Date Created: 2012-12-19 15:35:01

Winning European karate squad Valencia 1973 and the inaugural meeting of the Scottish Karate Governing Body

Back row Left to right

Robin MacFarlane (Karate Union of Scotland (South), Tommy Morris ( Kobe Osaka), Jim Blackwood (Kobe Osaka), Alex MacGregor ( Karate Union of Scotland ( South) ,Jim Harvey ( Kobe Osaka), Hamish Adam (Scottish Karate Federation)

Front Row Left to right

James A Miller ( Dusty) ( Kobe Osaka), Kenny Simpson ( Kobe Osaka). Danny Bryceland ( Karate Union of Scotland ( South). Jim Kidd. ( Karate Union of Scotland (North)

All members with the exception of Hamish Adam and Jim Kidd started their karate with the Kobe Osaka Karate club and were graded and taught by Mr Tommy Morris founder of Karate in Scotland.

The inaugural meeting of the Scottish Karate Governing Body then known as the Scottish Karate Board of Control was held 40 years ago in Edinburgh on November / December 1972. The original members at the meeting were as follows:

1. Mr Iain Russell Scottish Sports Council now Sportscotland

2. Mr Tommy Morris Chairman of Kobe Osaka and now head of Kobe Osaka International who introduced karate to Scotland in 1963

3. Mr James A Miller (Dusty) representing Kobe Osaka and now an officer in the Scottish Karate Association and Executive Director / Administrator of the Scottish Karate Governing Body.

4. Mr Hamish Adam Chairman of the Scottish Karate Federation and now Sports Director of the Scottish Karate Governing  Body  recently awarded an MBE for his services to karate

5.  Mr Pat Dempsey (senior) Chairman of Karate Union of Scotland (north)

6. Mr Danny Bryceland Secretary of the Karate Union of Scotland (south)

7. Mr Barney Whelan Chairman of the Scottish Karate Association

In 1973 the first official Scottish Karate team attended the European Karate Union championships now known as the European Karate Federation and Robin MacFarlane won Heavy weight division and the team won the European Team Championships against all odds