| Jürgen Seydel | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1917-09-12)12 September 1917 Bonn, Germany |
| Died | 3 August 2008(2008-08-03) (aged 90) |
| Style | Shotokan Karate |
| Other information | |
| Notable students | Elvis Presley |
Jürgen Seydel (September 12, 1917 – August 3, 2008) was a German martial artist. Some have credited him as the father of karate in Germany.[1]
In 1939 Seydel began judo training at theUniversity of Bonn. In 1955, he read an article in a French magazine about karate, which was still unknown in Germany at the time; he traveled to Paris to learn this art. In 1957 Seydel founded according to theJKA the first karate club in Germany inBad Homburg[2] and soon opened a studio inUsingen.[3] Jürgen learnt from a textbook byHenry Plée and with the knowledge he had acquired on courses. In 1959 he passed the exam for the 1st Dan. Until 1965 he was the only Dan carrier in Germany. Seydel's most prominent student was U.S. musicianElvis Presley, then stationed in Germany during his military service.[1][4][5]
Jürgen Seydel was awarded theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Federal PresidentRichard von Weizsäcker for his services to karate in Germany.[6]
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