Norman Robinson (karate)
| Norman Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 September 1936 South Africa |
| Died | 31 July 2025 (aged 88) South Africa |
| Style | Shotokan karate, judo |
| Teachers | Keinosuke Enoeda, Masatoshi Nakayama, Masahiko Tanaka, Tetsuhiko Asai |
| Rank | 9th dan karate (JKS) 7th dan Judo |
| Other information | |
| Website | Japan Karate Shoto Federation South Africa |
Norman Robinson (6 September 1936 – 31 July 2025) was a South African karateka. He and Stan Schmidt were the first practitioners of Shotokan karate in South Africa and they instigated the establishment of the South African branch of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in 1965 and popularized the art across the country.
In 1970 he was one of the first westerners to be invited into the JKA's famous Instructor Class in the Tokyo Honbu dojo, the invitation having been offered by Masatoshi Nakayama himself. Latterly, he established Japan Karate Shotokai South Africa (now known as Japan Karate Shoto Federation South Africa), having remained loyal to Tetsuhiko Asai after Asai established Japan Karate Shotokai.
Robinson was also a distinguished student of Judo, holding a 7th dan in that art, and was also known for his acting roles in several martial arts films. His son, Mark Robinson is multi-disciplinary martial artist and powerlifter.