Funakoshi Gichin was born on Nov 10, 1868 in Yamakawa, Shuri, Okinawa Prefecture . He was of samurai lineage, from a family which in former times had been vassals of Ryukyu Dynasty nobles.

By age 11 he had already made a name for himself in Ryukyu-style martial arts. Beginning his training under Master Azato Anko, it wasn't long before he equaled his master in ability, and shared with him the distinction of being the “most accomplished” martial artist in the field. He also learned karate-jutsu from Master Itosu Anko. Both his teachers were impressed by his nobility of character.

As over the years he pursued his training and continuously developed his remarkable skills, Master Funakoshi became chairman of the Okinawa Martial Arts Society, as well as an instructor at the Okinawa Teacher's School. Then in 1922, when he was 54 years old, he intro-

duced Okinawan karate-jutsu at the first Ministry of Education (now Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture)-sponsored Physical Education Exhibition. This introduction, the first ever public display of karate-jutsu in Japan , was a stunning success. And the previously unknown martial artist Funakoshi Gichin rose to instant fame throughout the Japanese world of martial arts.

Immediately the founder of modern judo, Kano Jigoro, invited Master Funakoshi and his pupil Gima Shinkin to the Kodokan judo dojo to give a demonstration of kata. The highly-attended event filled the Kodokan dojo to capacity. It was so well-received that Master Funakoshi found himself pressed on all sides to stay in Tokyo .

Excited by the opportunity to further promote the martial art that he had done so much to introduce to Japan , Master Funakoshi subsequently began teaching it at Tokyo 's Meiseijuku, a dormitory for Okinawan students there. In 1922, he published a book entitled “Ryukyu Kempo Karate.” It was the first formal exposition in Japan on the art of karate-jutsu. Not only were its contents fresh and novel, it was also beautifully written, and immediately created an unprecedented karate boom.

As the popularity of karate-jutsu began to spread, Master Funakoshi produced the first ever “Dan Ranking Certification” in April, 1924.

Around the same time, with the encouragement of his teacher of Buddhism, Abbot Furukawa Gyodo of Enkakuji Temple in Kamakura , Master Funakoshi started practicing Zen. He contemplated the well-known Buddhist teaching that says “form is emptiness and emptiness is form.” He began to see the relevance of that teaching to his martial

art, and ultimately changed the characters for karate from kara + te (“Chinese” + “hand”) to kara + te (“empty” + “hand”).

Then, in order to popularize the “local” Okinawan martial art in the rest of Japan , Master Funakoshi synthesized a complete system of techniques and theory, and changed the Chinese and Okinawan names of the kata into standard Japanese. In 1929, after much thought and reflection, he also changed the name of karate-jutsu (“Chinese-hand martial art”) to karate-do (“the way of karate,” or “the way of the empty hand”). He then defined the Twenty Precepts of Karate, and established a grand karate philosophy.

At last the way of karate had come into its own, and was gaining popularity all across Japan . The number of people wishing to begin training was growing daily—so much so that it became difficult to find a place for them to practice. So in 1939 Master Funakoshi established the “Shotokan” dojo, which he built at his own expense. (“Shoto” was the literary first name he used when doing calligraphy and writing poetry. “Shoto” means “Pine Waves,” and refers to the sound of wind blowing through the pines, which resembles the sound of ocean waves.)

By this time, Master Funakoshi had long been teaching karate to high-school and university students. As a result, karate clubs had sprung up at higher education institutions all over Japan—which is another reason why karate has become as respected as it is today.

In the air raids of World War II, the Shotokan dojo was destroyed, and the growth of karate came to a halt. But after the war, followers of Funakoshi's way re-grouped, and in 1949 they formed the Japan Karate Association, with Funakoshi Gichin as Supreme Master.

On April 10, 1957 , the Ministry of Education gave official recognition to the JKA, and it became a legal entity. A mere sixteen days later, at the age of 89, Master Funakoshi passed away. A large public memorial service was held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan (Ryogoku National Sumo Hall), attended by more than 20,000 people, including many famous names who came to pay their respects.

A memorial monument to Master Funakoshi was established at Enkakuji Temple in Kamakura . Members of the JKA pay an honorary visit on April 29th each year, the date of the Shoto Festival.

