Frank Brennan (karateka)
Encyclopedia
Frank Brennan, is a Shotokan karateka born on the 6th of May 1960 in the City of Liverpool
. He was a British karate champion in the 1970s and '80s, winning a wide variety of titles both as an individual and as part of the KUGB
team. He remains a well-known and well-respected KUGB instructor and coach.
Always sport-oriented, Brennan took up gymnastics while at school. At the age of twelve he tried to join the Red Triangle Karate Club, but he was told to go and join the judo
club for a year because he was too young. He started to train at the club in 1973 under the tuition of Andy Sherry
and KUGB chief instructor Keinosuke Enoeda
.
His competition career began in 1974 when he competed in the KUGB Northern Regional Championships as a 4th kyu
, entering and winning the junior kata
event. His introduction to kumite
was even more dramatic; in 1975, while fighting for the Red Triangle team, Bob Poynton broke his leg in one of the matches. The team had no reserves, so the young Brennan, now a brown belt who had only entered the kata event, was suddenly in the final of the team kumite event against Leeds
. He fought one of Leeds' most experienced fighters, Andy Harris, and decisively beat him with a fast mawashi geri
combination to achieve a Red Triangle win.
His first international appearance was with the KUGB squad in the European Championships in Sweden in 1978, where he came 2nd in the senior kata event. In Belgium
the following year he won the Grand Championship of Europe, taking both kumite and kata events, later repeating this feat on three occasions.
As a fighter he is equally at home using hands or feet, often surprising opponents with dynamic combinations of the more unusual hand or foot techniques. He has been described as the most technically gifted karateka of his generation, combining an exciting fighting style with a calm demeanor. As a senior member of the KUGB International Squad a highlight of his career was leading his team to victory in the 1990 World Shotokan Championships in Sunderland. He is held in great respect internationally - in an interview at the World Championships, the Japanese team coach, ex-world Champion Masahiko Tanaka
said that the one man who the whole Japanese Team were specifically trained to beat was Frank Brennan.
City of Liverpool
-Aircraft:* City of Liverpool , an Imperial Airways Armstrong Whitworth Argosy that crashed in 1933 in what is suspected to be the first ever occurrence of aerial sabotage-Locations:* Liverpool, a city in the north west of England...
. He was a British karate champion in the 1970s and '80s, winning a wide variety of titles both as an individual and as part of the KUGB
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,...
team. He remains a well-known and well-respected KUGB instructor and coach.
Always sport-oriented, Brennan took up gymnastics while at school. At the age of twelve he tried to join the Red Triangle Karate Club, but he was told to go and join the 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...
club for a year because he was too young. He started to train at the club in 1973 under the tuition of Andy Sherry
Andy Sherry
Andy Sherry is one of the most senior British practitioners of karate and the chief instructor of the KUGB.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Andy Sherry showed an interest in the martial arts as a young man. Initially training in judo and jujutsu, he soon took an interest in karate, starting his study...
and KUGB chief instructor Keinosuke Enoeda
Keinosuke Enoeda
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 . Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded the rank of 9th dan.-Early...
.
His competition career began in 1974 when he competed in the KUGB Northern Regional Championships as a 4th kyu
Kyu
is a Japanese term used in martial arts, chadō, ikebana, go, shogi such as Japanese traditional culture, and academic tests and in other similar activities to designate various grades or levels or class of proficiency or experience...
, entering and winning the junior kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
event. His introduction to 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....
was even more dramatic; in 1975, while fighting for the Red Triangle team, Bob Poynton broke his leg in one of the matches. The team had no reserves, so the young Brennan, now a brown belt who had only entered the kata event, was suddenly in the final of the team kumite event against Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. He fought one of Leeds' most experienced fighters, Andy Harris, and decisively beat him with a fast mawashi geri
Mawashi geri
can be translated as "spin kick", although it is also sometimes referred to as a roundhouse kick. It is a kick used in Japanese martial arts.-Technique:Mawashi-geri may be executed from a variety of stances, and there are several methods of proper execution...
combination to achieve a Red Triangle win.
His first international appearance was with the KUGB squad in the European Championships in Sweden in 1978, where he came 2nd in the senior kata event. In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
the following year he won the Grand Championship of Europe, taking both kumite and kata events, later repeating this feat on three occasions.
As a fighter he is equally at home using hands or feet, often surprising opponents with dynamic combinations of the more unusual hand or foot techniques. He has been described as the most technically gifted karateka of his generation, combining an exciting fighting style with a calm demeanor. As a senior member of the KUGB International Squad a highlight of his career was leading his team to victory in the 1990 World Shotokan Championships in Sunderland. He is held in great respect internationally - in an interview at the World Championships, the Japanese team coach, ex-world Champion Masahiko Tanaka
Masahiko Tanaka
is a Japanese voice actor. - Voice roles :* suicune in Pokemon 4Ever* M'Quve in Mobile Suit Gundam* Mihiramon in Digimon Tamers* Gauron in Full Metal Panic!* Fudou Takuma in Getbackers* Ryo Mashiba in Hajime no Ippo* Kyoichi Sudo in Initial D...
said that the one man who the whole Japanese Team were specifically trained to beat was Frank Brennan.