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Kancho Kanazawa was born in 1931, in Iwate, Japan. He is one of the last direct students of Master Gichin FUNAKOSHI, the famous Okinawan schoolteacher who brought karate to mainland Japan from Okinawa and founded the Shotokan style. Although trained in Judo in his early years, Kanazawa Shihan took up karate whilst at University under the late headmaster of the shotokan style Masatoshi Nakayama (10th Dan). After graduating, in 1956, from Takushoku University in Tokyo, Kanazawa joined the Japan Karate Association (JKA).
He is the only karateka ever to have won the 'All Japan karate Championship' an incredible three times in a row, on one occasion winning the finals whilst nursing a broken wrist from an earlier event. In 1957, he got the 1st place in Kumite during the 1st Championship, while in 1958, on the occasion of the 2nd Championships, he won the 1st place in both Kata and Kumite.
His long career as a Master Instructor began in 1960. Since that time, Kanazawa has earned world wide respect as one of the best and most popular karateka.
In 1963, he acquired the 5th Dan grade and in 1966 the 6th Dan grade. In December, 1977, he became independent from JKA and founded the S.K.I.F.
Since then, he has been travelling throughout the world, bringing with him values, and the highest level karate knowledge. Sensei Kanazawa is one of the few who has gained the title of SHIHAN, (Master)
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