Tomasz Kucharzewski

Tomasz Kucharzewski (August 13, 1968 – March 8, 2008) was a Polish-Canadian martial artist. Kucharzewski initially gained fame while fighting competitively in Kyokushin kaikan and Shidōkan styles of karate. Though greatly successful in karate, he became more involved in kickboxing during his later career. 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. He held notable victories over Glaube Feitosa and international karate champion Gerry Marketos.

Early life and karate career Born in Częstochowa, Kucharzewski began training in karate at the age of 14. He had won three Polish national titles in Kyokushin kaikan karate and one European title by the time he was 20. He moved to Canada in 1991 and settled in Windsor, Ontario, from where he participated in an estimated 300 fights. 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.

At 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. 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. 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.

At his time of death, he worked at the Chromeshield steelmaking company in Windsor. He was unmarried and had no children.

Titles Karate 1988 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1988 3rd European Oyama Cup (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1989 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1990 Polish National Kyokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1991 Canadian National Kykokushin Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1992 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1992 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1993 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1993 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 2nd place 1994 Sabaki Challenge US Open (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1994 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1994 Tokyo World Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1995 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1996 US International Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 1st place 1998 Australian Open Shidokan Championships (Heavyweight) - 2nd place Kickboxing 1999 KICK World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Champion K-1 USA Championships 2000 – Runner-up 2003 Tales of Pain Heavyweight Tournament - Runner-up Amateur boxing 1993 Ontario Provincial Heavyweight Champion

Kickboxing record (incomplete)

Karate record (incomplete)