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.

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.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for the 1993 US Sabaki Challenge Heavyweight Championship.

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.

With a substantial martial arts career already behind him, Kucharzewski accepted an invitation to K-1 - the era’s premier kickboxing organization.

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.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the 1994 US International Shidokan Heavyweight Championship.

Fleming forfeited the match and was taken to the hospital after experiencing headaches and sensitivity to light.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the 1995 US International Shidokan Heavyweight Championship.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Ali was ejected from the arena after shoving the referee.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the 1996 US International Shidokan Heavyweight Championship.

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.

Despite a strong first round in the finals where 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.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for the K-1 USA Championships 2000 title.

Kucharzewski fought twice more for K-1, his final match coming in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA quarterfinals.

After being pressed by opponent Duke Roufus throughout the first round, he suffered two knockdowns and the referee ended the fight.

During the later years of his life, Kucharzewski suffered a knee injury and ceased being as active in training and competition.

He was found dead in his downtown Windsor apartment by family members on March 8, 2008.

Although an autopsy was performed, the cause of death was not immediately known.

Doctors claimed that his death could have been caused by cardiac arrhythmia.

Kucharzewski was known to his contemporaries for his calm and friendly demeanor.

Albert Mady - his coach of 16 years - described him as "happy-go-lucky".

At his time of death, he worked at the Chromeshield steelmaking company in Windsor.

He was unmarried and had no children.

Karate

Kickboxing

Amateur boxing

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for the Tales of Pain tournament title.