British Karate Federation News

Jacques Delcourt

Nov 21, 2011

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It is with sadness that we have to report the passing of Mr Jacques Delcourt. Jacques passed away on the morning of Saturday 19th November 2011. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

During the Second World War Jacques joined the resistance at the age of fifteen, and became a member of the military and civilian resistance organizations.

A year later, when he was sixteen, he was wounded in combat and assigned in the 110th Infantry Regiment .

Jacques Delcourt was appointed to head French karate in 1961, while the discipline was still a branch of the French Judo Federation. In 1963, he was a semi-finalist in the French National Team Championships.

The same year, he called to France, to participate in the first international competition in the history of karate, the leaders of six other national federations, namely Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The invitations were accepted and, at the tournament, they formed the Congress which led to the creation of the European Karate Federation in 1965.

Jacques Delcourt became its first President.

He then made contact with the Japanese Governing Body. Their discussions lead to the creation of WUKO, (which later became the World Karate Federation), of which Delcourt was made President. The first World Championship for karate took place shortly after in Tokyo in 1970.

He ceased to be President of the European and World Karate Federations in 1997 (Europe) and then subsequently 1998 (World) when Snr Antonio Espinos was elected to those positions.

As a mark of respect he was made an Honorary Life Member of the World and European Executive Boards, and the Steering Committee of the French Federation, and President of the World Legal and Disciplinary Board.

His professional career was as a Company Lawyer and he held a Master in Law and a Postgraduate degree (Master) in Management and Sports Law. He was an Officer of the Legion of Honour, Knight of the Order of Merit, and held numerous other decorations and distinctions.

He was a member of the French Olympic Committee from 1980 to 1992 and held the Gold Medal of the Prestige of the French Federation.

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