Niju Kun

Jigoro Kano was born in 1860 in Kobe , Japan into a wealthy family. In 1877, as a college student he studied Tenshin-Shinyo Jujitsu under Hachinosuke Fukuda and Masatomo Iso. Fukuda gave Jigoro Kano a heavy iron rod which Kano used to practice bojitsu techniques (stick fighting).

After very hard workouts Kano massaged his aching body with a strong foul smelling liniment which he prepared himself. The other students in the dojo referred to him as " Kano the Odoriferous". Fukuda died in 1880 at 52 years of age. Jigoro Kano, his student, tried to keep his dojo open, but realized he needed more training.

Kano then began his studies of Kito-Ryu under Tsunetoshi Iikubo. The Kito-Ryu emphasized nagewaza (throwing techiniques). These techniques complemented the grappling techniques of Tenshin-Shinyo Ryu.

In 1882 Kano founded Kodokan Judo. His system of martial arts (Judo) all but replaced the parent arts of jujitsu in Japan . Kano , was an educator and was successful in introducing Judo into the Japanese school system.

Kano traveled the world spreading judo to many nations. He visited the dojo of George Yoshida in New York City in 1920, 1936 and 1938. In 1924, Kano awarded a sandan to Henry Seishiro Okazaki, the founder of Danzan-Ryu.

Kano died in 1938 on board the ship SS Hikawa Maru on a return voyage from Cairo where he had met with an Olympic committee. It was his dream to have judo in the Olympic games.

According to the Chinese calendar, 1940 was the Year of the Dragon. A Cantonese film actor named Lee Hoi Chun was performing in San Francisco accompanied by his pregnant wife Grace. By November, Grace had gone into labour and was taken to hospital, but her husband continued on to New York to perform there. On the 27th of November, 1940 , at the Jackson Street hospital, Grace gave birth to a baby boy.

He was named Lee Jun Fan, which meant "To Return Again". The child would return to his place of birth someday. The doctor attending the arrival gave the child the English name Bruce... And the legend was born !!

At the age of 6, Bruce started to appear in numerous Chinese films. His first film was called "A beginning of a boy." As he made more films it was decided that he should star in a film with his father. The film was called "My Son Ah Cheun". Bruce had a bigger role than his father. In each film he played a problem child, always stealing and fighting. He made at least 20 of these Cantonese films including "Black Boy Jungle" and "Boys on the Street".

When Bruce was 14, he got beaten up in a street fight. So, after discussing the matter with his mother he decided to learn martial arts and develop his physique and self defense abilities.

Most people think that Bruce was born muscular. It was actually totally the opposite; he was always rather frail as a child and never ate well even when he returned to the U.S in 1958. Only through constant training and proper eating did he build himself up into the super-human physical specimen that he was to become. Bruce was never to lose a single fight ever again!!

Although his father had him wielding a sword at 6, his first REAL teacher was the Wing Chun master, Sifu Yip Man. Bruce became obsessed with the whole concept of Wing Chun and soon became very good. One of the Wing Chun training methods was the wooden dummy - A training device which builds both speed and focus. Another one of his teachers was Siu Hon Sung, a kung fu expert. Bruce had been learning Cha Cha dancing and offered to trade his knowledge of it for some of his kung fu lessons. It would normally take 3 weeks to learn 30 kung fu moves, but Bruce mastered them in only 3 nights. Siu Hon Sung never did learn any Cha Cha!

In 1958 Bruce became the Hong Kong Cha Cha champion. He then made 2 more Cantonese films, "The Orphan" and "Thunderstorm". Thunderstorm is the only film where he didn't have a single fight, although there are certain confrontations.

As time passed, Bruce would fight in the streets trying to see just how good he was. Eventually the police warned his mother Grace, that if it didn`t stop, Bruce would be Arrested. So in April 1958, his father gave him $100 US and sent him to San Francisco (his place of birth) with the hope that Bruce would change and become more responsible.

He boarded a boat and left. He made a little more money on the way there giving Cha Cha lessons to his fellow passengers.

In San Francisco Bruce lived with his fathers friend, Ruby Chow, who owned a restaurant. Bruce worked in the restaurant while living in the attic.

After he finished High School, he was still constantly training and developing his skill in the martial arts. For Bruce it wasn't enough to be just a good martial artist, he had to be the BEST.

Bruce grew tired of the restaurant and headed for Seattle to study Philosophy at the University of Washington .

