Tsukamoto two times world champion, which is more than impressive. But another thing we should take a look at is that he has participated in five world championships. Every 4 years multiplied by five..
- 6th World Championship 1996
- 7th World Championship 1999
- 8th World Championship 2003
- 9th World Championship 2007
- 10th World Championship 2011
We will take a video trip through them all..
6th World Championship 1996 (Tsukamoto Sensei facebook)
First bout we will present : Norichika Tsukamoto vs Akira Masuda – The 6th Karate World Tournament quarter Final. Akira Masuda, one of the great fighters we have seen, and the runner up ftom the 5th world championship.
In the semi final,one of Japan`s best lightweights fighters Kou Tanigawa..
Last fight in the 6th WT. And non other than Kunihiro Suzuki was waiting. These two fighters met several times,and made each other better every time they met.
7th World Championship
The year is 1999, and it`s all about the 7th World Tournament. Tsukamoto wins first and second fight, first against USA, Garth Celestine, 2nf fight Swiss fighter Reiz Haris. Third fight European hard challenge, Lithuanian fighter Gediminas Tankevicius.
After this long and hard fight, Tsukamoto met a strong German fighter – Muzzafer Bacak. In this fight Bacak won, and he had even harder fights comming..Bacak took 2nd place in the 7th World Tournament.
8th World Championship
2003, and once again Tsukamoto advance through the tournament. 1st fight Poland/Sapijazco. 2nd fight Zhavoronkov/Ukraine. The third fight became a special fight, and several not so often seen moves come to play.. Tsukamoto vs Solly Soko/South Africa.
Next fight ended also in Tsukamoto favor, and one of Japans best middleweight Tsuyoshi Takezawa had to leave the tatami with loss.
In the quarterfinals, he met someone who would prove to be his equal and good friend over the years. It was time to meet a young man from Bulgaria, Valeri Dimitrov ..
9th World Championship 2007.
After a 7th place at the last world championship, it was now time to try again. Through the preliminary rounds did Tsukamoto look in good shape. And took Swedish Andreas Almen in round 2 with a spectacular roll kick among other things.
Among the last 32, Tsukamoto beat Brasilian Rafael Garcia, and after that country man and top fighter Kuzuhito Yamada. So in the quarterfinals Russian powerhouse Roman Nesterenko was next.
Once again Norichika Tsukamoto took a strong 7th place,and everyone understands that a top performer obviously are aiming for the top, but everyone also understands that the 7th place is a very strong place to conquer.
10th World Championship 2011
Rumors were passed, this would be his last world championship?! Everyone knew it was true, but no one would really not want him to stop. -even though it is right to do so.
Also this time Tsukamoto passed through preliminary rounds with great style, and we picks up the fight in the 4th round between Tsukamoto and Dmitrij Aleksandrov / Lithuania.
Next fight against country man Naohiro Nomoto
Men quarterfinals
Andrey Materov vs Norichika Tsukamoto. We will remember young Andrey Materov who no longer are with us, rest in peace Osu.
In the semifinal once again Russian Nesterenko stood in his way…
Last fight in a long tournament..last fight in a long career. Final of the 10th World Championship. Norichika Tsukamoto vs Tsutomu Murayama