Hajime Kazumi
Encyclopedia
is one of Kyokushin
's most successful knockdown karate fighters and an instructor of full-contact fighting techniques.
on boards and Kenji Yamaki, training partner and fellow student of Tsuyoshi Hiroshige's Jonan Branch.
After the defeat by Filho, Kazumi returned to the World Championship after winning the 2nd World Weight Category Tournament in Osaka
in 2001 and before claiming an unprecedented fifth All Japan Title in 2002 by beating Hitoshi Kiyama in the finals.
Kazumi has integrated Taiki-ken training into his karate
practice, and has modified his fighting style to rely on punching and low kicks instead of the high kicks that are characteristic of Kyokushin karate. This strategy made him a successful fighter, demonstrated by his record of wins.
On 24 November 2002, Kazumi officially resigned from Kyokushinkai (IKO1) to join a new organization led by Hatsuo Royama and his instructor Tsuyoshi Hiroshige. Kazumi's reason for leaving the IKO1 was to "pursue true Budo
Karate". He later resigned from the newly established Kyokushin-kan (IKO6/KKI) organisation to become the leader of an independent group of dojos operating in the Tokyo
area.
With Tatsuya Iwasaki, Kazumi is the author of Shinseki Real Karate Bible, a manual for instruction of full-contact kumite (fighting) with accompanying DVD. He also produces Internet training videos for full-contact instruction.
Kyokushin
is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
's most successful knockdown karate fighters and an instructor of full-contact fighting techniques.
Career
At age twenty Kazumi defeated many top fighters to reach the finals of the All Japan Karate Tournament. Since then Kazumi has never finished outside of the top two places in any tournament. His effective punching and kicking combinations helped him reach the finals of six All Japan Tournaments in a row, winning four of these to break Keiji Senpai's record. He also reached the finals of two World Open Tournaments where he lost to Francisco FilhoFrancisco Filho
Francisco Filho may refer to:* Francisco Filho , martial artist born in Bahia* Francisco Filho , football coach born in São Paulo...
on boards and Kenji Yamaki, training partner and fellow student of Tsuyoshi Hiroshige's Jonan Branch.
After the defeat by Filho, Kazumi returned to the World Championship after winning the 2nd World Weight Category Tournament in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
in 2001 and before claiming an unprecedented fifth All Japan Title in 2002 by beating Hitoshi Kiyama in the finals.
Kazumi has integrated Taiki-ken training into his karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
practice, and has modified his fighting style to rely on punching and low kicks instead of the high kicks that are characteristic of Kyokushin karate. This strategy made him a successful fighter, demonstrated by his record of wins.
On 24 November 2002, Kazumi officially resigned from Kyokushinkai (IKO1) to join a new organization led by Hatsuo Royama and his instructor Tsuyoshi Hiroshige. Kazumi's reason for leaving the IKO1 was to "pursue true Budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
Karate". He later resigned from the newly established Kyokushin-kan (IKO6/KKI) organisation to become the leader of an independent group of dojos operating in the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
area.
With Tatsuya Iwasaki, Kazumi is the author of Shinseki Real Karate Bible, a manual for instruction of full-contact kumite (fighting) with accompanying DVD. He also produces Internet training videos for full-contact instruction.
Tournament history
- 7th World Open Tournament 1999 (IKO1) – 2nd Place (Lost to Francisco Filho)
- 6th World Open Tournament 1995 (IKO1) – 2nd Place (Lost to Kenji Yamaki)
- 34th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 2002 (IKO1) – 1st Place (Defeated Hitoshi Kiyama)
- 30th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1998 (IKO1) – 1st Place (Defeated Yoshihiro Tamura)
- 29th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1997 (IKO1) – 1st Place (Defeated Garry O'Neill)
- 28th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1996 (IKO1) – 1st Place (Defeated Garry O'Neill)
- 26th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1994 – 2nd Place (Lost to Kenji Yamaki)
- 25th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1993 – 1st Place (Defeated Yoshihiro Tamura)
- 24th All Japan Open Karate Tournament 1992 – 2nd Place (Lost to Yoshihiro Tamura)
- 2nd World Weight Tournament 2001 (IKO1) – 1st Place
- 1st World Team Cup 1998 (IKO1) – 1st Place (Defeated BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
)
100 man kumite
Hajime Kazumi completed his 100 man kumite at the new IKO1 Honbu in 1995.- Results were obtained from the official IKO1 site and are as follows:
- Time per Kumite 1 minute 30 seconds
- Time Started 11:38
- Time Finished 15:42
- Total Fighting Time 3 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds
- Total Spending Time 4 hours 4 minutes
- Results 58 wins, 42 draws, no losses
- Ippons: 16 (Ippon: 2, Awase-Ippon: 14)
- Wins by decision: 42 (Waza-ari: 15)