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(1968-08-13)August 13, 1968
Częstochowa, Poland
DiedMarch 8, 2008(2008-03-08) (aged 39)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
NationalityPolish
Canadian
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight225 lb (102 kg; 16.1 st)
DivisionSuper heavyweight
Heavyweight
StyleKyokushin karate, Shidokan karate
Fighting out ofWindsor, Ontario
Tomasz Kucharzewski
Medal record
Representing  Poland
Men's Kyokushin Karate
Polish National Championships
1988 Heavyweight
1989 Heavyweight
1990 Heavyweight
European Oyama Cup
1988 Heavyweight
Representing  Canada
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
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 two first-place wins in the annual US Sabaki Challenge and five consecutive gold medals 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) - 2nd 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
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTimeRecord
2001-05-05Loss Duke RoufusK-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA QuarterfinalsLas Vegas, United StatesTKO (2 Knockdowns/Punches)12:2669-8
2000-10-09Loss Hiromi AmadaK-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Fukuoka QuarterfinalsFukuoka, JapanKO (Right Cross)11:4969-7
2000-08-05Loss Andrei DudkoK-1 USA Championships 2000 FinalsLas Vegas, United StatesKO (Right Low Kick)21:2569-6
Fight was for the K-1 USA Championships 2000 Title.
2000-08-05Win Glaube FeitosaK-1 USA Championships 2000 SemifinalsLas Vegas, United StatesTKO (Referee Stoppage/Punches)12:0369-5
2000-08-05Win Jason JohnsonK-1 USA Championships 2000 QuarterfinalsLas Vegas, United StatesTKO (2 Knockdowns/Right Cross)10:5668-5
1999-06-20Loss Lloyd van DamsK-1 Braves '99 QuarterfinalsFukuoka, JapanKO (Right Low Kick)21:4861-4
1998-08-07Loss Jean-Claude LeuyerK-1 USA Grand Prix '98 QuarterfinalsLas Vegas, United StatesTKO (Corner Stoppage/Right Low Kick)13:00

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Karate record (incomplete)
Karate Record
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
1996-00-00Win Shuji Abe1996 US International Shidokan Championships – FinalsChicago, United StatesTKO (Referee Stoppage/Knee)2
Wins the 1996 US International Shidokan Heavyweight Championship.
1996-00-00Win1996 US International Shidokan Championships – SemifinalsChicago, United States
1996-00-00Win1996 US International Shidokan Championships – QuarterfinalsChicago, United States
1995-10-00Win Akio Kobayashi1995 US International Shidokan Championships – FinalsChicago, United States
Wins the 1995 US International Shidokan Heavyweight Championship.
1995-10-00Win Gerry Marketos1995 US International Shidokan Championships – SemifinalsChicago, United StatesKO (Knee)1
1995-10-00Win Soneybourne Ali1995 US International Shidokan Championships – QuarterifinalsChicago, United StatesDQ1
Ali was ejected from the arena after shoving the referee.
1994-00-00Win Dontel Fleming1994 US International Shidokan Championships – FinalsChicago, United StatesForfeiture (Unable to fight)10:00
Wins the 1994 US International Shidokan Heavyweight Championship.
Fleming forfeited the match and was taken to the hospital after experiencing headaches and sensitivity to light.
1994-00-00Win Alain Grosdesormeaux1994 US International Shidokan Championships – SemifinalsChicago, United StatesKO (Knee)1
1994-00-00Win Christopher Harrison1994 US International Shidokan Championships – QuarterfinalsChicago, United StatesKO (Knee)1
1993-04-17Loss Patrick Smith1993 US Sabaki Challenge – FinalsDenver, United StatesDecision
Fight was for the 1993 US Sabaki Challenge Heavyweight Championship.
1993-04-17Win1993 US Sabaki Challenge – SemifinalsDenver, United States
1993-04-17Win1993 US Sabaki Challenge – QuarterfinalsDenver, United States

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

References
  1. Salick, Roger. Shidokan's Slugfests Impress Gracie Archived 2008-12-27 at the Wayback Machine, Shidokan.com. Accessed December 23, 2008.
  2. Late fighter was "Happy-go-lucky" Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Windsor Star, March 12, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2008.
  3. Salick, Roger. , Salick's Karate & Martial Arts. Accessed December 16, 2019.
  4. Windsor kickboxer fought at elite level Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Windsor Star, March 13, 2008. Accessed December 31, 2008.
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