KARATE EXPERIENCE

  

1974
Richard Lawrence West, who was born in 1960, started his Martial Arts training in 1974 under Sensei Kok, Senior in Voortrekkerhoogte (now Thabe Tshwane).  The style of Karate was JKA.  Later went on to train with Sensei Uwe Jens and eventrually with Sensei Dave Maas, achieving the grade of brown belt in JKA.  Dave Maas who was one of the early pioneers of Martial Arts training in Pretoria decided to change styles after he met up with a very distinguished martial artist by the name of Len Barnes from Cape Town.

1977-1981
Richard West trained under the watchful eye of Dave Maas in the art of Kyokushin Knockdown Karate from 1977 to 1981 when he achieved the rank of 1st Dan Black Belt.  During this time, he participated in several knockdown tournaments winning most and achieving Northern Transvaal colours (Gauteng).

Participating in his 1st SA Championships in the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town where he placed 3rd in the lightweight knockdown division after being beaten by the 3 time SA Champion of the time, Abraham Dhlamini, a Zulu from Natal. 1981 saw Richard West achieving his black belt as well as becoming the 1st Pretorian SA Knockdown Champion, this time winning the title in Pretori and beating another competitor from Natal as well.  The same year saw Richard West meeting and training with the legendary Mas Oyama, a 10th Dan and bull killer from Japan who visited Cape Town and Johannesburg accompanied by the current World Heavyweight Knockdown Champion, Makoto Nakamura.

In the same year, Richard West came second in the Open SA Knockdown Championships held in Cape Town, knocking out some of his opponents and narrowly losing the title by a split home decision against a Capetonian by the name of William Quontoi who trained at the time by Hoosain Narker from Ashihara.

1982
1982 saw Richard West winning another SA Knockdown Title in Carletonville hosted by Joe Viljoen, beating a very good friend by the name of Gustav van der Merwe from Pretoria who was also from the same club.

1983-1984
1983 and 1984 saw Richard West fight Kickboxing Tournaments staged by Joe Viljoen and also went to become the SA Welterweight PKA Kickboxing Champion sanctioned by Joe Corley of USA-PKA.  In 1984 Richard West relocated to Carletonville to assist Joe Viljoen with his new style viz. Ring Contact Fighting Art. 

1986
In 1986 Richard West re-affiliated with Kyokushin Karate and opened his own Karate Dojo in Carletonville.  He successfully graded for 2nd Dan and together with Johan Muller went on promoting Kyokushin Karate in the Western Transvaal and also helped Johan Muller become SA Lightweight Knockdown Champion taking the title in a grueling final fight at UCT, Cape Town.

1988
In 1988 Richard West successfully grated for his 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate by Dave Maas and received his Dan Certificate from Mas Oyama in Japan.  The same year saw Richard West fighting kickboxing matches in Hillbrow at the Summit Club and unsuccessfully challenging once again for the SA Kickboxing Title.  This was the year Richard West retired form fighting full contact karate at a national level.

1989
In 1989 Richard West together with Dave Maas, successfully staged the SA Kyokushin Karate SA Championships at the LC de Villiers Sport Stadium in Pretoria and had entries in the excess of 800.

This part completes Master West's Karate Experience, 1989 is the year Master West crossed over from Karate to Taekwondo.

 

CROSSOVER TO TAEKWONDO

  

1989
At the end of 1989 Richard West decided to leave Kyokushin Karate and join forces with Master Goy Jantzen, to help develop a seemingly unheard of Korean Martial Art in South Africa called: "TAEKWONDO".
1990
Learns the International Taekwondo Federation syllabus and helps promote the USA Korean Karate Association with Master Goy Jantzen.  Richard West promoted to 4th degree black belt by Master Jantzen.

1991
Hosts the 1st USA Korean Karate Association, South African Championships in Pretoria under Goy Jantzen.  Competes in SA trials, wins and qualifies for Taekwondo Springbok Colours.

1992
Travels to Mexico City with Springbok Team USKKA World Champs.  Team takes 1st place.

1993
Joins the American Taekwondo Association and visits the USA to train and compete in the ATA World Championships.  Richard West officially tests personally for 5th Degree Black Belt by Grandmaster H.U. Lee 9th Degree Black Belt in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Her also trains with various Korean and USA Masters.  Richard West, with the assistance of Ferdi van Greuning, Anton Hattingh and Johan Beukes, registers WTTU Branches in South Africa.

1994
Richard West captains a Springbok Team to the ATA World Champs.  Places 3rd in the 5th Degree Black Belt Sparring division.

1995
Moves from Carletonville to Pretoria and opens WTTU Taekwondo branch in Theresa Park, Pretoria.

1996
Attends ATA, WTTU, STF World Champs.  Captains 50-man Taekwondo Junior and Senior teams.  Places 3rd in 5th Degree Black Belt Sparring division.  Moves to Jacksonville, Florida USA in September.  Trains and teaches Taekwondo under Bill Clark for a period of 9 months.  While in the USA, attends various seminars and training with masters for different styles.

1997
Returns to South Africa in June.  Opens Taekwondo Academy in Annlin, Pretoria.

1998
Starts Master West's Combat Taekwondo and registers the Africa Taekwondo Association with Rose West, Andrew Mengel and Leon van Staden as founding members.

1999
Promotes Master West's Combat Taekwondo and develops part of the new syllabus.  Patterns, sparring combinations and weapons forms are developed as part of the ATA curriculum. 

2000
Hosts the 1st Master West's Combat Taekwondo, South African Championships in Pretoria.  This tournament is sanctioned by the Africa Taekwondo Association.  Trains 2 day seminar in AMOK (knife) under Professor Tom Sotis held in Pretoria.

2001
Promotes Master West's Combat Taekwondo and develops part of the new syllabus.  Patterns, sparring combinations and weapons forms are developed as part of the ATA curriculum.  Hosts the 2nd Master West's Combat Taekwondo, South African Championships in Pretoria.  Trains 2 day seminar with Master Burton Richardson of JKD at Morne Swanepoel in Johannesburg.

2002
Promotes Master West's Combat Taekwando and develops part of the new syllabus.  Patterns, sparring combinations and weapons forms are developed as part of the ATA curriculum.  Hosts the 3rd Master West's Combat Taekwondo, South African Championships in Pretoria.