Also known as

Roger Lesseau · Roger Lesoud · Roger Lesseau

Description

French Kyokushin karate master who brought Kyokushinkai to Canada. Lesourd trained directly under Mas Oyama at the Oyama Dojo in Japan from 1956 to 1960, earning the rank of 3rd dan (Sandan) and the title of Branch Chief for Canada. He established the first Kyokushin dojo in Canada in Montreal in 1968 and later founded Samourai Karate in 1973. Among his students were Gilles Dufour (his successor), Andrey Coulombe, Roman Szyrajew, John Goff, and others who would go on to become influential figures in Canadian Kyokushin.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Mas Oyama

  sports_martial_artsKyokushin Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Multiple sources confirm Roger Lesourd was a direct student of Mas Oyama at the Oyama Dojo in Japan from 1956 to 1960

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onOyama Dojo badge (1956–1960)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Multiple sources confirm Roger Lesourd was a direct student of Mas Oyama at the Oyama Dojo in Japan from 1956 to 1960

  “In the 1960's, Mas Oyama accepted a French student, Roger Lesourd. Roger lived and trained in Japan directly under Mas Oyama and was eventually awarded a Third Dan Black Belt along with the title of Branch Chief for Canada.”

  — Ronin Kai Karate — Our Historylink history info

  “A disciple of Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin, he trained at the Oyama Dojo in Japan from 1956 to 1960 and won the title of branch manager along with the black belt Sandan.”

  — All India Kyokushin-Kai Karate Federation - About WKKOlink

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsKyokushin

  military_tech3 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Multiple sources confirm Lesourd held the rank of Sandan (3rd dan) in Kyokushin, awarded by Mas Oyama

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Multiple sources confirm Lesourd held the rank of Sandan (3rd dan) in Kyokushin, awarded by Mas Oyama

  “Roger lived and trained in Japan directly under Mas Oyama and was eventually awarded a Third Dan Black Belt along with the title of Branch Chief for Canada.”

  — Ronin Kai Karate — Our Historylink history info

  “A disciple of Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin, he trained at the Oyama Dojo in Japan from 1956 to 1960 and won the title of branch manager along with the black belt Sandan.”

  — All India Kyokushin-Kai Karate Federation - About WKKOlink

Students (1)

• 
  Gilles Dufour

  sports_martial_artsKyokushin Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states that Kyokushin was brought to Canada by Roger Lesseau and that Dufour was his student and later his successor as chief instructor

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1965)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states that Kyokushin was brought to Canada by Roger Lesseau and that Dufour was his student and later his successor as chief instructor

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “en 1965, décembre 1965, le Kyokushin a été implanté au Canada par Roger Lesseau. À ce moment-là, il était deuxième dan. [...] En 1972, je suis tombé chef d'instructeur. [...] Tous les Kyokushinkai vont sortir de Roger Lesseau qui était là avant moi. Pas nécessairement de moi, parce que moi j'étais le successeur de Roger.”

  — Zanshin - Épisode 9 - Maître Gilles Dufour - La passion d'une vie - Moi mes soulierslink info

  “In the 1960's, Mas Oyama accepted a French student, Roger Lesourd. Roger lived and trained in Japan directly under Mas Oyama and was eventually awarded a Third Dan Black Belt along with the title of Branch Chief for Canada. In 1968, Roger brought Kyokushinkai Karate to Canada”

  — Ronin Kai Karate — Our Historylink history info

Sources