Jan Kallenbach

Jan Kallenbach (c. 1943 – 14 April 2021)[1] was a Dutch martial artist. He was a 7th Dan teacher of Taikiken, a Japanese off-shoot of Yiquan and had a significant history in Full contact Karate (Kyokushin-Kaikan). Veteran Kyokushin practitioners from Japan considered Kallenbach as one of the most dominant foreign fighters during the style's early stages in 1960s and 1970s.[2][3]

Background

Kallenbach was born in Amsterdam in 1943.[1] He was first introduced to the Dutch branch of Kyokushin Karate while still practising Judo. He first started Kyokushin Karate under Jon Bluming, the Dutch branch chief.[4] Kallenbach worked as an assistant instructor at the Jon Bluming's "Budokai", and was also a member of the Karate Technical College of the N.K.A.[5]

In 1966, Kallenbach witnessed the strength of Kenji Kurosaki, who was instructing there and decided to move to train at the main Kyokushin Dojo. He moved to Japan in 1967.

Kallenbach practiced with a positive attitude. However, his great physical strength made him a difficult sparring partner for other students, causing headaches to the instructors. The only person who could contain Kallenbach was Noboru Osawa, who was in charge of the Narimasu branch while Kenji Kurosaki was travelling to Europe. Kallenbach was pleased to have gotten such a sparring partner .[6]

After a while, Kallenbach began to want to experience something of more depth in Karate, as he grew weary of repetitive practice sessions. Hatsuo Royama, who was recently banned from Kyokushin, due to an incident involving Kallenbach,[7] had started to study Taikiken under Kenichi Sawai. After Royama had told about Taikike, Kallenbach became interested and asked Royama to introduce him to Sawai. After that, he left the Kyokushin Kaikan and started practicing Taikiken under Sawai. Kallenbach continued to practice the style until he died in April 2021.

Fighting style

During the Kyokushin Kaikan era, he held himself half-body, aimed at his face, took advantage of his height, and hit one-two and straight with speed. Even if approached from the rear, he was able to hit everyone with his foot-sweep attack and lunged across the mat.

Kallenbach competed in the European Karate Championships during 1970s. In 1972 European Karate Championships, he would take silver in "Kumite - 80 kg" class.[8] He would win gold in 1974 European Karate Championships in "Kumite + 78 kg" class.[9]

Anecdotes

Various experts praised Kallenbach's skill. Shigeo Kato said "The best foreign fighter would be Kallenbach. It would have been really interesting if he [had remained with Kyokushin]. It was hard to deal with. Fujihira and I were small, so we had to jump kick at him. Kallenbach was good at performing his skills according to the opponent's breathing. He was also a smart researcher. His right straight and foot sweep beat everyone."[10]

Hatsuo Royama said that Kallenbach "had the strength that transcended the rules of the game. If I were a to pick best foreign Karateka of all time, then Kallenbach would be the number one."[11][12][13]

Terutomo Yamazaki noted, "Kallenbach did not ride on any deception, but calmly used his physical strength to fight. He was the first opponent for me to feel the difference in physical strength, and I always wondered how I could stand fight with such a large person." Yamazaki also cited his experiences with Kallenbach helped him when training Kyokushin to larger fighters.[14][15]

Achievements
  • 1972 European Karate Championships, Kumite - 80 kg, Silver
  • 1974 European Karate Championships, Kumite + 78 kg, Gold

References
  1. Mauchien, Ludovic. "Jan Kallenbach passed away, the Budo loses a sun". www.karate-k.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  2. 「特集・青春大山道場」『フルコンタクトKARATE』　福昌堂、12月号、1997年（平成9年）、23-24頁、35-36頁、40-41頁。
  3. 「伝説の大山道場」『新・極真カラテ強豪100人（ゴング格闘技1月号増刊）』　日本スポーツ出版社、1997年（平成9年）、58-61頁、67頁。
  4. 「伝説の大山道場」『新・極真カラテ強豪100人（ゴング格闘技1月号増刊）』　日本スポーツ出版社、1997年（平成9年）、58-61頁、67頁。
  5. Schilder, John (May 1966). Black Belt Magazine (May 1966 Issue). Mr. Kallenbach won the open Netherlands Karate Championships, 1965, at Amsterdam and is an assistant instructor at the "Budokai" of Jon Bluming. He is also a member of the Karate Technical College of the N.K.A.
  6. 『無心の心』　スポーツライフ社、1980年（昭和55年）、151頁、211-213頁。
  7. Takagi, Kaoru (1990). Wagashi Ōyama Masutatsu : Sennihyakumannin e no michi (わが師大山倍達). Tokuma Shoten. ISBN 4-19-464420-4.
  8. "Black Belt". February 1974. p. 52. Retrieved 12 November 2014 – via Internet Archive. 1972 european karate championship. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. "Black Belt". February 1974. p. 52. Retrieved 12 November 2014 – via Internet Archive. 1972 european karate championship. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. 「特集・青春大山道場」『フルコンタクトKARATE』　福昌堂、12月号、1997年（平成9年）、23-24頁、35-36頁、40-41頁。
  11. "Legendary Oyama Dojo" "100 New Kyokushin Karate Powerhouses (Gong Martial Arts January Special Issue)" Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd., 1997, pp. 58-61, pp. 67.
  12. ^ Hatsuo Royama, "Lifelong Karatedo," Sports Life, 1980, pp. 54-69.
  13. "Hatsuo Royama vs Jan Kallenbach" "Fighting K Magazine" Piipurusha, No.73, October issue, 2004 (2004), p. 43.
  14. "Special Feature: Youth Oyama Dojo" "Full Contact KARATE" Fukushodo, December issue, 1997 (Heisei 9), pp. 23-24, 35-36, 40-41.
  15. Terutomo Yamazaki "Mushino kokoro : Karate ni kaketa seishun (無心の心 ― 空手に賭けた青春)" Sports Life, 1980 (Showa 55), pp. 151, pp. 211-213.
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