In 1959, he met a fellow Asian called Taki Kimura. He was twice Bruce's age and had suffered many years of racial abuse. Bruce persuaded him to take pride in his Asian identity and taught him martial arts. Another student was Roy Hollingsworth. Eventually they suggested that he open a school to make money.

In Hong Kong , kung fu was a secret Chinese weapon and was never taught to any non-Chinese person, but Bruce welcomed ANYONE who was interested in learning what he had to teach. In his opinion the Chinese people were not the only worthy persons to learn this great art, and so he broke the racial barriers that had been forged over time!!

In 1961 while teaching some fellow university students Bruce met a young girl called Linda Emery. They soon fell in love and got married... Later, their son Brandon was born, followed a couple of years later by Shannon .

In 1963, Bruce wrote a book called "Chinese Kung Fu". It was incredibly detailed with precise drawings.

In 1964, at a Karate tournament hosted by Ed Parker, Bruce demonstrated his abilities to a large audience... At Long Beach , with Taki Kimura as his assistant, he showed off his 2 finger press ups and his legendary one inch punch.

A noted television producer who was really impressed by Bruce's intensity and focus approached him and a screen test was arranged. This lead to his playing the role of Kato in the Green Hornet series which was filmed in 1965. After the Green Hornet, Bruce opened up another kung fu school called "Lee Jun Fan, Gung fu institute".

In 1967, Bruce starred in "A Man Called Ironside", as a martial arts instructor, Bruce always did his own stunts as well. He then filmed 12 episodes of "Longstreet", a short series where he teaches a guy his new Jeet Kune Do technique. This was a great idea that would let Bruce show the world his new technique.

He became more and more interested in making a Hollywood movie and wanted to make more money than Steve McQueen per film... This Bruce eventually did achieve!!

Bruce didn't drink, so the characters he played didn't drink either. He always showed himself like he was in real life. "The Way of the Dragon" is the best example of Bruce in real life. In the only bedroom scene he ever filmed in "The Big Boss", a prostitute gets him drunk and takes him back to her place, only to watch him then fall asleep.

In Nepal Bruce saw a Bigota (Tall Tower). This gave him the idea for "Game of Death". Bruce only filmed 1/3 of this film before being interrupted to film the eventual Hollywood smash hit "Enter the Dragon".

"Game of Death" was completed in 1978 after Bruce`s death. The story line is changed and Bruce only appears for 10 minutes at the end. This is footage from the Tower version, which he had intended. The first 95% of the film is NOT the missing scenes!!

On the 10th May 1973, the trouble for Bruce Lee had begun. While dubbing the sound effects for "Enter the Dragon", he passed out for a whole half an hour. He went to the hospital, and was prescribed the drug Manatol. It was used to reduce an apparent brain swelling.

On July 20th 1973 , Bruce had arranged to meet Raymond Chow along with actress Betty Ting Pei who would star in "Game of Death". He stopped off at Betty`s house and told her that he had a headache. She gave him an Aquagesic (a painkiller that she regularly used ). Bruce laid down in her bed and went to sleep. During his sleep, the brain swelling returned and triggered an allergy to the painkiller called a cerebral edema.

Later Betty tried to wake him but couldn't. Panicking, she called Raymond Chow, who came over and called the doctor. Bruce was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth hospital, barely alive. The ambulance crew was fighting to resuscitate him, but Bruce was pronounced "dead on arrival".

To this day many Bruce Lee Imitators have tried to be just like him, but have all just faded. Maybe a star like Jackie Chan can rise to the limits, but even Jackie Chan doesn't claim to be the new Bruce Lee. There will never be a NEW Bruce Lee.

July 27th, 1923 , born in Southern Korea .
Learns Chinese Fist of Chakuriki in the land of Manchuria when he was 9 years old.
1938, becomes student under Master Gichin Funakoshi of Shotokan Karate.
1946, enters the mountain for training.
1947, becomes the champion of All Japan Karate-do Tournament.
He studies Goju-ryu Karate extensively under Master Gogen Yamaguchi, and becomes Vice Chairman in the organization, holding 9th Dan degree.
1948, enters the mountain alone for 18 months of training.

