Kenji Midori


Kenji Midori is a Japanese martial artist. He is an instructor of the Full-contact Karate. He has an 8th Dan black belt in World Karate Organization Shinkyokushinkai.

Career

Midori was a student of Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin kaikan. He lost in the 4th World Tournament to British Michael Thompson. After the 4th World Tournament, Midori went on to claim his third All Japan Weight title and reached the final of the All Japan Tournament.
Four years later, Midori entered the 5th World Tournament, where he defeated the reigning All Japan Champion Akira Masuda to become the 5th Kyokushin Karate World Champion.
After the death of Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, the International Karate Organization initially broke into three groups, one of which is known as IKO-2, initially led by Yukio Nishida. After Nishida resigned, he was succeeded by Keiji Sanpei, who was in turn succeeded by Yasuhiro Shichinohe and then eventually Kenji Midori. Under Midoris leadership the organization formally changed its name to World Karate Organization Shinkyokushinkai in 2003. Today, Midori holds the position of Daihyo of the WKO Shinkyokushinkai.

Tournament achievements