THURSDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2022 AT 18:30
THE SUCCESSFUL: Meeting with Sensei Tadashi Yamashita
Fargo Club

In the third event of the Successful, we introduce you Sensei Tadashi Yamashita, a martial arts grandmaster recognized as the fastest karateka - 13 punches in 2 seconds, featured in many Hollywood films of the 80's and 90's.

The meeting is on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 6:30 pm at the Fargo Club. Admission is free!

Through the end of the year, the Successful event series will introduce you to seven inspiring names. The events are supported by the Municipality of Plovdiv and are part of the city's 2022 Cultural Calendar.

In the third edition of "The Successful" you will meet the outstanding sensei Tadashi Yamashita - known to the Bulgarian audience from the films "American Ninja".  Born in 1941 in Japan, he considers himself an Okinawan. His father died when he was three and he and his mother moved to the island of Okinawa. From an early age, he was distinguished by his boisterous temper and tough character. At school, he often fights with the older students, a fact that attracts the attention of the principal, a karate teacher, who forcibly takes him to the dojo, where little Yamashita learns martial arts, and most importantly, discipline.

Tadashi studied Shorin Ryu karate under Shugoro Nakazato sensei - 10th dan and Matayoshi kobudo under Shinpo Matayoshi sensei - 10th dan at the age of nine. He defended his first black belt, Sensei Yamashita at the age of 16. In 1960 he won the Okinawa karate championship in Kata and Kumite. Despite his young age, he participated in numerous duels with prominent martial arts masters from Okinawa and Japan, which he won undefeated. Alongside martial arts, he has been heavily involved in motorcycling, where he has also won numerous national titles.

In 1972 he moved to Southern California where Mike Stone, a world karate champion, and Ed Parker, founder of Kempo Karate, recognized in Sensei Yamashita a karate genius and virtuoso in weapons combat. Sensei Tadashi Yamashita demonstrated his talent in 1973 at a tournament in Long Beach in front of 7,000 spectators. He is recognized as the fastest karateka - 13 punches in 2 seconds. He founded the International Yamashita Budo Association, the American Shorin Ryu Karate Association and the Zen Okinawa Kobudo. Trained four world professional champions in various categories of kickboxing, taiboxing and karate /full contact/.

Based on his extensive experience he developed the SuiKenDo fighting system - the way of the water fist. SuiKenDo is a martial art that features fast, explosive and fluid techniques aimed at effective self-defense. He has contributed to the popularization of martial arts worldwide with his appearances in many American and Japanese action films, including the American Ninja series, as well as documentaries. He has published a number of books and videos on karate and kobudo.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday - October 20 at 6:30 pm at the Fargo Club for our special meeting with Sensei Tadashi Yamashita.

The Successful aims to introduce young people to prominent professionals in the fields of sports, film, theater, literature, and journalism. Guests will share the path they have taken to reach the goals they once dreamed of. About the qualities they needed and the mistakes they made. The meetings take place at the Fargo Club.