1950, starts training against the live bulls, living beside the cattle butchery. Out of 47 bulls, 4 killed in instant.
1952, visits America for Karate instructions and demonstrations in 32 locations. Has 7 times of real matches.
1953, visits America , he fights against a bull in Chicago , where he breaks its horn by Shuto strike (knife hand).
1955, goes all around South America and Europe with Bepford Davy, President of Chrysler Corp. He fights numerous mix matches.
1956, starts small Oyama Dojo at an old ballet studio.
1957, fights against a bull in Mexico City .
1958 January, publishes "What is Karate" which becomes a best seller of 500,000 copies.
September, invited by FBI in Washington D.C. for Karate instructions and demonstrations.
October, invited by West Point Military Academy for Karate instructions and demonstrations.
1964, Thai Boxing challenges Karate-do, where Oyama Dojo alone accepts. 3 matches 2 wins.
1971, though a popular comic book series "Karate Baka Ichidai," and the movie "World's Strongest Karate" in 1975, his name and of Kyokushin become known all over Japan.
1975, helds Kyokushin Kai's First World Karate-do Open Tournament.
April 26, 1994 . Dies of lung cancer at the age of 70.

The beginning of Kyokushin

The current World Headquarters were officially opened in June 1964, where the name Kyokushin, meaning "Ultimate truth" was adopted. In the same year the International Karate Organization (IKO) was established. From then, Kyokushin continued to spread to more than 120 countries, and registered members exceed 10 million making it one of the largest martial arts organisations in the world. Among the the better known Kyokushin yudansha (black belts) are Sean Connery (Honorary shodan), Dolph Lundgren (sandan, former Australian heavyweight champion), and President Nelson Mandela of South Africa (Honorary hachidan), and most recently (June 1988), the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard (Honorary godan) who was awarded the grade at the official opening of the Sydney Kyokushin dojo.

Kenwa Mabuni (1889 - 1952) was born in Shuri, Okinawa and was a weak, frail child. Considered by many to be the "guru" of Karate, he originated the Shito Ryu style, which combines the influences of Shorei Ryu and Shorin Ryu.

When Kenwa Mabuni moved to Osaka , his style was called Hanko Ryu (half-soft style), before he officially founded Shito Ryu, when the 4 main styles of karate were introduced to the Dai Nippon Butokukai.

The word Shito was Mabuni's way of honoring his two greatest teachers: Higashioona [shi], who taught Naha-te style, and Itosu [to], who taught Shuri-te style.

Mabuni first trained with Itosu, from age 13 to 27, with whom he became proficient with such weapons as the bo and sai. At 20, Mabuni began to train with Higashioona of Naha, a shorei-ryu master who brought from China most of the Naha-Te kata (kururunfa, seiun chin, so chin.) popularized by Goju Ryu. Kiyoda Juhatsu, a student of Miyayi's, was one of 3 men in history to train with two leading masters of the art at their time. The other to men to train with these masters were Toyama (1888-1966) and Gusukuma Shimpan (1890-1954).

Mabuni also trained under Arakaki. In 1913, at the age of 23, he joined civil law enforcement and became a detective. Then he met Arakaki Seisho, who did a lot of traveling as an interpreter for the Government, and his student Tuuji Pechin (1840-1920), who taught Higaonna. During his travels Arakaki learned Niseishi and Unsu from the Fuzhou Province and brought them over with him. Pechin first taught Higaonna before he moved to Kojo. (Kojo family - Matsuhiga). Kenwa Mabuni also studied with Suishi and Tawada.

In 1927, Mabuni demonstrates karate for Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. The ranks in karate came from kendo and the belts ranking system and gi (uniform) came from Jigoro Kano.

At 37 years of age, Mabuni opens his first dojo. He founded it with Choyun Miyagi, and called it the Chinese Martial Arts Research Society of Okinawa. His home was considered a mecca for karate. Choyun Miyagi was the founder of Goju Ryu.

Kenwa Mabuni's synthesis of the teachings of many of the greatest martial artists of his time resulted in an extraordinarily extensive system of 54 kata. His system was passed to Kuniba Sr., who taught Kuniba Jr., who taught Chuzo Kotaka, who taught Sensei Castilonia, the founder of our Aoinagi School .

Fumio Demura-Sakagami Ha, Minobu Miki-Hayashi Ha and Mabuni's two sons Kanei and Kenzo among others, carry other branches of Shito Ryu forward. These compose the branches of Shito-Ryu today. Mabuni studied and analyzed many, many kata and he wrote many books on kata (in Japanese).

