1993 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place.1992 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place.1992 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place.1991 Canadian National Kykokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place.1990 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place.1989 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place.1988 3rd European Oyama Cup (Heavyweight) - 1st place.
1988 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place.Īt his time of death, worked at the Chromeshield steelmaking company in Windsor. Albert Mady - his coach of 16 years - described him as "happy-go-lucky". Kucharzewski was known by his contemporaries for his calm and friendly demeanor. Doctors claimed that his death could have been caused by cardiac arrhythmia. Although an autopsy was performed, the cause of death was not immediately known. He was found dead in his downtown Windsor apartment by family members on March 8, 2008. After being pressed by opponent Duke Roufus throughout the first round, he suffered two knockdowns and the referee ended the fight.ĭuring the later years of his life, Kucharzewski suffered a knee injury and ceased being as active in training and competition. Kucharzewski fought twice more for K-1, his final match coming in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA quarterfinals. Despite a strong first round in the finals wherein he stunned opponent Andrei Dudko with a spinning back kick, Kucharzewski found his left leg under attack again and went to the canvas following two powerful low kicks, whereupon he was unable to meet the 10-count. He fared considerably better at the K-1 USA Championships 2000 tournament, using substantial boxing skills to score TKO victories over American fighter Jason Johnson and future K-1 World Grand Prix finalist Glaube Feitosa. His initial bouts proved fruitless: he met Jean-Claude Leuyer and Lloyd van Dams at the K-1 USA Grand Prix '98 and K-1 Braves '99 events, and both defeated him with low kicks which injured his left knee. With a substantial martial arts career already behind him, Kucharzewski accepted an invitation to K-1 - the era’s premier kickboxing organization. The following year, Kucharzewski endured a bizarre, DQ-bound single round against Soneybourne Ali before knocking out international karate champion Gerry Marketos and claiming his fourth shidokan title in a hard-fought match against Akio Kobayashi. The championship ended up being awarded to him without a fight, as his opponent Dontel Fleming forfeited the match in favor of hospitalization after experiencing concussion-like symptoms. He achieved his greatest competitive success at this time, including two first-place wins in the annual US Sabaki Challenge and five consecutive gold medals at the International Shidokan Championships.Īt the 1994 US International Shidokan Championships, Kucharzewski powered through opponent Christopher Harrison and knocked out Alain Grosdesormeaux with a knee strike en route to reaching the finals. He moved to Canada in 1991 and settled in Windsor, Ontario, from where he fought in an estimated 300 fights. He had won three Polish national titles in Kyokushin kaikan karate and one European title by the time he was 20. He held notable victories over Glaube Feitosa and international karate champion Gerry Marketos.īorn in Częstochowa, Kucharzewski began training in karate at the age of 14. A dominating force in the ring, Kucharzewski was described by the veteran karate instructor and journalist Roger Salick as "indestructible" following his fourth (of five) International Shidōkan Championship wins. Though greatly successful in karate, he became more involved in kickboxing during his later career. Kucharzewski initially gained fame while fighting competitively in Kyokushin kaikan and Shidōkan styles of karate. Tomasz Kucharzewski (Aug– March 8, 2008) was a Polish-Canadian martial artist. Polish-Canadian karateka and kickboxer Tomasz Kucharzewski
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