| | Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan | Karate My Life by Kanazawa Hirokazu (translated by Alex Bennett)Kanazawa Hirokazu's biography, translated by Alex Bennett. One of the most influential karate masters Japan has seen, he has devoted himself to the study and promotion of karate for more than 50 years. Kanazawa Hirokazu was born in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, in 1931. After graduating from Takushoku Universityin 1958, he entered the first intake of the Japan Karate Association's live-in instructor's course. On graduation he became on of the pioneers of karate's globalization, Living and instructing in Hawaii and throughout Europe. In 1978 he formed the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation, which he still heads. He continues to tirelessly promote karate built on the "way of harmony", teaching in more than 100 countries around the world. "The more I know, the more I climb, yet the mountain just gets higher. The more I try, the more I focus, the depth is limitless. There is no end in sight. That is karate, my life." | Book is available on Amazon.com |
| | Kanazawa, 10th Dan: Recollections of a Living Karate Legend - The Early Years (1931-1964) by Dr. Clive LaytonAt a recent seminar in the United Kingdom held by Sensei Kanazawa I obtained a signed copy of this book. For anyone who has had the honour of meeting Kanazawa this is a fascinating read, detailing his life, and his philosophy. Although not a martial arts manual as such, it is more of a biography. But a fascinating look at a fascinating man. And one who has had a great influence on the martial arts, and indeed on myself as one his followers. Great reading for any karateka, especially Shotokan. Even more so, if you have ever met the great man himself. Now in his 70s and 10th Dan. |  |
| Shotokan Karate International Kata Volume 1 - Hirokazu Kanazawa The third of Sensei Kanawaza's books on karate first published in 1981. Sensei defines kata as "the legacy left by masters who created these techniques through gruelling practices, personal encounters, spiritual and emotional experiences." The book is written in English, Japanese, French and German. Sensei provides a clear ethos for kate - "The shodoka (calligrapher) creates art form on white paper with sumi (black ink), likewise Budoka (exponent of the way of martial arts) expresses his personality with his techniques. When performing a Kata, to remain calm and with a clear mind , we must always concentrate and maintain our "Ki" until the last movement . We should co-ordinate the mind and power in each movement with proper breathing." Volume 1 includes descriptions of the five Heian (Pinan) Katas, Tekki Shodan, Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Enpi, Sochin, Meikyo, Ji'in and Gojushiho-dai. | |
| | Shotokan Karate International Kata Volume 2 - Hirokazu Kanazawa "Once every three times the Kata should be performed without any power to learn how to tense and relax the proper muscles." Volume 2 includes descriptions of Jion, Jitte, Hangetsu, Gankaku, Tekki Nidan, Tekki Sandan, Chinte, Bassia-sho, Kanku-sho, Nijushiho, Unsu, Wankan and Gojushiho-sho. | 
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| Shotokan Karate International Kumite Kyohan - Hirokazu Kanazawa Kanazawa is widely recognized as one of the truly great Shotokan practitioners to emerge since as far back as the 1950s. In this book he produces a clear, comprehensive exposition of basic, and indeed not so basic, Kumite. The drills are varied and encourage practitioners to develop a full range of attacks, blocks and counters including a wide range of hip evasion techniques. The text is invaluable to instructors and facilitates the laying down of a firm foundation, as well providing the material to allow this foundation to be built upon. Really this is one of the best books on the market from one of the greatest karateka of them all. | |
| | Dynamic Power of Karate - Hirokazu Kanazawa The author is a senior Shotokan Karate instructor, who was the first winner of the All Japan Karate Championship. The text is solid, and useful in that it explains the goals of this style of karate, developed by Sensei Funakoshi and furthered by Sensei Nakayama. The goal of this style of karate is the perfection of character through hard training. Secondary benefits of this sort of training include strength, flexibility and endurance, and a substantial ability to defend oneself, but those are distinctly secondary goals. The production qualities of the book are excellent; the photographs are large and clear. The book concerns itself primarily with basic technique, and it would be difficult to find a better exemplar of the basic techniques of blocking, punching, striking and kicking than Sensei Kanazawa. | 
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| The Complete Kumite: Karate Fighting Techniques - Hirokazu Kanazawa Hirokazu Kanazawa is the most renowned karate master in the world today, and a close disciple of Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate and founder of the Shotokan school. Having earned his impressive reputation in Hawaii, the mainland United States, and Europe as an official trainer for the Japan Karate Association, Kanazawa founded Shoto-kan Karate-do International Federation (SKIF) in 1979. This association now has branches in more than 90 countries throughout the world. This book is Kanazawa’s first complete guide to kumite, or sparring. The karate training process comprises four areas: basics, kata (forms; prearranged movements and techniques), kumite, and competition. Kumite—"the art of grappling with opponents," as it might be called—is the application of kata, and is the key to success in karate tournaments. Karate Fighting Techniques teaches all the various kumite techniques, and presents a systematic approach to applied kumite that is designed to provide essential information for match-style kumite and tournament kumite. The author also writes with great affection of his experiences with Master Gichin Funakoshi, and offers some insight into the true spirit and teachings of Shotokan karate. With 700 photos of the author, his students, and some rare photos of the late Gichin Funakoshi and his famous disciple Masatoshi Nakayama (author of the popular Best Karate series), Karate Fighting Techniques is the first book of its kind to provide such a comprehensive guide to kumite and its role in Shotokan karate. It will be an indispensable resource for all karate practitioners. | |
| Nunchaku Dynamic Training by Hirokazu Kanazawa One of several traditional Kobudo weapons, the Nunchaku has long been a popular demonstration weapon. Kanazawa interestingly enough, demonstrates with a nunchaku held together with a chain, a' la Bruce Lee. His applications are for the most part traditional Kobudo (old-style weapons). This is NOT a traditionalist trying to cash in on a craze an looking like a fool. It is evident that the author has control and wields his weapon with precision in the photographs. This book is perfect for the weapons buff, or for the Japanese Karate traditionalist who would like to take up kobudo practice. The stances shown here follow suite with Shotokan and tend to be wider. Outside of Motokatsu Inoue's masterful works on kobudo, this is my favorite among English language nunchaku instructional texts. It is specific, the photos are clear and easy to understand, and the descriptions are a help. Like all the books I've seen that were published by Dragon books, a true work of quality. | |
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ESKA Open Day Results Part of the English Shotokan Karate Association 
2006 Calendar
