Henry Plée
Encyclopedia
Henry Plée is a French
martial artist
who is considered as the 'father of European and French karate
'. He is the only 10th dan
karate master living outside of Japan
, and the only Westerner who holds this rank. He is also the oldest and highest karate ranking Westerner alive, with more than 60 years of fighting arts, including 50 in martial arts. He was a pioneer in introducing karate to France and Europe, and has taught most of today's highest ranking karate masters in Europe.
, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France on 24 May 1923. His studies were interrupted by World War II
in 1940.
An only son, Henry Plée started his sports career with gymnastics
, weight lifting, French savate
, Ju Jutsu, and Fencing
with his father Alcide Plée, who was a sword master since 1912. He diversified into judo
in 1945 at the 'Judo Club de France', master Mikonosuke Kawaishi
's second club. He was the 96th French black belt and is now ranked 5th dan at judo
.
Physically very powerful, he is missing kicks and punches. From 1946, he return to French savate
, also known as French kickboxing
, at the club 'Banville' (the only remaining club at that time). He trained with famous fighters such as Rigal, Pierre Plasait, Cayron, and Pierre Baruzy. Despite the high training quality, he still felt the need to go stronger and deeper. He was still looking for something else.
He discovered aikido
with Minoru Mochizuki
, then karate
from an article in Life
magazine with Fukuda Rikutaro, his Judo Kodokan magazine's translator. Fukuda Rikutaro confided in him that he learnt karate in Tokyo
with Gichin Funakoshi
. This was the start of his karate career in 1953 with help from Donn Draeger in Japan.
: the Karate Club de France (KCF), which became Academie Française des Arts Martiaux (AFAM), which became 'Shobudo', also known as 'The Mountain/ La Montagne' (in French) or as 'Dojo de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève' in Paris. It is the oldest karate dojo in Europe, which has won 32 French, Europe, and world championships since its creation.
Here he taught the four pillars of Japanese Martial Arts
: karate
, judo
, aikido
, and kendo
. Plée instructed many black belts who, at a later stage, formed the frame of the European karate institutions and are today some of the highest ranking karate masters in Europe.
He also traveled frequently to Japan, in order to learn and meet with the most famous karate masters of all styles.
He invited many of them to visit him in France, and along the years, he financed the visit to France of more than 17 Japanese and Chinese martial arts
experts. They taught at the Shobudo: the secrets of karate were being unveiled in Europe.
In 1956, he founded the 'French Federation of Karate and Boxing' (Fédération Française de Karaté et de Boxe Libre), which became part of the 'French Federation of Judo and Associated Disciplines' (Fédération française de Judo et Disciplines Associées - FFJDA) in 1960. Under his influence, the creation in 1966 of the 'European Union of Karate' (Union Européenne de Karaté), showed an independence of karate from the judo federations, and the decision of not favoring any karate style over another. He also served as a Technical Advisor to the 'European Karate Federation (EKF)' and as its General Secretary in 1967.
For 21 years (1950–1971) he financed and published the first bilingual (French/ English) karate magazine named Budo Magazine Europe, and another magazine named Judo Kodokan, which was a translation of the Japanese magazine of the Tokyo
Kodokan. He wrote books, and appeared in the movie La Vie, l'amour, la mort.
He owned at 'The Mountain' the most comprehensive private Martial Arts library available in Europe, and also a Martial Arts equipment, books, videos, and DVD store named 'Budostore'. He also headed a very exclusive European think-tank on Martial Arts, which studied the essence and spirituality of Martial Arts. He regularly publishes his chronicles on-line.
From 200 karate practitioners in 1961, Henry Plée's efforts have led today to more than 200,000 practitioners in France. The French government considers him as one of the greatest international experts in Martial Arts, and has knighted Plée with the French Ordre national du Mérite
in 2008.
and many others. Along the years, he financed the visits to France of more than 17 Japanese and Chinese martial arts experts, including:
Inviting many Japanese masters to France allowed him to learn in continuity from his actual level, instead of starting from the beginning in every school in Japan. It also molded French karate with a unique blend of not favoring any karate style over another.
