Karate Career
In 1971, Collins arrived in Japan and, at the rank of 3rd kyu, began training at the Kyokushin honbu dojo (headquarters training hall) under Oyama. On 22 October 1972, he competed in the 4th Open Karate Tournament in Tokyo, and came second after Miyuki Miura. According to Collins, he completed the 100-man kumite two years after beginning training in Japan, but a Scottish source reports 1 December 1972 as the date. In any case, he became the first person to complete the test compulsorily in one day. Collins later recalled: "At the start it was easy my condition was excellent as I had been training every day for two years. Slowly though I was becoming tired the referee would ask me if I wanted to give up (I can not print my reply). I thought what can they do, kill me. Three and a half hours later it was all over."
In 1973, Collins returned to the United Kingdom and began teaching in British and other European dojo. He was listed at 6' 5" (196 cm) in height and 198 lb. (90 kg) in weight in that year. In September 1973, Collins was ranked 3rd dan. In November 1975, he competed in Kyokushin's 1st World Tournament, but was defeated by Toshikazu SatÅ on a judge's decision, following several extensions and a rematch. Following an invitation from Attila Meszaros, Collins emigrated to Sweden in 1977. He competed in Kyokushin's 2nd World Tournament, in November 1979, and came fifth.
In 1980, Collins was ranked 4th dan. Oyama promoted him to the rank of 7th dan in 1993. Collins has written several books, including: The Kyokushinkai Knockdown karate book (1980), The Absolute Karate: Applications of Kyokushin (1995), The Shodan (2003), and The Gateway (2004). Currently, he is the head of the Gothenburg Kyokushin dojo in Sweden.
Read more about this topic: Howard Collins
Famous quotes containing the words karate and/or career:
“Since mothers are more likely to take children to their activities—the playground, ballet or karate class, birthday parties—they get a chance to see other children in action.... Fathers usually don’t spend as much time with other people’s kids; because of this, they have a narrower view of what constitutes “normal” behavior, and therefore what should or shouldn’t require parental discipline.”
—Ron Taffel (20th century)
“They want to play at being mothers. So let them. Expressing tenderness in their own way will not prevent girls from enjoying a successful career in the future; indeed, the ability to nurture is as valuable a skill in the workplace as the ability to lead.”
—Anne Roiphe (20th century)