Photo Courtesy || JPC via United Montanyosa
Cordillera - In 2013 an Igorot world karate champion joined other karate masters around the world to train thousands of karate practitioners in Europe.
The sixth-dan blackbelt of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), three time world and six time European kata champion, Julian Chees, joined other karate masters led by 9th Dan Shihan Hideo Ochi, the current chief instructor for Japan Karate Association Europe and JKA Germany.
Chees, who traces his roots from Maligcong, Bontoc, Mt. Province, had the privilege to train more than 1,000 young karate practitioners in Germany together with five highly respected karate masters in Europe.
Chees was among the outstanding students of the late Japanese karate master Shihan Kunio Sasaki who established the JKA Philippines and his fellow Cordilleran Edgar Kapawen Sr., chief instructor of JKA PH at the YMCA Baguio.
Chees is known for his humanitarian efforts in the Philippines. He has established the Shoshin Kinderhilfe, a foundation that provides financial assistance to Filipinos in need in the country.
During the aftermath of the super-typhoon Yolanda in 2013, Chees through his foundation personally distributed over P800,000 worth of rice and cash to those affected by the typhoon in Dumalag and Tapaz town in Capiz.
He has also provided cash assistance to his kailyans in the Cordillera region who were undergoing dialysis treatment and eye operation.
