
National team(s)Great Britain Olympics team
International competitions

History

Following its introduction by Vernon Bell, karate was popularised in the UK by various instructors, Japanese and otherwise.[2] Organisations such as the Karate Union of Great Britain were established by experts and enthusiasts to promote karate in the UK.[3][4]

The Japan Karate Association sent several professional instructors to Britain to spread their Shotokan style of karate, starting with Taiji Kase, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Keinosuke Enoeda and Hiroshi Shirai in 1965.[5] Other karate styles were also established in the UK, including Wado-ryu via Tatsuo Suzuki, and Kyokushin via Steve Arneil.

Karate in the UK was the subject of controversy in its early years, following the 1966 murder of Andy Allen by Anthony Creamer, a street fighter and self-taught karate enthusiast.[6][7]

National governing body

The British Karate Federation (BKF) is the largest karate association in the United Kingdom, and a member of the British Olympic Committee.[8] The BKF is affiliated with the European Karate Federation (EKF), as well as the World Karate Federation (WKF).

On behalf of the British Olympic Committee, the BKF was the only karate association authorised to send athletes to the 2020 Olympics.

International competition

The United Kingdom was once considered a "world power" of sport karate, particularly from the 1970s to 1990s.[9][10][11] In the 21st century, the UK has produced four WKF senior world champions: Leon Walters, Rory Daniels, Paul Newby, and Jordan Thomas.

Although the UK is represented by Team GB at the Summer Olympics, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales each have separate federations represented in the EKF and WKF.

Today

Karate is one of the most popular martial arts in the United Kingdom today.[12][13][14][15] In Scotland, it was noted as the fastest-growing girls' sport between 2011/12 and 2016/17.[16]

References
  1. Thompson, Chris (26 July 2017). Black Belt Karate. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 9781847730053. Retrieved 26 July 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. 1 October 1969. Retrieved 26 July 2017 – via Google Books.
  3. "Early days of karate to feature in BBC television programme". York Press.
  4. "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. 1 April 1983. Retrieved 26 July 2017 – via Google Books.
  5. "Exclusive: UK Karate History". Bushinkai. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  6. Inc, Active Interest Media (1 March 1967). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 18 December 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. Bondeson, Jan (15 January 2014). Murder Houses of London. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-1491-5.
  8. "New Martial Arts Partnership Announced Between Karate and Taekwondo". 8 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. "Karate: Ancient pursuit in need of new face: Steve Bunce reports from". Independent. 9 May 1994. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  10. Inc, Active Interest Media (1 February 1985). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 26 October 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. Matthews, Christopher R.; Channon, Alex (29 April 2016). Global Perspectives on Women in Combat Sports: Women Warriors around the World. Springer. ISBN 9781137439369. Retrieved 18 December 2017 – via Google Books.
  12. Inc, Active Interest Media (1 March 1967). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 18 December 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. "English Karate Council Development Plan 2014-2018" (PDF). Englishkaratecouncil.com\accessdate=2017-07-26.
  14. Amara, M. (24 November 2011). Sport, Politics and Society in the Arab World. Springer. ISBN 9780230359505. Retrieved 26 July 2017 – via Google Books.
  15. "Karate participation England 2006-2016 - UK Statistics". Statista. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  16. Scott, David (2 October 2017). "Karate is the fastest growing sport for girls in Scotland". Express. Retrieved 8 March 2018.

Bibliography
  • The Kanazawa Years : Reminiscences by Michael Randall, 7th Dan on a Golden Age in British Karate, Shoto Publishing, 1998, ISBN 978-0953028733


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