Phillip Moustache
| |
| Born | 1957 (approx.) Seychelles |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Seychellois |
| Style | Kyokushin / KyokushinRyu |
| Teachers | Philip Verghese Masutatsu Oyama |
| Rank | 7th dan |
| Organization | International Karate Alliance KyokushinRyu |
| Role | Africa Continental Director International Council Member |
Phillip Moustache is a Seychellois Kyokushin karate master, the highest-graded Seychellois karateka, and the Africa Continental Director of the International Karate Alliance KyokushinRyu.
Early training
[edit]Phillip Moustache began karate training on August 9, 1975, under his cousin Philip Verghese, joining the Kime-Ryu Karate School. In 1982, during a three-month visit to England, he first witnessed Kyokushinkai karate and was struck by its power and effectiveness. On his return to Seychelles, he began adapting his training toward the Kyokushin method.
Contact with Mas Oyama
[edit]In 1984, Moustache established direct contact with Masutatsu Oyama. On April 16, 1985, Oyama personally asked him to establish a Kyokushin dojo in Seychelles. The first official Kyokushinkai dojo opened on August 26, 1985 at the St. Louis Community Centre with 25 founding members.
Growth of Kyokushin in Seychelles
[edit]Under Moustache's leadership, Kyokushin karate grew steadily in Seychelles. Annual training camps were established and held on multiple islands including Praslin, Silhouette, and La Digue. His students began competing in international knockdown tournaments organized by the Kyokushinkai headquarters in Japan.
On November 27, 1998, Moustache made history by becoming the first Seychellois karate master, receiving his 5th dan grading conducted by Kancho Shokei Matsui in Japan. On February 27, 2005, he was graded to 6th dan by Kancho Matsui in Cape Town, making him the highest-graded Seychellois karateka and the second highest-graded Kyokushin karateka in Africa at that time.
IKAK leadership
[edit]Moustache serves on the IKAK International Council as Africa Continental Director, overseeing Kyokushin development and grading activity across the African continent. He conducted the 5th dan grading of Trevor Rustin in Mauritius.