Other notable students are:
Guy Bourrelet (first black belt granted by Henry Plée), Thierry Riesser-Nadal, Bernard Cousin, Bernard Bordas, Pierre Portocarrero, Victor Marques, Julien Petitfour, Florence Braunstein, Kacem Zoughari, Raoul Battarel, Jean Pierre Lavoratto, Georges Charles, Gérad Mene-Safrane (Smilodon), Philippe Meraud, Jacques Bahut, Jacques Secques, Roland Maroteaux, Roland Hernaez, Bernard Nadoulek, Amidou, Jean Jacques Sanvert, Jean Daniel Cauhépé, Eric Phelippot, Jean Pol de Meester, Arséne Herviou, Jean Coulon, Laurent Perron, Laurent Lasselle, Gérard Baron, Sébastien Villalba, Louis Arpin, Claude Doudou, Jo Pierresteguy, Phillipe Meraud, Raymond Thomas, Bouraoui Chouk, Patrick Baroux, Lionel Loshovarn, Hervé Leydier, Gilles Simon, Bernard Maquin (France champion 1957), Gregory Bezruki, Albert Boutboul, Raymond Cocatre, Vincent Day, Jacques Dupre, and Béatrice Joffroy.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
martial artist
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
who is considered as the 'father of European and French 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,...
'. He is the only 10th dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
karate master living outside of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the only Westerner who holds this rank. He is also the oldest and highest karate ranking Westerner alive, with more than 60 years of fighting arts, including 50 in martial arts. He was a pioneer in introducing karate to France and Europe, and has taught most of today's highest ranking karate masters in Europe.
Background
Henry Plée was born in ArrasArras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France on 24 May 1923. His studies were interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1940.
An only son, Henry Plée started his sports career with gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, weight lifting, French savate
Savate
Savate , also known as boxe française, French boxing, French kickboxing or French footfighting, is a French martial art which uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of western boxing with graceful kicking techniques. Only foot kicks are allowed unlike some systems such as Muay...
, Ju Jutsu, and Fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
with his father Alcide Plée, who was a sword master since 1912. He diversified into judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
in 1945 at the 'Judo Club de France', master Mikonosuke Kawaishi
Mikonosuke Kawaishi
was a master of Japanese Judo and Jujutsu, reaching for the life of the 7th Dan, who led the development of Judo in France and much of Europe. The application of belt colors associated with different degrees of learning resulted in a very effective teaching approach for the development of martial...
's second club. He was the 96th French black belt and is now ranked 5th dan at judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
.
Physically very powerful, he is missing kicks and punches. From 1946, he return to French savate
Savate
Savate , also known as boxe française, French boxing, French kickboxing or French footfighting, is a French martial art which uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of western boxing with graceful kicking techniques. Only foot kicks are allowed unlike some systems such as Muay...
, also known as French kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, at the club 'Banville' (the only remaining club at that time). He trained with famous fighters such as Rigal, Pierre Plasait, Cayron, and Pierre Baruzy. Despite the high training quality, he still felt the need to go stronger and deeper. He was still looking for something else.
He discovered aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
with Minoru Mochizuki
Minoru Mochizuki
was a Japanese martial artist who founded the dojo Yoseikan. He was a 10th dan in Aikido, 9th dan in jujutsu, 8th dan in iaido, 8th dan in judo, 8th dan in kobudo, 5th dan in kendo, 5th dan in karate, and a 5th dan in jojutsu....
, then 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,...
from an article in Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine with Fukuda Rikutaro, his Judo Kodokan magazine's translator. Fukuda Rikutaro confided in him that he learnt karate in 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...
with Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
. This was the start of his karate career in 1953 with help from Donn Draeger in Japan.
Karate
In 1955 he founded his dojoDojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
: the Karate Club de France (KCF), which became Academie Française des Arts Martiaux (AFAM), which became 'Shobudo', also known as 'The Mountain/ La Montagne' (in French) or as 'Dojo de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève' in Paris. It is the oldest karate dojo in Europe, which has won 32 French, Europe, and world championships since its creation.
Here he taught the four pillars of Japanese Martial Arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
: 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,...
, judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, and kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
. Plée instructed many black belts who, at a later stage, formed the frame of the European karate institutions and are today some of the highest ranking karate masters in Europe.
He also traveled frequently to Japan, in order to learn and meet with the most famous karate masters of all styles.
He invited many of them to visit him in France, and along the years, he financed the visit to France of more than 17 Japanese and Chinese martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
experts. They taught at the Shobudo: the secrets of karate were being unveiled in Europe.
