18 Facts About Stan Schmidt

Stan Schmidt was a South African master of Shotokan karate.

Stan Schmidt was the first non-Japanese karateka to attain 7th dan from the JKA and the first to attain 8th dan.

Stan Schmidt is known for his acting roles in several martial arts films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Stan Schmidt was educated at King Edward VII High School and then studied at the University of South Africa where he obtained a master's degree in Communications.

Stan Schmidt is credited with formally introducing karate to South Africa in the 1950s along with other men such as Len Barnes, Richard Salmon, James Rousseau, Des Botes, and Norman Robinson.

Stan Schmidt then began training himself at his judo dojo and there, he encouraged other judoka to join him, including Ken Wittstock, Norman Robinson and Eddie Dorey.

Whilst in Japan Stan Schmidt fought the then All-Japan Grand Champion Hiroshi Shirai who had won both kata and kumite in 1962.

Stan Schmidt's visit to Japan helped forge relations with the JKA such that, in 1964, Taiji Kase visited South Africa.

Stan Schmidt achieved his Shodan and then his Nidan under Kase.

Stan Schmidt went on to become the first South African karate kumite champion.

In 1970, Stan Schmidt was one of three South Africans to be invited by Japan to participate in the inaugural Karate World Championships at which they competed for Japan.

Stan Schmidt went on to become the first non-Japanese karateka to attain the level of 7th Dan from the Japan Karate Association and has remained as the highest graded westerner in that organisation latterly being awarded his 8th dan on 14 February 2015.

Stan Schmidt was the subject of an episode of SABC's People of the South, a talk show hosted by Dali Tambo that focused on celebrating the lives of different personalities from southern Africa to promote a sense of national identity and pride by reflecting on their achievements and acclamations.

Stan Schmidt was featured numerous times in issues of "Shotokan Karate", including being featured twice on the cover.

In 1988 Stan Schmidt wrote some columns for "Fighting Arts International" magazine.

Stan Schmidt had a featured article in the September 2001 issue of "Masters of Karate".

Stan Schmidt died in Melbourne on 7 October 2019, aged 83.

Stan Schmidt appeared in a number of films as a Martial Artist including in 1976, Karate Killer and in the 1981 box office success Kill and Kill Again.