Carlo Fugazza - a portrait
With a modest and reserved character, the carrier of the 7th Dan amazed with his explosive performance of karate techniques in its fullness. Being the unique master teacher, he became an example for hundreds of karate students in Europe.
Sensei Carlo Fugazza was born on the 4th of November, 1951, in Milan. As a young student Carlo dedicated himself to basketball and other athletics. When he was 17 years old he pursued the training of a lot of blackbelts in a dojo. This caused a deep emotional feeling, which brought him to the decision to take up the sport and become a very tough competiter. After only two years of intensive training with Sensei Shirai, Carlo Fugazza entered a contest in Italy and won it with the littelest effort. Short afterwards he belonged to the kader of the Italian National Team. In 1973 he participated in the World Championships in Tokyo. Because of his brilliance and stylists techniques, he returned home with a silver medal in kumite. Two years later Carlo Fugazza was pretty much invincible in discipline kata.
In 1975 the World Championship was held in Los Angeles. Here Carlos competed in kata-singles and in team competition, as the second man.The kumite-team completed this success series with a bronze medal. He caused quite a stir on the international level through each of his three titel wins at the European Championship (kumite-team, kata-team and kata-singles) in 1976 and 1977. He also participated in the 1977 World Championship in Tokyo, which led to ranking 3rd in kata-singles category and 2nd ranking on the kata-team.
Because of his success, Carlo Fugazza was called as the trainer of the Italian kata-team in 1983. For 14 years he trained talented fighters and led them to success in the international competition. He himself called this time an important part of his life. Still today, the 47 year-old karate master strives to perfect his technique. He practices single sequences early in the morning, three or four times a week with Sensei Shirai. With that Carlo Fugazza realizes part of his dream of being active in the sport of karate into his old age.
Sensei C. Fugazza in Eberswalde (05-09-1998)
As a carrier of the 7th Dan he passes his excitement and knowledge on to his students. In Milan he leads his own dojo, which has got 120 participants today. Although Carlo Fugazza is known in Europe as a kata-expert, he exhibits the same love for kumite. As a karate-teacher, he teaches equaly kihon, kumite, and kata, thereby passing the way of traditional karate. According to his principles, Carlo believes in the possibility of improving and perfecting of one’s physical and mental abilities by means of traditional karate. The realization and the development of traditional karate knows no bounds. The continuous development of human abilities and the available performances are aims which need a steady search.
Carlos’ family supports him very much. His wife and his son are also carriers of the 2nd Dan. According to the example of his father, his 21 year-old son is now beginning to take part in competition.
Besides the 6foot karate master is also interested in classical music, especially guitar and piano instrumental pieces. In addition he has studied guitar intensively for six years, stopping shortly before the mastery test. He had come to the point where he had to interrupt his instrumental study in behalf of his rigorous training regimen.
- Annet Keil