Hirokazu Kanazawa Kancho

 
 
 
 

One of the world's most renowned and respected traditional karate masters alive is Kanazawa Kancho, 10th Dan.  He is the first karateka to have won the notorious All Japan Karate Championship in 1957 as the kumite champion.  In 1958 he was the kumite and kata champion.   On one occasion he won the finals whilst nursing a broken wrist from an earlier event.

 

Although trained in Judo in his early years, Kanazawa Kancho took up karate whilst at University under the late headmaster of JKA Shotokan, Sensei Matsatoshi Nakayama. Kanazawa Kancho is also one of the few remaining karateka privileged to have studied under Master Gichin Funakoshi, the famous Okinawin school teacher who brought karate to mainland Japan from Okinawa and founded the Shotokan style.

 

In 1978, Kanazawa Kancho set up SKIF (Shotokan Karatedo International Federation). SKIF is now the world's largest Shotokan Karate Association under one chief instructor, having over 3.5 million members in over 107 countries.  

1931

Born in Iwate, Japan

1956

Graduated from Takushoku University and joined Japan Karate Association

1957

Kumite Champion at the 1st JKA All Japan Championship Tournament

1958

Kumite and Kata Champion at the 2nd JKA All Japan Championship

1961

Chief Instructor in Hawaii, USA, Godan (5th Dan), JKA

1966

Chief Instructor of Karate Union of Great Britain, Rokudan (6th Dan), JKA

1967

Chief Instructor of JKA Europe & German Karate Federation

1968

General Manager of the European team at the World Championship in Mexico

1971

Nana-Dan (7thDan), JKA, Director & General Manager of International Division of JKA. Shihan at Musashikogyo, Kantogakuin and Kitasato Universities.

1972

General Manager of the Japanese Team at the 2nd WUKO Championship in Paris, France

1973

Nana-Dan (7th Dan), All Japan Karate Federation

1976

Referee 1st IAKF World Championship in Los Angeles Referee JKA, Asia-Oceania Championship in Hong Kong

1977

Left JKA and established Shotokan Karatedo International

1978

Hachi-Dan (8thDan), International Martial Arts Federation

1983

Chairman, 1st SKIF World Championship in Tokyo, Japan

1985

Chairman, 2nd SKIF World Championship in Dusseldorf, West Germany

1988

Kyu-Dan (9th Dan), International Martial Arts Federation Chairman, 3rd SKIF World Championship in Utsunomiya, Japan

1991

Chairman, 4th SKIF World Championship in Mexico-City, Mexico

1994

Chairman, 5th SKIF World Championship in Yokohama, Japan

1997

Chairman, 6th SKIF World Championship in Milan, Italy

2000

Chairman, 7th SKIF World Championship in Bali, Indonesia

2003

Chairman, 8th SKIF World Championship in Durban, South Africa

2006

President, 9th SKIF World Championship in Tokyo, Japan

Present

Supreme Instructor and President of Shotokan Karatedo International Federation (Specified Non Profit Organization)

 

  

In addition to Kanazawa Kancho's mastery of karate-do and experience with the various traditional weapons he also has a very extensive knowledge of Chinese martial arts of Tai-Chi, having studied it to its conclusion under Professor Wong for more than 30 years. Currently Kanazawa Kancho is both Chairman and World Chief Instructor of the world's largest Shotokan Karate organisation. He is currently the only living Shotokan master to hold the grade of 10th Dan.
 
 

double dragon shotokan karate