Hirokazu Kanazawa

was a Japanese master of Shotokan karate.Goodman, F. (2004): ''The practical encyclopedia of martial arts'' (p. 50). London: Lorenz Books. ()Smit, S. (2008): ''Karate'' (2nd ed.) (p. 21). London: New Holland. ()Fightingmaster.com: Hirokazu Kanazawa, Shihan, 10th Dan
Retrieved on 18 February 2010. He was the Chief instructor and President of the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation, an organisation he founded after he left the Japan Karate Association (JKA). Kanazawa was ranked 10th '' dan'' in Shotokan Karate.

Early life

Kanazawa was born on 3 May 1931 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.Hawaii Karate Seinenkai: Hirokazu Kanazawa
Retrieved on 19 February 2010.
Retrieved on 18 February 2010.
Retrieved on 18 February 2010. He trained in judo during his school years, and held the rank of 2nd ''dan'' in that martial art. He began training in karate whilst at Takushoku University under the then-head instructor of Shotokan karate, Masatoshi Nakayama. Kanazawa also learned from the founder of the Shotokan style, Gichin Funakoshi,Layton, C. (2001): ''Kanazawa, 10th Dan: Recollections of a living Karate legend – The early years (1931–1964)''. Enfield, UK: Shoto. () and was one of the last living ''karateka'' (practitioners of karate) to have done so.

Kanazawa was promoted to the rank of 1st ''dan'' in Shotokan karate with less than two years of training in the art; promotion to 2nd ''dan'' came three years later. In 1956, he graduated from university and joined the JKA.Shotokan Karate-Do International Yudansha-Kai: Biography of Kancho – Hirokazu Kanazawa
Retrieved on 19 February 2010. That same year, he was promoted to 3rd ''dan''. Kanazawa won the inaugural All Japan Karate Championship's ''kumite'' (sparring) championship in 1957.Shotokan Karate-do International Federation of Belgium: Kanazawa Kancho
(2009). Retrieved on 19 February 2010. He reportedly won the ''kumite'' competition with a broken hand. That same year, Kanazawa was among the first to graduate from the JKA's instructor training programme. In 1958, Kanazawa won the ''kata'' (patterns) title and shared the ''kumite'' title with Takayuki Mikami. Mikami and Kanazawa had been classmates 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.

Promoting Shotokan across the world

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 left the JKA and founded the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF). Since then, he taught and promoted karate through the SKIF, including the organisation of several karate world championship competitions. Despite leaving the JKA, he was reported to maintain some ties with former colleagues in that organisation.Ivan, D., & Ivan, D. (1987): "Hirokazu Kanazawa: Profile of a Shotokan specialist." ''Black Belt'', 25(5):20–24. In 1990, Kanazawa demonstrated his art at the 10th Traditional Karate Tournament International, held in Las Vegas.Coleman, J. (1990): "Las Vegas tourney features a wealth of talent." ''Black Belt'', 28(8):26–27. In 1994 and 1995, he demonstrated his art at the 14th and 15th Traditional Karate Tournaments International."14th Annual Traditional Karate Tournament International" (advertisement in February 1994).''Black Belt'', 32(2):70."15th Annual Traditional Karate Tournament International" (advertisement in April 1995). ''Black Belt'', 33(4):149.

Kanazawa wrote several books on karate, which include: ''Kankudai'' (1969),Kanazawa, H. (1969): ''Kankudai''. London: Paul H. Crompton. () ''Moving Zen: One man's journey to the heart of Karate'' (2001, co-authored),Nicol, C. W., Ikeda, M., & Kanazawa, H. (2001): ''Moving Zen: One man's journey to the heart of Karate''. Tokyo: Kodansha International. () ''Karate: My life'' (2003),Kanazawa, H. (2003): ''Karate: My life''. Singapore: Kendo World Publications. () ''Karate fighting techniques: The complete kumite'' (2004, co-authored),Kanazawa, H., & Berger, R. (2004): ''Karate fighting techniques: The complete kumite''. Tokyo: Kodansha International. () and ''Black Belt Karate'' (2006).Kanazawa, H. (2006): ''Black Belt Karate''. Tokyo: Kodansha International. () He was featured in Paul Walker's book, ''Lessons with the Master: 279 Karate lessons with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa''.Walker, P. A. (2007): ''Lessons with the Master: 279 Karate lessons with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa''. New York: iUniverse. ()

The International Martial Arts Federation promoted Kanazawa to 8th ''dan'' in 1978, 9th ''dan'' in 1988, and 10th ''dan'' in 2000.Retrieved on 19 July 2016.
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See also

* List of Shotokan organizations

References

External links

Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation

Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (Japanese)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanazawa, Hirokazu
1931 births
2019 deaths
Japanese male karateka
Karate coaches
Martial arts school founders
Martial arts writers
Sportspeople from Iwate Prefecture
Shotokan practitioners
20th-century philanthropists