In 1956, he founded the 'French Federation of Karate and Boxing' (Fédération Française de Karaté et de Boxe Libre), which became part of the 'French Federation of Judo and Associated Disciplines' (Fédération française de Judo et Disciplines Associées - FFJDA) in 1960. Under his influence, the creation in 1966 of the 'European Union of Karate' (Union Européenne de Karaté), showed an independence of karate from the judo federations, and the decision of not favoring any karate style over another. He also served as a Technical Advisor to the 'European Karate Federation (EKF)' and as its General Secretary in 1967.
For 21 years (1950–1971) he financed and published the first bilingual (French/ English) karate magazine named Budo Magazine Europe, and another magazine named Judo Kodokan, which was a translation of the Japanese magazine of 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...
Kodokan. He wrote books, and appeared in the movie La Vie, l'amour, la mort.
He owned at 'The Mountain' the most comprehensive private Martial Arts library available in Europe, and also a Martial Arts equipment, books, videos, and DVD store named 'Budostore'. He also headed a very exclusive European think-tank on Martial Arts, which studied the essence and spirituality of Martial Arts. He regularly publishes his chronicles on-line.
From 200 karate practitioners in 1961, Henry Plée's efforts have led today to more than 200,000 practitioners in France. The French government considers him as one of the greatest international experts in Martial Arts, and has knighted Plée with the French Ordre national du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
in 2008.
Ranks
Since the 50's, numerous trips to Japan allowed him to meet the most famous karate masters of all styles, and to pass belts in various styles and disciplines:Karate
- 10th danDan rankThe ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
, Hanshi Karate in Japan, by master Tsuneyoshi Ogura in 1987. - 9th dan, Hanshi Karate in Japan, by master Tsuneyoshi Ogura in 1984.
- 8th dan, Shihan Karate in Japan, by master Tsuneyoshi Ogura in 1972, and in France by the Fédération Française de Karaté - FFKAMA in 1975.
- 5th dan, Renshi Karate in Japan, by master Chojiro TaniShukokaiis a group of closely related styles of Karate, based on Tani-ha Shitō-ryū, a branch of Shitō-ryū developed by Chōjirō Tani in the late 1940s, and refined by his student Shigeru Kimura.-History:...
. - 1st, 2nd, 3rd dan, karate in France, by master Minoru MochizukiMinoru Mochizukiwas a Japanese martial artist who founded the dojo Yoseikan. He was a 10th dan in Aikido, 9th dan in jujutsu, 8th dan in iaido, 8th dan in judo, 8th dan in kobudo, 5th dan in kendo, 5th dan in karate, and a 5th dan in jojutsu....
.
Aikido
- 3rd dan, Aikido, by master Masamichi NoroMasamichi Norois the founder of Kinomichi and was an uchi-deshi of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.- Formative Years :Masamichi Noro was born January 21, 1935 in Aomori, Japan. One of the characteristics of his early years is the musical universe that surrounded him, and which strongly influenced his...
. - 2nd dan, Aikikai Hombu Aikido, by master Tadashi AbeTadashi Abewas the first aikido master to live and teach in the west. He is considered by O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and his students as the "Happy Aikidoka" because he was always smiling when he trained. He began training in Aikido in Osaka in 1942 and went on to train directly under the founder of the art...
. - 1st dan, YoseikanYoseikanis the name given to a dojo built in November 1931 in Shizuoka, Japan.-The Dojo:The brother and friends of Master Minoru Mochizuki built this dojo for him while he was recovering from pleurisy and pulmonary tuberculosis. When the dojo was built, a friend of the Mochizuki family called it Yōseikan...
Aikido, by master Minoru MochizukiMinoru Mochizukiwas a Japanese martial artist who founded the dojo Yoseikan. He was a 10th dan in Aikido, 9th dan in jujutsu, 8th dan in iaido, 8th dan in judo, 8th dan in kobudo, 5th dan in kendo, 5th dan in karate, and a 5th dan in jojutsu....
.
Awards
Henry Plée has been granted the following awards:- 'Katana of Honour' at the 25th 'Martial Art Festival of Bercy', on 27 March 2010.
- Knight of Ordre national du MériteOrdre National du MériteThe Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
, on 12 December 2008. - Nominated 'Ambassador Martial Art' by 'Hall of Fame Kyusho international' in 2006, 'Ambassador for peace', and then 'Sensei of the century' in 2000.
- 'Professor of the Century' at the 14th 'Martial Art Festival of Bercy' in 1999.
- Golden medal of 'French ministry for Youth and Sports' (Ministère de la Santé et des Sports - France).
- President of Honor of the 'French Federation of Karate and Associated Martial Arts' (Fédération française de karaté et disciplines associées - FFKAMA).
