One of the world's most renowned and respected karate masters alive, Kanazawa Shihan is the only karateka ever to have won the notorious 'All Japan Karate Championships' an incredible three times in a row. On one occasion he won in the finals whilst nursing a broken wrist from an earlier event. In recent years, his eldest son, Nobuaki, has preserved the family reputation by winning the current All Japan Championships. However Kancho's karate emphazise the budo art rather than sport karate, he carries on the spirit and techniques of his teacher, Gichin Funakoshi - the father of modern day karate and Shotokan.
Hirokazu Kanazawa was born in 1931 in Iwate prefecture, Japan. He took up karate whilst at Takushoku University (following several years of Judo training), the young Kanazawa became the protegé of the late headmaster of the Shotokan style, Matsatoshi Nakayama and after graduating he became an instructor for the Japan Karate Association. He is one of the few remaining karateka privileged to have studied under Master Gichin Funakoshi.
In addition to Kanazawa Shihan's mastery of karate-do and expertise with various traditional weaponry, he also has a very extensive knowledge of the Chinese art of Tai-Chi, having studied it under Professor Wong for more than thirty years.
Currently, Kanazawa Shihan is both Chairman and World Chief Instructor of the world's largest Shotokan Karate organisation, the Shotokan Karate-do International Federation. Having earned his impressive reputation in Hawaii, mainland United States and Europe as an official trainer for the Japan Karate Association, Kanazawa founded Shotokan Karate-do International Federation in 1979. The federation has in excess of two and a half million members worldwide, in one hundred and twenty countries (at the last count). Kanazawa Shihan is currently the only living Shotokan karate Master in the world to hold the highest grade of 10th Dan. 10th Dan is the highest grade possible to achieve in Shotokan and the majority of martial arts, Shihan Kanazawa is a true master of karate-do and clearly deserves his title of Shihan. Although having such a formidable pedigree and being accorded legendary status, Kanazawa Shihan is also extremely charismatic but easily approachable being a natural teacher and communicator, he chooses to spend individual time with as many of his students as is possible. Demand for his services, world-wide is extremely great and his schedule is extremely intense and we are most fortunate and honored to have this Shotokan Legend include us on his itinerary. It is also an honor to be able to have the chance to train with other highly respected SKIF instructors that are world champions and highly respected masters, including Manabu Murakami, Ryusho Suzuki and Fumitoshi and Nobuaki Kanazawa to name a few.
One of the world's most renowned and respected karate masters alive, Kanazawa Shihan is the only karateka ever to have won the notorious 'All Japan Karate Championships' an incredible three times in a row. On one occasion he won in the finals whilst nursing a broken wrist from an earlier event. In recent years, his eldest son, Nobuaki, has preserved the family reputation by winning the current All Japan Championships. However Kancho's karate emphazise the budo art rather than sport karate, he carries on the spirit and techniques of his teacher, Gichin Funakoshi - the father of modern day karate and Shotokan.
