[1] He was one of the rare 10th dan karate masters living outside Japan, and one of the few Westerners who held this rank.

An only son, Henry Plée started his sports career with gymnastics, weight lifting, French savate, English Boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, Ju Jutsu, and fencing with his father Alcide Plée, who was a sword master since 1912.

In 1955 he founded his dojo: the Karate Club de France (KCF), which became Académie française des Arts Martiaux (AFAM), which became 'Shobudo', also known as 'The Mountain/ La Montagne' (in French) or as 'Dojo de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève' in Paris.

Here he taught the four pillars of Japanese martial arts: karate, judo, aikido, and kendo.

He even financed the visit to France of many Japanese and Chinese martial arts experts.

Also located there is his Martial Arts store named 'Budostore', which offers equipments, books, videos, and DVDs.

Along the years, he financed the visits to France of more than 17 Japanese and Chinese martial arts experts, including: Inviting many Japanese masters to France allowed him to learn in continuity from his actual level, instead of starting from the beginning in every school in Japan.

Henry Plée is the author of hundreds of articles and reviews, and has held numerous conferences for 60 years.

Plée, which are known as the quintessence of the original Martial Arts and strongly focused on the awakening of the Human Being.