Keinosuke Enoeda
Encyclopedia
was 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 (practitioner of karate). Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded the rank of 9th dan.
, Japan. As a youth, he trained in kendo
and judo
, and played baseball. By the age of 16, Enoeda had reached the rank of 2nd dan in judo. He entered Takushoku University
and, being impressed by a karate demonstration there, began studying that martial art.
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
. In 1961, he fought a notable tournament match against Keigo Abe
, winning by decision after six extensions. He won the JKA All Japan Championship in 1963. During this period, Enoeda acquired the nickname Tora ("Tiger" in Japanese), after Nakayama had described his fighting.
. One of Enoeda's British students in the late 1960s was karate scholar Harry Cook
.
Enoeda and his wife, Reiko (married in 1969), settled in Kingston
, Surrey
. In 1973, Enoeda led a demonstration of karate on live television for the BBC. 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.
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). Around 2000, Enoeda was ranked 8th dan.
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. Shortly after his death, the JKA awarded the rank of 9th dan to him. Enoeda left behind his wife, Reiko, and children Daisuke and Maya.
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
of Shotokan
Shotokan
is 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
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 was a former Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain
Karate Union of Great Britain
The Karate Union of Great Britain, or KUGB is an association of Shotokan Karate clubs and Karateka operating across Great Britain, with some oversea affiliations. The 1960s saw a growth in the popularity of Karate, and the KUGB was founded in 1966 to be a democratic, not-for-profit organisation,...
. Enoeda was ranked 8th 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...
in Shotokan karate, and was widely renowned as a formidable karateka (practitioner of karate). Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded the rank of 9th dan.
Early life
Enoeda was born on 4 July 1935 on the island of KyushuKyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Japan. As a youth, he trained in 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...
and 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...
, and played baseball. By the age of 16, Enoeda had reached the rank of 2nd dan in judo. He entered Takushoku University
Takushoku University
Takushoku University is a private university in Japan. It was founded in 1900 by Prince Taro Katsura . The university is located in Tokyo and has two campuses: the main campus in the Bunkyō district, and a satellite campus in the Hachiōji district...
and, being impressed by a karate demonstration there, began studying that martial art.
After graduating from university, Enoeda studied at the Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association is one of the most influential Shotokan karate organizations in the world...
(JKA) honbu dojo (headquarters training hall) in Tokyo under Masatoshi Nakayama, then the JKA's Chief Instructor. He also trained in kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
under the direction of Taiji Kase
Taiji Kase
was 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...
. In 1961, he fought a notable tournament match against Keigo Abe
Keigo Abe
is a prominent Japanese master of Shotokan karate who founded the Japan Shotokan Karate Association in 1999 and is its Chief Instructor. He holds the rank of 9th dan in karate, is a direct student of Masatoshi Nakayama , and was a senior instructor in the Japan Karate Association.-Early life:Abe...
, winning by decision after six extensions. He won the JKA All Japan Championship in 1963. During this period, Enoeda acquired the nickname Tora ("Tiger" in Japanese), after Nakayama had described his fighting.
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. He began teaching in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. One of Enoeda's British students in the late 1960s was karate scholar Harry Cook
Harry Cook
Henry Wilson Cook , widely known as Harry Cook, is a British martial artist, teacher, and author. He has written several martial art books, most notably Shotokan Karate: A precise history . Cook began training in karate in 1966, and is currently the Chief Instructor of the Seijinkai Karatedo...
.
Enoeda and his wife, Reiko (married in 1969), settled in Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. In 1973, Enoeda led a demonstration of karate on live television for the BBC. 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
Dave Hazard
Dave Hazard born in Bow, east London, in 1952 is a well known British 7th Dan Karateka and instructor of Shotokan karate and was one of the few students present at the very beginning of British Karate. He is a former KUGB national champion and British team member...
breaking a piece of Japanese hardwood.
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). Around 2000, Enoeda was ranked 8th dan.
Later life
Enoeda wrote several books on karate, including: Shotokan: Advanced kata (1983, in at least two volumes), Shotokan Karate (1996), Shotokan Karate: 10th Kyu to 6th Kyu (1996), Shotokan Karate: 5th Kyu to Black Belt (1996), Karate: Defence & attack (1996, co-authored), and Shotokan Karate: Free Fighting Techniques (1999, co-authored).Enoeda used to promote his dojo with "Dynamic Karate" posters on the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
. He continued teaching karate, at the Marshall Street Baths
Marshall Street Baths
The Marshall Street Baths in Westminster, London, were built in 1850. They were closed for refurbishment in 1997 and re-opened on 27 July 2010 as a modernised leisure centre. The building is noted for its architecture and is Grade II listed.-Background:The first public baths were built on the site...
near Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in London, United Kingdom, located in the Soho district, near Oxford Street and Regent Street. It is home to numerous fashion and lifestyle retailers, including a large number of independent fashion boutiques...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, until his death on 29 March 2003. Shortly after his death, the JKA awarded the rank of 9th dan to him. Enoeda left behind his wife, Reiko, and children Daisuke and Maya.