Country Director and Head Instructor - Shihan Phillip Moustache
Shihan Moustache
Phillip Moustache started training in Karate under the tutelage of his cousin, Philip Verghese on August 9, 1975 and during the same year he joined the Kime-Ryu Karate School. In 1982 whilst on a three month visit to England, he first witnessed the power and efficiency of Kyokushinkai Karate and on his return, he started training in the Kyokushinkai manner with some close friends though he was training with the Shotokan School.
In 1984 Phillip established contact with the founder of the Kyokushinkai organization, Sosai Masutatsu Oyama 10th Dan. On April 16, 1985, Sosai Oyama asked Phillip to establish a Kyokushin Dojo in Seychelles. The first official Kyokushinkai Dojo was established on August 26th of the same year at the St. Louis Community Centre with a membership of 25 students.
In September 1986 Philip left Seychelles in September to pursue a Degree at the University of Salford in UK which had a Kyokushinkai Club. In October Shihan A. K. Ismail, the then Chairman of Kyokushinkai in Africa visited Seychelles to formalize the establishment of the Dojo.
In addition to training at the University’s Dojo during the three year period, Phillip had the opportunity to train at the Shaw Dojo under Sensei Alex Kerrigan 4th Dan, the National Coach of the British Karate Kyokushinkai.
The School organized its first Knockdown Tournament in 1987 in both the Weight and Open Weight Category. Since then, the School has been organizing such tournaments on an annual basis.
In 1990, Phillip completed his degree and on his return, organized the School’s first Training Camp which has now become an annual event on the calendar of activities. Training Camps have been held on the islands of Praslin, Silhouette and La Digue.
The School’s members had by this time started participating in the International Knockdown Tournaments organized by the Kyokushinkai Headquarters in Japan. The following fighters have fought for Seychelles in the following international tournaments:
On November 27, 1998, Phillip Moustache made history by becoming the first local Karate Master when he was graded to the rank of 5th Dan following a grading conducted by Kancho Shokei Matsui in Japan. On February 27, 2005, he was graded to the rank of 6th Dan by Kancho Matsui in Cape Town making him the highest graded Seychellois Karateka in the World and second highest graded Kyokushin Karateka in Africa.
In 2003, Shihan Moustache was appointed as an Executive Committee member of IKO Africa with the responsibility for the Indian Ocean Region and Francophone countries in Africa. Shihan Moustache has taught Kyokushin Karate in the following countries: England, France, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Singapore, Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion. He has conducted Gradings up to the level of Black Belt for students in Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues. Other senior students from the school have also taught in Mauritius and Reunion.
Shihan Moustache has visited Japan eighteen times and has trained extensively at the Yugawara and Mitsumine Training Camps under Kancho Matsui and other senior Kyokushinkai instructors. He has also trained extensively under Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt in South Africa and locally.
As an Internationally certified Referee of the IKO in Knockdown fighting, Shihan Moustache and some of his senior students have officiated in international Knockdown tournaments in Japan, South Africa, Mauritius and Reunion.
In 1984 Phillip established contact with the founder of the Kyokushinkai organization, Sosai Masutatsu Oyama 10th Dan. On April 16, 1985, Sosai Oyama asked Phillip to establish a Kyokushin Dojo in Seychelles. The first official Kyokushinkai Dojo was established on August 26th of the same year at the St. Louis Community Centre with a membership of 25 students.
In September 1986 Philip left Seychelles in September to pursue a Degree at the University of Salford in UK which had a Kyokushinkai Club. In October Shihan A. K. Ismail, the then Chairman of Kyokushinkai in Africa visited Seychelles to formalize the establishment of the Dojo.
In addition to training at the University’s Dojo during the three year period, Phillip had the opportunity to train at the Shaw Dojo under Sensei Alex Kerrigan 4th Dan, the National Coach of the British Karate Kyokushinkai.
The School organized its first Knockdown Tournament in 1987 in both the Weight and Open Weight Category. Since then, the School has been organizing such tournaments on an annual basis.
In 1990, Phillip completed his degree and on his return, organized the School’s first Training Camp which has now become an annual event on the calendar of activities. Training Camps have been held on the islands of Praslin, Silhouette and La Digue.
The School’s members had by this time started participating in the International Knockdown Tournaments organized by the Kyokushinkai Headquarters in Japan. The following fighters have fought for Seychelles in the following international tournaments:
- 4th World Open Tournament 1987 ( Japan) – Phillip Moustache & Gerald Toussaint
- 5th World Open Tournament 1991 (Japan) – Phillip Moustache & Alwyn Chang Lai Seng
- Singapore International Tournament 1992 (Singapore) – 12 Fighters
- 1st All Africa Tournament 1995 (South Africa) – 10 Fighters
- 6th World Open Tournament 1995 (Japan) – Bernard Adeline & Flvien Alphonse
- 7th World Open Tournament 1999 (Japan) – Bernard Adeline & Flavien Alphonse
- 8th World Open Tournament 2003 ( Japan) - Flavien Alphonse & Jimmy Helen
- 9th World Open Tournament 2007 (Japan) – Freddy Dubois
- 10th World Open Tournament 2011 (Japan) – Jimmy Helen
- 1st Women’s World Tournament 1995 (New York) – Erna Athanasius
- World Weight Tournament 1997 (Japan) - Bernard Adeline & Marie Lucy Sullivan
- World Weight Tournament 1999 (Japan) – Bernard Adeline & Lynn
- World Junior Championships 2010 (Japan) – Joel Pinchon
On November 27, 1998, Phillip Moustache made history by becoming the first local Karate Master when he was graded to the rank of 5th Dan following a grading conducted by Kancho Shokei Matsui in Japan. On February 27, 2005, he was graded to the rank of 6th Dan by Kancho Matsui in Cape Town making him the highest graded Seychellois Karateka in the World and second highest graded Kyokushin Karateka in Africa.
In 2003, Shihan Moustache was appointed as an Executive Committee member of IKO Africa with the responsibility for the Indian Ocean Region and Francophone countries in Africa. Shihan Moustache has taught Kyokushin Karate in the following countries: England, France, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Singapore, Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion. He has conducted Gradings up to the level of Black Belt for students in Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues. Other senior students from the school have also taught in Mauritius and Reunion.
Shihan Moustache has visited Japan eighteen times and has trained extensively at the Yugawara and Mitsumine Training Camps under Kancho Matsui and other senior Kyokushinkai instructors. He has also trained extensively under Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt in South Africa and locally.
As an Internationally certified Referee of the IKO in Knockdown fighting, Shihan Moustache and some of his senior students have officiated in international Knockdown tournaments in Japan, South Africa, Mauritius and Reunion.