27 Facts About Hajime Kazumi

Hajime Kazumi was born on December 14,1971 and is a Japanese karateka.

Hajime Kazumi started Kyokushin karate at age of fifteen and at age twenty Kazumi defeated many top fighters to reach the finals of the 24th All Japan Championship in 1992.

Since then Hajime Kazumi has never finished outside of the top two places in any tournament.

Hajime Kazumi's effective punching and kicking combinations helped him reach the finals of six All Japan Tournaments in a row, winning four of these to break Keiji Senpai's record.

Hajime Kazumi reached the finals of two World Open Tournaments where he lost to Francisco Filho on boards and Kenji Yamaki, training partner and fellow student of Tsuyoshi Hiroshige's Jonan Branch.

Hajime Kazumi is recognized as one of Kyokushin Karate's most successful full-contact fighters.

Hajime Kazumi is currently director of Hajime Kazumi Dojo, where he works as an instructor of karate fighting techniques.

Hajime Kazumi had aspirations to become strong and as soon as he began elementary school, his father, who was a Karate practitioner, pressured him to join the Kyokushin Kaikan General Headquarters Dojo.

Hajime Kazumi, who participated in the first high school tournament at the age of 17, was runner-up.

Hajime Kazumi fought and won against fresh Akira Masuda in the third round on the second day.

Hajime Kazumi gained momentum and defeated other successive open tournament World Open Karate Championship representatives.

Again, Hajime Kazumi reached the finals and final match was against Yoshihiro Tamura, the same opponent whom he lost to last year.

Hajime Kazumi lost the match by decision and ended up as the runner-up.

Hajime Kazumi was elected as the representative of the World Championship the following year.

However, the fights had left his body in very bad condition, with Hajime Kazumi having his left toenail peeled off, his right knee ligament stretched, and his right arm broken.

In 1997, he had cruised the 29th All Japan Championship without any real challenge, until reaching the finals, where Hajime Kazumi would fight Gary O'Neil again.

Hajime Kazumi was elected to the representative of the World Open Karate Championships the following year.

Hajime Kazumi lost and become the runner, whereas Filho would be the first foreigner to win the Kyokushin World Championship in 27 years of its inception from 1975.

Hajime Kazumi was elected to represent the 8th Open Tournament World Open Karate Championship the following year.

However, Hajime Kazumi decided to retire from karate at the end of the championship and declined to participate in the world championship.

Hajime Kazumi left the organization and subsequently opened the Japan Karate-do Kazumi Dojo.

Hajime Kazumi is said to be humble and discreet, a spiritually and mentally strong person who doesn't put himself above others.

On 24 November 2002, Hajime Kazumi officially resigned from Kyokushin-kaikan to join a new organization led by Hatsuo Royama and his instructor Tsuyoshi Hiroshige.

Hajime Kazumi later resigned from the newly established Kyokushin-kan organisation to become the leader of an independent group of dojos operating in the Tokyo area.

Hajime Kazumi has integrated Taikiken training into his karate practice, and has modified his fighting style to rely on punching and low kicks instead of the high kicks that are characteristic of Kyokushin karate.

Hajime Kazumi specializes in executing thrusting and kicking techniques with high accuracy and delicate timing.

Hajime Kazumi completed his 100 man kumite at the new IKO1 Honbu in 1999.