Keinosuke Enoeda

In this Japanese name, the family name is "Enoeda".
Keinosuke Enoeda

Historical photo of Keinosuke Enoeda
Born 4 July 1935
Japan
Died 29 March 2003 (aged 67)
United Kingdom
Other names Tora (Tiger)
Style Shotokan Karate
Teacher(s) Masatoshi Nakayama, Taiji Kase
Rank 9th dan karate (JKA)
Notable students Yoshinobu Ohta, Harry Cook, Dave Hazard, Paul Herbert, Andy Sherry, Graham Richardson, Angelo Sanna

Keinosuke Enoeda (榎枝 慶之輔 Enoeda Keinosuke, 4 July 1935 – 29 March 2003) was a Japanese master of Shotokan karate.[1] He was a former Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain.[1] Enoeda was ranked 8th dan in Shotokan karate, and was widely renowned as a formidable karateka (practitioner of karate).[2] Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded the rank of 9th dan.[3]

Early life

Enoeda was born on 4 July 1935 on the island of Kyushu, Japan.[1] As a youth, he trained in kendo and judo, and played baseball.[1] By the age of 16, Enoeda had reached the rank of 2nd dan in judo.[1] He entered Takushoku University and, being impressed by a karate demonstration there, began studying that martial art.[1]

After graduating from university, Enoeda studied at the Japan Karate Association (JKA) honbu dojo (headquarters training hall) in Tokyo under Masatoshi Nakayama, then the JKA's Chief Instructor. He also trained in kumite under the direction of Taiji Kase.[4] In 1961, he fought a notable tournament match against Keigo Abe, winning by decision after six extensions.[5] He won the JKA All Japan Championship in 1963 against another well known karateka, Hiroshi Shirai.[6] During this period, Enoeda acquired the nickname Tora ("Tiger" in Japanese), after Nakayama had described his fighting.[2]

United Kingdom

On 20 April 1965, following the JKA's policy of sending instructors abroad to introduce karate to the rest of the world, Enoeda travelled to England with JKA instructors Shirai, Kanazawa, and Kase.[7] He began teaching in Liverpool. One of Enoeda's British students in the late 1960s was karate scholar Harry Cook.[8][9]

Enoeda and his wife, Reiko (married in 1969), settled in Kingston, Surrey.[1] In 1973, Enoeda led a demonstration of karate on live television for the BBC.[10] Part of the Open Door series it was the first British TV programme entirely about karate. The demonstration included kihon (basic techniques), kata (patterns), Enoeda sparring multiple opponents, Enoeda against Tomita with a large blade, and Dave Hazard breaking a piece of Japanese hardwood.[10]

While Chief Instructor of the KUGB, Enoeda was assisted by: Sadashige Kato (from c. 1966–1973), Shiro Asano (from 1968–1974), Hideo Tomita (from 1973–1978), Masao Kawasoe (from 1974–1982), and Yoshinobu Ohta (from 1982–2003).[2] In 1985, Enoeda was ranked 8th dan.[11]

Later life

Enoeda wrote several books on karate, including: Shotokan: Advanced kata (1983, in at least two volumes),[12][13] Shotokan Karate (1996),[14] Shotokan Karate: 10th Kyu to 6th Kyu (1996),[15] Shotokan Karate: 5th Kyu to Black Belt (1996),[16] Karate: Defence & attack (1996, co-authored),[17] and Shotokan Karate: Free Fighting Techniques (1999, co-authored).[18]

Enoeda used to promote his dojo with "Dynamic Karate" posters on the London Underground. He continued teaching karate, at the Marshall Street Baths near Carnaby Street in London, until his death on 29 March 2003.[1][3][19][20] Shortly after his death, the JKA awarded the rank of 9th dan to him.[3] Enoeda left behind his wife, Reiko, and children Daisuke and Maya.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Karate Union of Great Britain: Instructor profiles – Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda, 9th Dan, 1935–2003 Retrieved on 18 February 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cheetham, J. (2003): "Master Keinosuke Enoeda: The Legend." Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 76 (June 2003).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 CommuniGate: Messages of condolence – Sensei K. Enoeda, 9th Dan (2003). Retrieved on 19 February 2010.
  4. ↑ Fernandez, M. (2001): Master Taiji Kase, 9th Dan Shotokan Ryu Karate-Do Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 69 (November 2001):4–8. Retrieved on 1 April 2010.
  5. ↑ Japan Shotokan Karate Association: ABE Keigo, 9th Dan, JSKA Chief Instructor (May 2009). Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
  6. ↑ O'Neill, T. (1983): Keinosuke Enoeda: Shotokan Retrieved on 18 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Keinosuke Enoeda – 1935–2003 on YouTube
  8. ↑ Compson, H. (2008): Harry is master of oriental art Hexham Courant (13 November 2008). Retrieved on 18 February 2010.
  9. ↑ Fong, G. (1988): Karateforum.com: Harry Cook interview (September 1988) Retrieved on 18 February 2010.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Hazard, D. (2007): Born fighter (pp. 71–74). London: John Blake. (ISBN 978-1-84454-480-6)
  11. ↑ Butler, R. (2004): Keinosuke Enoeda: Tiger of Shotokan Karate. London: Karate-London. (ISBN 978-0-9546-9471-5)
  12. ↑ Enoeda, K. (1983): Shotokan: Advanced kata (Vol. 1). London: Dragon Books. (ISBN 978-0-9460-6203-4)
  13. ↑ Enoeda, K. (1983): Shotokan: Advanced kata (Vol. 2). London: Dragon Books. (ISBN 978-0-9460-6204-1)
  14. ↑ Enoeda, K. (1996): Shotokan Karate. London: A. & C. Black. (ISBN 978-0-7136-4312-1)
  15. ↑ Enoeda, K. (1996): Shotokan Karate: 10th Kyu to 6th Kyu. London: A. & C. Black. (ISBN 978-0-7136-4311-4)
  16. ↑ Enoeda, K. (1996): Shotokan Karate: 5th Kyu to Black Belt. London: A. & C. Black. (ISBN 978-0-7136-4312-1)
  17. ↑ Enoeda, K., & Chisholm, J. (1996): Karate: Defence & attack. London: Paul H. Crompton. (ISBN 978-0-9017-6404-1)
  18. ↑ Enoeda, K., & Mack, C. J. (1999): Shotokan Karate: Free fighting techniques. London: Paul H. Crompton. (ISBN 978-1-8742-5006-7)
  19. ↑ Sudbury Shotokan Karate Club: Keinosuke Enoeda Retrieved on 5 March 2010.
  20. ↑ Cheetham, J. (2003): Editorial Shotokan Karate Magazine, Issue 76 (June 2003). Retrieved on 5 March 2010.

External links