Favourite Modern day Karateka?

[wildbourgman]

I've got a few that many would not have heard of. First my children and my own instructor Sensei Michael Veillon. We are truly blessed to have found him. I sometimes can't believe how much knowledge he has amassed over his time as a karate-ka.

One other is from my younger years Niki Ikeda (Allen) who lived and competed in Louisiana when I first saw her. She was the closest thing to Rika Usami I've ever seen in person when it comes to kata. If the link works below look at how many competitions she won at the very competitive All-South tournament in Louisiana. If anyone here knows her or has access to video of her competing I'd love to get it. PM me if you come across that please.

http://www.tulane.edu/~karate/AllSouth.htm

Naka Tatsuya, Ian Abernathy, Steve Ubl, Takayuki Mikami

John Shipes, Jesse Enkamp, and Rika Usami all get very honorable mentions.

[bassaiguy]

For me, it would be Tatsuya Naka of the JKA and Minoru Higa of the Kyudokan Shorin-ryu. Naka Sensei is an amazing technician, but from what I've read of him he is also dedicated to the budo ideal in karate and can articulate clearly how to progress in both budo and shiai karate. Higa Sensei is basically a living encyclopedia of Shorin-ryu and his speed and "inside" fighting are amazing for a man of his years. As a Shotokan guy with a historical mind I'd love to sit in on a Kyudokan class.