 Kancho Henri-Oh is the Chairman of North American Kyokushin Karate Association. Born on July 9, 1949, the son of a diplomat, he spent his formative years in countries all over the world. He is multi-lingual, conducted his Ph.D studies in the United States and is, indeed, not what one would expect from a karate Kancho Henri-Oh is the Chairman of North American Kyokushin Karate Association. Born on July 9, 1949, the son of a diplomat, he spent his formative years in countries all over the world. He is multi-lingual, conducted his Ph.D studies in the United States and is, indeed, not what one would expect from a karate champion. He is more the image of the Renaissance man.
Through his travels he was able to see many forms of fighting, which held a unique fascination for him, but his private school training did not offer anything but the most conventional form of boxing classes.
Searching for more, he developed unusual skills in judo and boxing simply working from tapes. Prodded to join a boxing class in high school, he quickly defeated his teacher and further high school instruction was not an option. Aware he needed more training and aware that boxing was not satisfying in itself, he began looking in other directions for answers. It was not until he began college, a friend saw him practicing and asked him to join the college karate team.
It was then his formal Karate education began as he began studying Shotokan karate. Six months later, he visited a Kyokushin School. It was in that school he found his life's vocation.
While still in college he entered such tournaments as the Mas. Oyama Karate Championships, and the Henri Cho Karate Tournaments where he often reigned as the kata and point system kumite champion.
He became the first student in the U.S. to reach black belt status under Seiji Kanamura with the North American Kyokushin Karate Organization after only four years of training. He continued to place in the top three spots in tournaments winning, in all, 126 trophies.
Henri-Oh was the undisputed full-contact champion for six consecutive years and reputed to be, pound for pound, the strongest competitor, on the tournament circuit thus earning him the name "Iron Man." During his reign he was never knocked down or knocked out, generally fighting competitors twice his size or weight. His tournament record led him to be selected twice to fight at the 2nd and 3rd World Full Contact Karate Championships, an event which is held once every four years in Tokyo. |
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