Polish Kyokushin Karate Organisation

· Czwartek, 26 Grudzień 2024 ·

::: HISTORY OF KYOKUSHIN KARATE IN POLAND :::

          Kyokushinkai in Poland started develop by the end of the sixties. At that time then student of University of Mining and Metallurgy, Andre Drewniak possessing in judo master degree I dan, heard about popular in the west of Europe Karate Kyokushinkai. Together with dead already translator of foreign languages, Jerzy Wójcik, looked up published behind the border books of Masutatsu Oyama relating the art of karate. From them exactly as self-taught person, started to draw practical and theoretical knowledge about this far-east style of fight.
          Open popularization of karate in those times was not possible - karate, similarly as jazz and jeans, one identified from something hostile ideologically. By reason of that the first club founded in 1970 was called judo and self-defense. Andre Drewniak was judo instructor, therefore these activities did not cause suspicions of then authorities. Only two years later at AZS AGH arose the first official karate club.
          In the same time the letter informing about undertaking in Poland activity of Karate Kyokushinkai was addressed to the chairman of World Kyokushinkai Organization. As a reply Masutatsu Oyama has sent the address of european organization president Shihan Loek Hollander, who in April 1974 came to Poland. His visit and instructions which one gave made correct direction for development of Polish Kyokushinkai activity.
          From this moment Kyokushinkai in Poland began to develope more and more dynamically. On 22-23 of May 1974 took place The First Championships of Poland, which were made in two weight categories ( the medium one won Andrzej Drewniak, the heavy one - J. Piwowarczyk). In September the same year Andre Drewniak went to Netherlands, where in front of european committee passed the exam for I dan.
          In 1975 group of 5 Poles took off in I World Open Tournament in Tokyo, from which " The Strongest Karate" film was made. Soon after that Polish television emitted two reportages about karate, and leading redactor Tomasz Hopfer called this art a specific phenomenon. These programmes influenced on popularization of karate.
          By the end of the seventies one began to talk more and more often about necessities of calling The Polish Karate Federation. Organization this was founded in 1979, however first years of its activities - because of sociopolitical conditioning - did not contribute to popularization of Karate Kyokushinkai. Among other things one made Andrzej Drewniaks scholarship trip to Japan impossible, where he was to stay as an Uchi-dechi, what means the inner student of Sosai Oyama (Service of Safety reproached him with spying to the advantage of Japanese intelligence).
          Not till six years later Drewniak, in secret, behind authorities' back, arrives at the airport in Tokyo. Precursor of kyokushin above Vistula spent 15 months in country of blooming cherry, learning arts karate under the eye of master Masutatsu Oyama. His direct instructor was present president of IKO, Shokei Matsui. At that time Drewniak passed in Tokyo the exam for 4 dan.
          After numerous perturbations in year 1983 comes into being new board of The Polish Karate Federation, at head of which stands Wacław Antoniak, Andre Drewniak, Adam Goncerz and Jerzy Puchniarski. At that time also PKF obtained full support of Principal Committee of Physical Culture and Sport.
          In year 1993, during the next visit of Drewniak in Japan, Masutatsu Oyama handed in Poles hands certificate confirming, that one possesses physical, psychical and spiritual qualifications, to wear a black belt with five golden stripes on it ( 5 dan).
          In 1997 during the XI European Championships organised in Gdańsk, President of International Kyokushin Karate Organisation kancho Shokei Matsui handed certificate of 6 dan to shihan Andre Drewniak.
Now PKF is one of the strongest sports organizations in Poland, assembling more than 40000 persons in 170 clubs and 300 sections.