Friendship Trophy

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"The Friendship Trophy was presented to Ed Parker, tournament director of the International Karate Championships, by Olaf Simon of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 1968 as a symbol of international friendship in karate.  Also known as the "perpetual cup", the trophy is awarded to each grand champion of the Internationals to keep for a period of one year, or until he relinquishes the title.  Originally, those champions who repeat as grand champion two years in a row were accorded the honor of having their names permanently engraved on the trophy.  But since sport karate has grown so drastically since then, ever grand champ, regardless of how many times he repeats his performance, ha his name inscribed on the Friendship Trophy."

Original Print

"Which names have been inscribed on the Friendship trophy?
Mike Stone (1964 and '65), Allen Steen ('66), Chuck Norris ('67 and '68), Joe Lewis (1969, '70 and '71), Darnell Garcia ('72), John Natividad ('73), Jeff Smith ('74), Lenny Ferguson ('75), and Ray Sua ('76)."

Original Print

These two articles are taken from "The Complete Martial Arts Catalogue" by John Corcoran & Emil Farkas published by Simon & Shuster, 1977.

The “Friendship Trophy” was designed and commissioned by Grand Master Simon.  After severing his ties with the karate competitions and many of the individuals who were a part of them in the 1970’s he lost track of the whereabouts of the trophy and to this day does not know its location.