Tomasz Kucharzewski
Tomasz Kucharzewski (August 13, 1968 – March 8, 2008) was a Polish-Canadian martial artist. Kucharzewski initially gained fame while fighting competitively in Kyokushin kaikan and Shidōkan styles of karate. Though greatly successful in karate, he became more involved in kickboxing during his later career. A dominating force in the ring, Kucharzewski was described by the veteran karate instructor and journalist Roger Salick as "indestructible" following his fourth (of five) International Shidōkan Championship wins.[1] He held notable victories over Glaube Feitosa and international karate champion Gerry Marketos.
| Tomasz Kucharzewski | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 13, 1968 Częstochowa, Poland |
| Died | March 8, 2008 (aged 39) Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Polish Canadian |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16.1 st) |
| Division | Super heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Style | Kyokushin karate, Shidokan karate |
| Fighting out of | Windsor, Ontario |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  | ||
| Men's Kyokushin Karate | ||
| Polish National Championships | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 1988 | Heavyweight |
| 1989 | Heavyweight |
| 1990 | Heavyweight |
| European Oyama Cup | ||
| 1988 | Heavyweight |
Representing .svg.png){kind=small} | ||
| Men's Kyokushin Karate | ||
| Canadian National Championships | ||
| 1991 | Heavyweight |
| Men's Enshin Karate | ||
| Sabaki US Open | ||
| Denver 1992 | Heavyweight |
| Denver 1993 | Heavyweight |
| Denver 1994 | Heavyweight |
| Men's Shidōkan Karate | ||
| US International Championships | ||
| Chicago 1992 | Heavyweight |
| Chicago 1993 | Heavyweight |
| Chicago 1994 | Heavyweight |
| Chicago 1995 | Heavyweight |
| Chicago 1996 | Heavyweight |
| World Championships | ||
| Tokyo 1994 | Heavyweight |
| Australian Open | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 1998 | Heavyweight |
Early life and karate career
Born in Częstochowa, Kucharzewski began training in karate at the age of 14. He had won three Polish national titles in Kyokushin kaikan karate and one European title by the time he was 20. He moved to Canada in 1991 and settled in Windsor, Ontario, from where he fought in an estimated 300 fights.[2] He achieved his greatest competitive success at this time, including three consecutive wins in the annual US Sabaki Challenge and five consecutive wins at the International Shidokan Championships.
At the 1994 US International Shidokan Championships, Kucharzewski powered through opponent Christopher Harrison and knocked out Alain Grosdesormeaux with a knee strike en route to reaching the finals. The championship ended up being awarded to him without a fight, as his opponent Dontel Fleming forfeited the match in favor of hospitalization after experiencing concussion-like symptoms.[3] The following year, Kucharzewski endured a bizarre, DQ-bound single round against Soneybourne Ali before knocking out international karate champion Gerry Marketos and claiming his fourth shidokan title in a hard-fought match against Akio Kobayashi.[1]
K-1
With a substantial martial arts career already behind him, Kucharzewski accepted an invitation to K-1 - the era’s premier kickboxing organization. His initial bouts proved fruitless: he met Jean-Claude Leuyer and Lloyd van Dams at the K-1 USA Grand Prix '98 and K-1 Braves '99 events, and both defeated him with low kicks which injured his left knee. He fared considerably better at the K-1 USA Championships 2000 tournament, using substantial boxing skills to score TKO victories over American fighter Jason Johnson and future K-1 World Grand Prix finalist Glaube Feitosa. Despite a strong first round in the finals wherein he stunned opponent Andrei Dudko with a spinning back kick, Kucharzewski found his left leg under attack again and went to the canvas following two powerful low kicks, whereupon he was unable to meet the 10-count.
Kucharzewski fought twice more for K-1, his final match coming in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA quarterfinals. After being pressed by opponent Duke Roufus throughout the first round, he suffered two knockdowns and the referee ended the fight as Kucharzewski leaned on the ropes.
Death
During the later years of his life, Kucharzewski suffered a knee injury and ceased being as active in training and competition. He was found dead in his downtown Windsor apartment by family members on March 8, 2008. Although an autopsy was performed, the cause of death was not immediately known.[2] According to Monika Kucharzewski - Tomasz' younger sister - doctors claimed that his death could have been caused by cardiac arrhythmia.[4]
Personal life
Kucharzewski was known by his contemporaries for his calm and friendly demeanor, which led Albert Mady - his coach of 16 years - to describe him as "happy-go-lucky".[2][4]
At his time of death, worked at the Chromeshield steelmaking company in Windsor. He was unmarried and had no children.[4]
Titles
Karate
- 1988 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1988 3rd European Oyama Cup (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1989 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1990 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1991 Canadian National Kykokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1992 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1992 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1993 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1993 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1994 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1994 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1994 Tokyo World Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1995 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1996 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place
- 1998 Australian Open Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 2nd place
Kickboxing
- 1999 KICK World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Champion
- K-1 USA Championships 2000 – Runner-up
Amateur boxing
- 1993 Ontario Provincial Heavyweight Champion
Kickboxing record (incomplete)
| Kickboxing Record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Karate record (incomplete)
| Kickboxing Record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- Salick, Roger. Shidokan's Slugfests Impress Gracie Archived 2008-12-27 at the Wayback Machine, Shidokan.com. Accessed December 23, 2008.
- Late fighter was "Happy-go-lucky" Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Windsor Star, March 12, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2008.
- Salick, Roger. , Salick's Karate & Martial Arts. Accessed December 16, 2019.
- Windsor kickboxer fought at elite level Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Windsor Star, March 13, 2008. Accessed December 31, 2008.
External links
- Official website
- Profile at MMAuniverse.com