Hi Everyone
Do any of you remember that Superkicker Fitzroy Willis from the 1980's?
Anyone been on the receiving end of those killer high kicks or still get headaches or convulsions?
I believe he was European karate champion and was a member of the original Black Dragons Karate Squad.
He also had a successful spell in kickboxing as well.

If its the same bloke im thinking did he do shotokan ?

If its the same bloke im thinking did he do shotokan ?

Hes a tall black guy i believe from a Wado background?

Hes a tall black guy i believe from a Wado background?
i think i no who you mean he worked as a doorman, i got him confused with a shotokan guy called Lynval Douglas?? or Duggie as he was known a powerful bloke with long dreads.

Hi Everyone
Do any of you remember that Superkicker Fitzroy Willis from the 1980's?
Anyone been on the receiving end of those killer high kicks or still get headaches or convulsions?
I believe he was European karate champion and was a member of the original Black Dragons Karate Squad.
He also had a successful spell in kickboxing as well.


Hi Farhad ..... I've dug out some of my old Fighting Arts mags recently and there was a Shotokan man from one of the SKI clubs called Fitzroy ..... he won shed loads of stuff with the SKI too (including the Europeans I think) ..... can't remember if he was part of the Central of Sharrow club????? OR one of Eddie De Roek's ....

All of that was well before I came down to Sheff though, so can't say I know him personnaly .....

My other half used to train at Sheffield Karate Centre on London Rd, Patrick Santlebury's place. She remembers training at the same time as a tall black lad they called Fitz, he and another fella Raf (spelling??) were very good apparently, she wasn't even close to their league but remebers them pretty well. She named a few others but they escape me now.

That was "Dougie" Fitzroy Douglas he used to train with us at Eddie de Roech's place and was associated with SKI, Shiro Asano. Last time I saw him was at his recording studio in that old building between where AFK used to be and the Central fire station.
Quality bloke.

I remember watching in awe at the UK Shotokan Karate International (SKI) tournaments held in Nottingham every year, about 1983. He used to listen to a walkman tape player before every bout!

The head of the UK SKI at the time was Sensie Shiro Asano, 9th Dan, who occassionaly performed some of his exhibition routines during the intervals.

.

My other half used to train at Sheffield Karate Centre on London Rd, Patrick Santlebury's place. She remembers training at the same time as a tall black lad they called Fitz, he and another fella Raf (spelling??) were very good apparently, she wasn't even close to their league but remebers them pretty well. She named a few others but they escape me now.

Hi JBproperty,
That is the one. Fitzroy willis who used to kick everyones head off!!!
Raf O Connor is Fitroy's cousin (he was hard as nails too, dont let the glasses fool you he was built like a brick **** house!). I remember Raf doing my corner in kickboxing once. Quality bloke!

Yeh he's now a plumber!

JB's OH here

That's the fella, I remember they didn't train every week on London Rd. I only sparred once with Fitz (Thank God) and he was easy on me, my fault but he caught me with a back kick to sternum and nearly knocked me into next week lol. I always thought they were half brothers, dunno why.

I was at some of the Nottingham tournements in early 80's and remember going to the nationals in Birmingahm one year. Fab days!!

JB's OH here

That's the fella, I remember they didn't train every week on London Rd. I only sparred once with Fitz (Thank God) and he was easy on me, my fault but he caught me with a back kick to sternum and nearly knocked me into next week lol. I always thought they were half brothers, dunno why.

I was at some of the Nottingham tournements in early 80's and remember going to the nationals in Birmingahm one year. Fab days!!

Hi there,
Fitzroy has a brother Alan Willis. His brother still trains as well! He pops along to AFK and schools the AFK fighters :hihi:
Despite him being 39 (nearly 40) , the AFK active fighters (2 of which are ISKA champions!!! :help:) Still find him frustrating :D

Don't recall ever meeting Alan but if he's anything like Fitz or Raff I can imagine why current fighters would find him frustrating

It's so weird reading this thread, as Fitzroy is my uncle. As said before, Raf O'Connor is his cousin, and his Brother (and my other Uncle) Alan Willis still trains. Alan was actually crowned European Champion last month, so yeah, I do imagine that other fighters find him frustrating!

That was "Dougie" Fitzroy Douglas he used to train with us at Eddie de Roech's place and was associated with SKI, Shiro Asano. Last time I saw him was at his recording studio in that old building between where AFK used to be and the Central fire station.
Quality bloke.

The same Asano who forbids you from wearing a groin guard ?
Quote : "No Groin Guardo!!!"