Mabuni's Five principles of strategy
1. Rakka (Dropping Flower): power is generated by sudden impact
2. Ryu Shui (Running water): blending (be like water)
3. Kusshin: vertical maneuvering (up and down)
4. Teni (change): by initiating, manipulating mai (critical distance), or tai sabaki (body shifting) [ten = change; teni = changing]
5. Han Geki: countering

Kenwa Mabuni is quoted as saying, "Those who master Karate understand the importance of cooperating with the infinite rather than continuing to resist the inevitable."

Hironori Ohtsuka was born on 1st June 1892 in Shimodate City , Ibaragi , Japan . He was the first son, and the second of four children, of Dr. Tokujuro Ohtsuka, a Doctor of Medicine. Ohtsuka Sensei was first introduced to martial arts by his great uncle, Chojiro Ebashi, a samurai warrior, who began teaching him Jujitsu. This marked the starting point of his life-long fascination with the martial arts.

On the 1st April, 1897 , Ohtsuka Sensei started school where he studied Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu , under the supervision of  his father.

Later, when he was 13, he studied the style under Shinzaburo Nakayama Sensei, the third Grand Master of this style of Jujitsu. Unlike the other schools of jujitsu at the time, Yoshin Ryu specialised in kicking and punching techniques in addition to  throwing, twisting and locking techniques. Ohtsuka Sensei continued to study the style whilst at Waseda University from 1910 to 1917. He also studied different styles of Jujitsu, concentrating on their positive aspects. In doing so, Ohtsuka Sensei learned a great deal about the body's vital points for both attacking and healing purposes.

In 1922, Ohtsuka Sensei attended the sports festival in Tokoyo, where he encountered Karate taught by Gichin Funakoshi , a Karate instructor from Okinawa , and a man widely held as the "Father of Modern Karate". Ohtsuka Sensei was so impressed with this that he visited Funakoshi Sensei on numerous occasions during his stay. Funakoshi Sensei was, in turn, impressed by Ohtsuka's enthusiasm and determination to understand Karate and agreed to teach him all he knew about it. In the following years, Ohtsuka Sensei set up a medical practice dealing with martial arts injuries. His prowess in martial arts had led him to be the Chief Instructor of Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu at the age of just 30, and an assistant instructor at Funakoshi Sensei's dojo.

By 1929, Ohtsuka Sensei was a registered member of the Japan Martial Arts Federation. At this time, Okinawan Karate only concentrated on Kata, which is a set sequence of movements against an imaginary opponent (or group of opponents). Ohtsuka Sensei thought that the full spirit of Budo, which concentrates on defence and attack, was missing, and that kata techniques did not work in realistic fighting situations. He experimented with other, more combatative styles such as Judo,  Kendo and Aikido. He blended the practical and useful elements of Okinawan karate with traditional Japanese martial-arts techniques from jujitsu and kendo, which lead to the birth of Kumite , or fighting, in Karate. Ohtsuka Sensei thought that there was a need for this more dynamic and fluid type of Karate to be taught, so he decided to leave Funakoshi Sensei to concentrate on developing his own style of Karate - Wado .

1934 proved to be a pivotal year for both Ohtsuka Sensei and Wado Karate. On February 28th, Ohtsuka the Second was born. During this year, Wado-Ryu Karate was also officially recognised as an independent style of Karate. This recognition meant a departure for Ohtsuka Sensei  from his medical practice and the fulfilment of a life's ambition - to become a full-time martial artist.

Ohtsuka Sensei's personalised style of Karate was officially registered in 1938 after he was awarded the rank of "Renshi-go". He presented a magnificent demonstration of Wado Karate for the Japan Martial Arts Federation. They were so impressed with his style and commitment that they acknowledged him as a high-ranking instructor. The next year the Japan Martial Arts Federation asked all the different styles to register their names. Ohtsuka Sensei registered the name Wado-Ryu. The next few years witnessed Wado-Ryu Karate going from strength to strength. New dojos were opening and Karate was being taught at universities. Ohtsuka Sensei himself was becoming a recognised figure within the world of martial arts.