- President of Honor of the 'Karate European Union' (Union Européenne de Karaté - UEK).
- President of Honor of the 'French Federation of Judo and Associated Disciplines' (Fédération française de Judo et Disciplines Associées - FFJDA).
- Member of the 'Honorary Board of the International Fund for Preservation of Martial Arts' (Fonds International pour la Préservation des Arts Martiaux - FIPAM).
Teachers
Henry Plée has traveled frequently to Japan in order to learn and meet with the most famous karate masters of all styles such as Gichin FunakoshiGichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
and many others. Along the years, he financed the visits to France of more than 17 Japanese and Chinese martial arts experts, including:
- Hiroo Mochizuki, 9th dan in Karate (FFKAMA), 8th dan in Aikido, 8th dan in Jujitsu, 3rd dan in Judo, 7th dan in Iaido and KobudoOkinawan kobudoOkinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
. Founder, SōkeSokeThe word soke has several meanings:* Soke , an early Western jurisdictional concept.* Soke or eke is a Tongan stick dance, originating from Wallis and Futuna., a Japanese title meaning "head of the family," and is usually used to denote the headmaster of a school of Japanese martial arts.* Soke of...
, and Hanshi of Yoseikan BudoYoseikan BudoYoseikan Budo may be classified as a sogo budo form , but is used here to indicate a martial art into which various martial ways have been integrated...
. 2nd dan in Shotokan karate in 1957 (Born 1936) - Tetsuji Murakami, 3rd danDan rankThe ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
in ShotokanShotokanis a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
karate in 1958, 2nd dan in Kendo, 1st dan in Aikido, and 1st dan in IaidoIaidois a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
(1927–1987) - Tsutomu Oshima, 3rd dan in Shotokan karate in 1959
- Yoshinao Nanbu, 10th dan in Karate. Founder and Doshu-Sōke of Nanbudō in 1978 and of the Worldwide Nanbudo Federation-WNF. 2nd dan in Karate in 1964, Japan champion in 1962 (Born 1943)
- Taiji KaseTaiji Kasewas a Japanese master of Shotokan karate who was one of the earliest masters responsible for introducing this martial art into Europe. He taught his style of karate, Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha, in France from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. In his later years, he travelled across the world teaching...
, 9th dan in Karate in 2004. 5th dan in Shotokan karate in 1967 (1929–2004) - Hiroshi ShiraiHiroshi Shiraiis a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He is the founder of the Instituto Shotokan Italia, a subdivision of FIKTA and of the SCI...
, 9th dan in Karate in 1999. 5th dan in Shotokan karate at the time - Keinosuke EnoedaKeinosuke Enoedawas a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He was a former Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain. Enoeda was ranked 8th dan in Shotokan karate, and was widely renowned as a formidable karateka . Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded the rank of 9th dan.-Early...
, 9th dan in Karate (JKAJapan Karate AssociationJapan Karate Association is one of the most influential Shotokan karate organizations in the world...
). 2nd dan in Karate at the time - Mitsusuke HaradaMitsusuke Haradais a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate who introduced this martial art to Brazil and is now based in the United Kingdom. He founded the Karate-do Shotokai organisation in 1965 and is its President...
, 4th dan in ShotokaiShotokaiis the organisation formed originally in 1930 by Gichin Funakoshi to teach and spread the art of karate . The organization still exists and promotes a style of karate that adheres to Funakoshi's teachings, in particular the notion that competition is contrary to the essence of karate...
karate, and student of master Shigeru EgamiShigeru Egamiwas a pioneering Japanese master of Shotokan karate who founded the Shōtōkai style. He was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, who is widely recognized as the founder of modern karate.-Early life:... - Tadashi AbeTadashi Abewas the first aikido master to live and teach in the west. He is considered by O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and his students as the "Happy Aikidoka" because he was always smiling when he trained. He began training in Aikido in Osaka in 1942 and went on to train directly under the founder of the art...
- Tsuneyoshi Ogura, 10th dan in Goju RyuGoju Ryu, is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi , used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries...
karate
Inviting many Japanese masters to France allowed him to learn in continuity from his actual level, instead of starting from the beginning in every school in Japan. It also molded French karate with a unique blend of not favoring any karate style over another.
Students
Henry Plée has instructed many black belts who formed the frame of the European karate institutions and are today some of the highest ranking karate masters in Europe, including:- Dominique Valéra, 9th dan karate and 9th degree full-contact karateAmerican kickboxingAmerican Kickboxing, also known as Full-Contact Kickboxing or American Full Contact Karate, is a combat sport and a style of kickboxing in which two opponents of similar weight fight each other using full contact strikes with their fists and feet to attack the opponent, while keeping similar rules...
