Date: June 23, 2018
Place: Tarnow, Poland
Organizer: Poland Branch Chief Wojciech Radziewicz
On June 23, 2018, the ceremonial unveiling of Shihan Wiesław Gwizd’s memorial plaque took place at the Sports and Entertainment Center of Tarnow City. This event was initiated with the naming of the Shihan Wiesław Gwizd hall during one of the sessions of the Tarnów City Council. Wiesław Gwizd’s memorial plaque was unveiled on the second anniversary of his death. Unveils were made by: Shihan’s wife – Mrs. Barbara Gwizd with daughters Klaudia and Adrianna, director of the Department of Sport of the City of Tarnów – Marek Baran and the President of the Polish Shinkyokushin Karate Federation – Shihan Remigiusz Karpiński. The ceremony was attended by Shihan’s family, friends and invited guests.
The memorial plaque was blessed by Father Rafał Łukasik. The profile of Wiesław Gwizd was introduced by Sensei Janusz Wdowiak, the current President of Tarnowski Karate Club. Shihan Remigiusz Karpiński and Sensei Wojciech Radziewicz also made the speech.
– Shihan Wiesław Gwizd passed away suddenly on 21 June 2016 at the age of nearly 58. – He passed away too early, but the memory of this outstanding sportsman and great man will remain forever – said Sensei Janusz Wdowiak.
– For most of us Shihan Wiesław Gwizd was a great friend and colleague – said Shihan Remigiusz Karpiński during the ceremony. – He “infected” others with this friendship. The initiative to fund the commemorative plaque of Shihan is great because it will allow to commemorate this extraordinary figure that Wiesław Gwizd was for many years.
– We met over 20 years ago at a camp in the Netherlands, where we trained together for several hours – recalled Sensei Wojciech Radziewicz. Wiesław Gwizd was extremely sociable, and he was a very modest man at the same time.
During the second part, there was a karate show with the participation of children, fighters and coaches of TKS Kyokushin Karate and the show group of Sensei Andrzej Kulesza from Łosice.
Then in the next part there was a ceremonial training. This training was conducted by: Shihan Remigiusz
Karpiński 6th dan and Sensei Wojciech Radziewicz 4th dan. During the training, 58 tsuki commemorating the late Shihan Wiesław Gwizd were made. A total of 250 people attended the series of events.
It was very eloquent that at the end of the training during meditation, a powerful thunderbolt struck the hall. We wish to believe that it was a sign of appreciation from Shihan Gwizd for having him in our hearts.
