Hirokazu Kanazawa

Congress.* [4] In May 1963, he left Hawaii to teach in

Europe and Japan.* [4] In 1966, Kanazawa became Chief
Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain, and the
JKA promoted him to the rank of 6th dan that year.* [8]
In 1973, the All Japan Karate Federation promoted him
to 7th dan.* [8]

In this Japanese name, the family name is Kanazawa.

Hirokazu Kanazawa ( Kanazawa Hirokazu,

born 3 May 1931) is a world-renowned Japanese master
of Shotokan karate.* [1]* [2]* [3] He is the Chief instructor and President of the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation, an organisation he founded after he left In 1977, Kanazawa left the JKA* [5] and founded
the Japan Karate Association (JKA). Kanazawa is ranked the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation
10th dan in karate.* [3]
(SKIF).* [6] Since then, he has taught and promoted
karate through the SKIF, including the organisation of
several karate world championship competitions.* [8]
Despite leaving the JKA, he is reported to maintain some
1 Early life
ties with former colleagues in that organisation.* [10]
In 1990, Kanazawa demonstrated his art at the 10th
Kanazawa was born on 3 May 1931 in Iwate Prefecture, Traditional Karate Tournament International, held in
Japan.* [4]* [5]* [6] He trained in judo during his school Las Vegas.* [11] In 1994 and 1995, he demonstrated his
years, and held the rank of 2nd dan in that martial art.* [3] art at the 14th and 15th Traditional Karate Tournaments
He began training in karate whilst at Takushoku Univer- International.* [12]* [13]
sity under the then-head instructor of Shotokan karate,
Masatoshi Nakayama.* [5] Kanazawa also learned from Kanazawa has written several books on karate, which in*
the founder of the Shotokan style, Gichin Funakoshi,* [7] clude: Kankudai (1969), [14] Moving Zen: One man's
*
and is one of the few living karateka (practitioners of journey to the heart of Karate (2001, co-authored), [15]
*
Karate: My life (2003), [16] Karate ghting techniques:
karate) to have done so.
The complete kumite (2004, co-authored),* [17] and Black
Kanazawa was promoted to the rank of 1st dan in Belt Karate (2006).* [18] He has been featured in Paul
Shotokan karate with less than two years of training Walker's book, Lessons with the Master: 279 Karate
in the art; promotion to 2nd dan came three years lessons with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa.* [19]
later.* [5] In 1956, he graduated from university and
joined the JKA.* [8] That same year, he was promoted The International Martial Arts Federation promoted
to 3rd dan.* [5] Kanazawa won the inaugural All Japan Kanazawa to 8th dan in 1978, 9th dan in 1988, and 10th
*
Karate Championships kumite (sparring) championship dan in 2001. [20] Within the SKIF, he holds the rank of
*
in 1957.* [9] He reportedly won the kumite competition 8th dan, attained in 1998. [8]
with a broken hand.* [9] That same year, Kanazawa was
among the rst to graduate from the JKA's instructor
training programme. In 1958, Kanazawa won the kata 3 See also
(patterns) title and shared the kumite title with Takayuki
Mikami.* [9] Mikami and Kanazawa had been classmates
List of Shotokan organizations
and roommates for a long time and, because they knew
each other well, they launched a minimal number of attacks, mainly just circling until the time was up; thus, they
shared the kumite title.* [9]
4 References

[1] Goodman, F. (2004): The practical encyclopedia of martial arts (p. 50). London: Lorenz Books. (ISBN 978-07548-1468-9)

Promoting Shotokan across the

world

[2] Smit, S. (2008): Karate (2nd ed.) (p. 21). London: New
Holland. (ISBN 978-1-8477-3150-0)

In January 1961, the JKA sent Kanazawa to Hawaii to

establish karate schools there.* [4] He was ranked 5th dan
at the time.* [8] He established a dojo (training hall) and
served as the inaugural President of the Hawaii Karate

[3] Fightingmaster.com: Hirokazu Kanazawa, Shihan, 10th

Dan Retrieved on 18 February 2010.

[4] Hawaii Karate Seinenkai: Hirokazu Kanazawa Retrieved

on 19 February 2010.
[5] The Shotokan Way: Hirokazu Kanazawa prole Retrieved
on 18 February 2010.
[6] Seishin Shotokan Karate: Hirokazu Kanazawa Retrieved
on 18 February 2010.
[7] Layton, C. (2001): Kanazawa, 10th Dan: Recollections
of a living Karate legend The early years (19311964).
Eneld, UK: Shoto. (ISBN 978-0-9530-2876-4)
[8] Shotokan Karate-Do International Yudansha-Kai: Biography of Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa Retrieved on 19
February 2010.
[9] Shotokan Karate-do International Federation of Belgium:
Kanazawa Kancho (2009). Retrieved on 19 February
2010.
[10] Ivan, D., & Ivan, D. (1987):Hirokazu Kanazawa: Prole
of a Shotokan specialist.Black Belt, 25(5):2024.
[11] Coleman, J. (1990):Las Vegas tourney features a wealth
of talent.Black Belt, 28(8):2627.
[12]14th Annual Traditional Karate Tournament International(advertisement in February 1994).Black Belt,
32(2):70.
[13]15th Annual Traditional Karate Tournament International(advertisement in April 1995).
Black Belt,
33(4):149.
[14] Kanazawa, H. (1969): Kankudai. London: Paul H.
Crompton. (ISBN 978-0-9017-6402-7)
[15] Nicol, C. W., Ikeda, M., & Kanazawa, H. (2001): Moving
Zen: One man's journey to the heart of Karate. Tokyo:
Kodansha International. (ISBN 978-4-7700-2755-9)
[16] Kanazawa, H. (2003): Karate: My life. Singapore: Kendo
World Publications. (ISBN 978-4-9901-6942-8)
[17] Kanazawa, H., & Berger, R. (2004): Karate ghting techniques: The complete kumite. Tokyo: Kodansha International. (ISBN 978-4-7700-2872-3)
[18] Kanazawa, H. (2006): Black Belt Karate. Tokyo: Kodansha International. (ISBN 978-4-7700-2775-7)
[19] Walker, P. A. (2007): Lessons with the Master: 279 Karate
lessons with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa. New York: iUniverse. (ISBN 0-595-41952-6)
[20] Yamakai Karate: Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa (c. 2006).
Retrieved on 7 March 2013.

External links
Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

6.1

Text

Hirokazu Kanazawa Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirokazu_Kanazawa?oldid=685099796 Contributors: Yas~enwiki, El C, Alai,

JeremyA, Shikai shaw, Rjwilmsi, Hede2000, Shawnc, PRehse, SmackBot, Nihonjoe, Simon123, Dreadstar, Maelnuneb, SashatoBot, CmdrObot, AgentPeppermint, RogueNinja, .anacondabot, Yarnbell333, Jmcw37, Davecrosby uk, Rei-bot, Charlesdrakew, UnitedStatesian,
SieBot, Oda Mari, Kwib, Janggeom, Martarius, MastaFighta, Maniac18, Old good days..., PixelBot, Lwtmauthor, Addbot, Arunlee, Favonian, SpBot, Lightbot, Vegaswikian1, Luckas-bot, Rubinbot, Kingpin13, ArthurBot, Jjskarate, Ertezoute, Plasticspork, Docvasi, EmausBot,
SporkBot, ClueBot NG, Yukyou, VIAFbot, KasparBot and Anonymous: 33

6.2

Images

File:SKI_Kata_Vol_1.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/SKI_Kata_Vol_1.jpg License: ? Contributors: ?

Original artist: ?

6.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0