, world champion karate in 1972 - Roland Habersetzer, 9th dan karate, author of many books on karate
- Guy Sauvin, 8th dan karate, world champion karate in 1972, and founder of the Sei Do Jyuku style
- Alain Setrouck, 8th dan Kyokushinkai karate, world champion karate in 1972
- Francis Didier, 7th dan karate,current President of the 'French Federation of Karate and Associated Martial Arts' (Fédération française de karaté et disciplines associées - FFKAMA)
- François Petitdemange, 6th dan karate, world champion karate in 1972
- Jacques Delcourt, 4th dan karate, President and founder of the 'French Federation of Karate and Associated Martial Arts' (Fédération française de karaté et disciplines associées - FFKAMA) for 23 years, President and founder of the European Karate FederationEuropean Karate FederationThe European Karate Federation is the governing body of sport karate of more than 50 countries in Europe. The EKF was founded in 1963 and is composed of the National Karate Federations of most European Nations and is recognised by it as its only representative in Europe,member of World Karate...
, and President and founder of the World Karate FederationWorld Karate FederationThe World Karate Federation, or WKF, was formed in 1990 from former WUKO members and is the largest international governing body of sport karate with over 130 member countries. It is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than ten million members...
. - Vernon BellYoseikan KarateYoseikan Karate or Yoseikan Ryu Karate is the name given to the variant of Shotokan Karate taught at the Yoseikan Dojo in Shizuoka, Japan, under the direction of Minoru Mochizuki ....
, YoseikanYoseikan KarateYoseikan Karate or Yoseikan Ryu Karate is the name given to the variant of Shotokan Karate taught at the Yoseikan Dojo in Shizuoka, Japan, under the direction of Minoru Mochizuki ....
karate, and 10th dan ju-jutsu, introduced karate to Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
(1922–2004).
Other notable students are:
Guy Bourrelet (first black belt granted by Henry Plée), Thierry Riesser-Nadal, Bernard Cousin, Bernard Bordas, Pierre Portocarrero, Victor Marques, Julien Petitfour, Florence Braunstein, Kacem Zoughari, Raoul Battarel, Jean Pierre Lavoratto, Georges Charles, Gérad Mene-Safrane (Smilodon), Philippe Meraud, Jacques Bahut, Jacques Secques, Roland Maroteaux, Roland Hernaez, Bernard Nadoulek, Amidou, Jean Jacques Sanvert, Jean Daniel Cauhépé, Eric Phelippot, Jean Pol de Meester, Arséne Herviou, Jean Coulon, Laurent Perron, Laurent Lasselle, Gérard Baron, Sébastien Villalba, Louis Arpin, Claude Doudou, Jo Pierresteguy, Phillipe Meraud, Raymond Thomas, Bouraoui Chouk, Patrick Baroux, Lionel Loshovarn, Hervé Leydier, Gilles Simon, Bernard Maquin (France champion 1957), Gregory Bezruki, Albert Boutboul, Raymond Cocatre, Vincent Day, Jacques Dupre, and Béatrice Joffroy.
External links
See also
- Dō (道)Do (Way)A Dō is any one of a number of spiritual, martial, or aesthetic disciplines that evolved in Japan and Korea. The term "Dō" is borrowed from the Chinese philosophical concept of Tao , a word meaning 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'...
- Budō (武道)Budois 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...
- Ko-budō (古武道)Okinawan kobudoOkinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
- Karate-dō (空手道)Karateis 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,...
- List of karateka
- Japanese martial artsJapanese martial artsJapanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial arts native to Japan. At least three Japanese terms are often used interchangeably with the English phrase "Japanese martial arts": , literally meaning "martial way", , which has no perfect translation but means something like science,...
- Okinawan martial artsOkinawan martial artsOkinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island in Japan, most notably karate, tegumi, and Okinawan kobudō....
- Comparison of karate stylesComparison of karate stylesThe four earliest Karate styles developed in Japan are Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu. The first three styles find their origins in the Shuri region of Okinawa whilst Goju-ryu finds its origins in the Naha province....
- Comparison of ko-budō stylesComparison of kobudo stylesThis table compares styles of kobudō. The weapons practiced by each style are listed. The styles listed below may practice strictly weapons, or may practice another martial arts as well....