John van Weenen
Encyclopedia
Phillip John van Weenen OMT MBE (born August 26, 1941, Enfield, Middlesex) is an 8th Dan karateka and humanitarian.
Van Weenen was graded 1st Dan by Moss Hollis in 1966, before travelling to Japan in 1966 to train at the invitation of Masutatsu Oyama
. He returned to Japan in 1967 to register as a student at the JKA Honbu.
Started the Traditional Association of Shotokan Karate (TASK) in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, whose guest instructors included Bob Poynton, Mick Randall, Mick Nursey, Ticky Donovan
and Sean Roberts.
Van Weenen is the Executive Director of Task Force Albania, a humanitarian organisation that has provided over £7 million in aid to Albania since the end of communism in the country in 1991. In 1993, he was the first person to receive the Order of Mother Teresa in Albania for his work, which was presented by Mother Teresa
herself. In 1999, he was awarded the MBE
by Prince Charles.
Later that year he established the British Children's Library network, and in November the first library was inaugurated in Tirana
. It was opened by Charles Spencer
in honour of his sister, Princess Diana Spencer. A second library was opened in 2001, in Durrës
, by Sir Norman Wisdom.
Professor Sali Berisha
, Prime Minister of Albania, said that Van Weenen “quite uniquely, turned his martial arts expertise into missionary skills.” In 2001, Berisha was a guest on an episode of This Is Your Life
, dedicated to Van Weenen. Other guests included Charles Spencer and Anila Bido. Berisha would later request that Van Weenen become the Honorary Consul in Great Britain for Albania.
Van Weenen was graded 1st Dan by Moss Hollis in 1966, before travelling to Japan in 1966 to train at the invitation of Masutatsu Oyama
Masutatsu Oyama
, more commonly known as Mas Oyama, was a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate. He was born Choi Yeong-eui . A Zainichi Korean, he spent most of his life living in Japan and acquired Japanese citizenship in 1964...
. He returned to Japan in 1967 to register as a student at the JKA Honbu.
Started the Traditional Association of Shotokan Karate (TASK) in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, whose guest instructors included Bob Poynton, Mick Randall, Mick Nursey, Ticky Donovan
Ticky Donovan
David 'Ticky' Donovan OBE is a renowned British karate competitor and coach. He was the coach and manager of both the British and English national karate teams, from 1977 until he retired from that role in 2008. During his tenure as coach, Britain won numerous European and World championship team...
and Sean Roberts.
Van Weenen is the Executive Director of Task Force Albania, a humanitarian organisation that has provided over £7 million in aid to Albania since the end of communism in the country in 1991. In 1993, he was the first person to receive the Order of Mother Teresa in Albania for his work, which was presented by Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
herself. In 1999, he was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
by Prince Charles.
Later that year he established the British Children's Library network, and in November the first library was inaugurated in Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
. It was opened by Charles Spencer
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, DL , styled Viscount Althorp between 1975 and 1992, is a British peer and brother of Diana, Princess of Wales...
in honour of his sister, Princess Diana Spencer. A second library was opened in 2001, in Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
, by Sir Norman Wisdom.
Professor Sali Berisha
Sali Berisha
Sali Ram Berisha is an Albanian politician and cardiologist, currently the Prime Minister of Albania and the leader of Democratic Party of Albania ....
, Prime Minister of Albania, said that Van Weenen “quite uniquely, turned his martial arts expertise into missionary skills.” In 2001, Berisha was a guest on an episode of This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
, dedicated to Van Weenen. Other guests included Charles Spencer and Anila Bido. Berisha would later request that Van Weenen become the Honorary Consul in Great Britain for Albania.
External links
- http://www.olneyhypnotherapy.com/page3/page3.html
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/548263.stm
- http://www.yamakai.org/profiles/marriott.html
- http://www.iowkarate.co.uk/#/shihan-john-van-weenen/4535580999