AJJIF LEGENDS
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AJJIF KARATE LEGEND
HIROKAZU KANAZAWA KANCHO ( 1931 - 2019 ) One of the worlds most renowned and respected traditional karate masters in modern times. He won the notorious All Japan karate Championship, Kumite championship in 1957 and in 1958 won, the Kata and Kumite Titles. Kanazawa was born on 3 May 1931 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. He trained in judo during his school years, and held the rank of 2nd dan in that art. He began training in karate at Takushoku University. Kanazawa soon became the protege of the late headmaster of the Shotokan style, Matsatoshi Nakayama (10th Dan). |
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Kanazawa is 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.Kanazawa was among the first to graduate from the JKA's instructor training programme. In January 1961, the JKA sent Kanazawa to Hawaii to establish karate schools there.
He was ranked 5th dan at the time. He established a dojo (training hall) and served as the inaugural President of the Hawaii Karate Congress. In May 1963, he left Hawaii to teach in Europe and Japan. 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. In 1973, the All Japan Karate Federation
promoted him to 7th dan.
In 1977, Kanazawa founded the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF). Since then, he was taught and promoted karate through the SKIF. The International Martial Arts Federation promoted Kanazawa to 8th dan in 1978, 9th dan in 1988, and 10th dan in 2002. Kanazawa has written several books on karate, which include: Kankudai (1969), Moving Zen: One man's journey to the heart of Karate (2001), Karate: My life (2003), Karate fighting techniques: The complete kumite (2004) and Black Belt Karate (2006). He has featured in Paul Walker's book, Lessons with the Master: 279 Karate lessons with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa.
" My philosophy is that I try always to be true to myself and to others ... I can say that I fear nothing - not even death, and this I do not say in a big-headed or conceited way. My meaning is that I always try my best in everything I do, so I will be satisfied when I do die - I think the reason that people fear death is because they want to do and accomplish so many other things that are still undone . . . they always want to do more. Also, I truly believe that life continues after physical death - all life continues ... life is a circle ".
- Master Hirokazu Kanazawa.
He was ranked 5th dan at the time. He established a dojo (training hall) and served as the inaugural President of the Hawaii Karate Congress. In May 1963, he left Hawaii to teach in Europe and Japan. 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. In 1973, the All Japan Karate Federation
promoted him to 7th dan.
In 1977, Kanazawa founded the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF). Since then, he was taught and promoted karate through the SKIF. The International Martial Arts Federation promoted Kanazawa to 8th dan in 1978, 9th dan in 1988, and 10th dan in 2002. Kanazawa has written several books on karate, which include: Kankudai (1969), Moving Zen: One man's journey to the heart of Karate (2001), Karate: My life (2003), Karate fighting techniques: The complete kumite (2004) and Black Belt Karate (2006). He has featured in Paul Walker's book, Lessons with the Master: 279 Karate lessons with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa.
" My philosophy is that I try always to be true to myself and to others ... I can say that I fear nothing - not even death, and this I do not say in a big-headed or conceited way. My meaning is that I always try my best in everything I do, so I will be satisfied when I do die - I think the reason that people fear death is because they want to do and accomplish so many other things that are still undone . . . they always want to do more. Also, I truly believe that life continues after physical death - all life continues ... life is a circle ".
- Master Hirokazu Kanazawa.
This is the Official website of the AJJIF GLOBAL
ALL JAPAN JU-JITSU INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
WORLD JU-JITSU GOVERNING BODY
全日本柔術国際連盟
ALL JAPAN JU-JITSU INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
WORLD JU-JITSU GOVERNING BODY
全日本柔術国際連盟