In 1944, Ohtsuka Sensei was appointed Japans Chief Karate Instructor . In 1945 Ohtsuka the second began to receive expert tuition from his father in Wado-Ryu Karate.

From this point until the 1960s, Wado-Ryu Karate remained on the three small islands of Japan . It was hardly recognised outside of the east. However, in 1963, a three man team left Japan to demonstrate Wado-Ryu Karate to America and Europe . The team was composed of Arakama Sensei, Takashima Sensei and Sukuzi Sensei. The impressions they left wherever they went were tremendous, and Wado-Ryu Karate soon became recognised world-wide.

During this time,  Ohtsuka Sensei continued to train and instruct Wado-Ryu Karate in Japan . He was awarded the title "Kun Goto Suokuo Kyoku jujitsu Shuo" in 1966 by the late Emperor Horohito. It was presented by the Emperor for his dedication to the introduction and teaching of karate. This dedication led to the further, historic, award of " Meijin ", or The First Excellent Martial Artist in Karate 10th Dan, in 1972. This was the first time that this award has been given to a practitioner of karate, and was the same status as that of Kyuzo Mifune in Judo and Hakuko Nakayama in Kendo.

Ohtsuka Sensei continued to teach and lead the world of Wado-Ryu karate into the 1980s. Ohtsuka the Second became the second Grand Master of Wado-Ryu in 1982, taking his father's name, Hironori. Ohtsuka Sensei passed away peacefully on 19th January, 1982 . Throughout the world where martial arts are practised, he will continue to be remembered for his enormous contribution and individual devotion to Wado Karate.

One of the world's most renowned and respected traditional karate masters alive, Kanazawa Shihan is the only karateka ever to have won the notorious ‘All Japan Karate Championships' an incredible three times in a row. On one occasion he won the finals while nursing a broken wrist from an earlier event. In recent years, his eldest son, Nobuaki, has preserved the family reputation by winning the current All Japan Championships.

Although Kanazawa is now a dedicated Karateist he started out originally as a Judoist. While in high school he held the 2nd Degree rank. After graduation he enrolled at Nippon University. One day, however, he happened to see students from another university practicing Karate. Impressed by their skills, he decided immediately to learn this art of self defense. The students he had seen were from Takushoku University which, at that time, was the most active in Karate participation, and his desire to learn Karate was so strong that he switched to Takushoku.

Kanazawa soon became the protege of the late headmaster of the Shotokan style, Matsatoshi Nakayama (10th Dan) and is one of the few remaining karateka privileged to have studied under Master Gichin Funakoshi.

It took Kanazawa one and one half years of disciplined training to attain the 1st Degree rank After three years he gained the 2nd Degree rank and passed the other members of the club who had started before him.

In 1956 he passed the exam for 3rd Degree rank and also passed the instructor's exam. The first All-Japan Karate Tournament was held in Tokyo in 1957. Kanazawa's right hand had been broken at this time, and he was not going to participate. His mother, however, had come in from the country to watch him, and not wanting to disappoint her, he decided to enter in at least one match. A doctor had to follow him around to check on the injured hand and make sure it had not been aggravated in any way after each match. Using his left hand to fake and block and saving his bandaged right hand for the precise moment, he won all matches on clear one-point blows.

Kanazawa has sustained many injuries. He has had two broken hands, broken fingers, an injured shoulder and spine, and has had to have stitches over his right eye and right ear. He is quick to point out that these injuries were his own fault.

In addition to Kanazawa Shihan's mastery of karate-do and expertise with various traditional weaponry, he also has a very extensive knowledge of Chinese art of Tai-Chi, having studied it to its conclusion under professor Wong for more than thirty years.

Currently, Kanazawa Shihan is both Chairman and World Chief Instructor of the world's largest Shotokan Karate organisation, the Shotokan Karate-do International Federation, with in excess of two and a half million members worldwide, in one hundred and three countries (at the last count). In April 2000, while attending the 7th S.K.I.F. World Championships in Bali, Shihan Kanazawa was promoted to the grade of 10th Dan. He is currently the only living Shotokan Master to hold the grade of 10th Dan. Although having such a formidable pedigree and being accorded legendary status, Kanazawa Shihan is also extremely charismatic but easily approachable. Being a natural teacher and communicator, he chooses to spend individual time with as many of his students as possible. Demand for his services, worldwide, is on the increase and his schedule is extremely intense.