Just wondering if anyone has ever trained with the living legend that is Kancho Kanazawa?!

I have not myself, but I have heard many stories from my sensei and senpai who have trained with him frequently over the years. Kanazawa sensei and my sensei were roommates throughout JKA instructor training in the 50s, graduated, and fought together often in the early days of the All-Japan Karate Championships. So even though they ended up in different organizations, their students for a long time mingled together. It used to be that once or twice a year a big group of my dojo mates would go to see him at exhibitions or at his dojo, but at that time I was too young and inexperienced to go with them. Now I really wish that I had found a way.

My sensei has often told us stories about his way of approaching karate, even as a young man. He seems like a very philosophical and spiritual instructor.

The course is long out of print, and it's more or less impossible to find -- so the following summary is "old gold"we trained with wts 3x per week -- and on two other days you did a bodyweight workout.

I haven't... Yet. However my first sensei did as well as his sensei.

I would love to study with a SKIF club, but there's none in my area

Embarrasing really to say yes because I only ever reached 2nd Kyu in Shotokan whilst in my 20's. He was head of our association ( SKIGB) and did attend the odd grading though I remember Asano Sensei usually graded us. I can say trained that I with him because I did one of those 2 day courses under him and actually stood up as the 'demo' once or twice. Not much I know but amemory that has stayed with me.

All I can remember (it was 20 odd years ago) is that he was extremely polite , calm and dignified compared to some of the high grade instructors you seem to meet in the U.K today who strutt around and seem to enjoy blanking you.

I still have a VHS copy of his kata video on my shelf but have no idea if it is knackered or not as I don't have a VHS machine

Mas

Regards

Mas

I attended a course with him in the south of England about 20 years ago.

I was only one of about 150 other karateka, so I can't really say that I've trained WITH him. I was just in the same room. I learnt some interesting little things though that have stayed with me.

I trained with Kanazawa Sensei in 2002 (there or there abouts). A group of Shotokan guys got together with our KSI group and suggested we request for Kanazawa Sensei to visit us in Cape Town. It was a real eye opener being taught by a 10th Dan - even though he is Shotokan and we are Kimura Shukokai. It's always good to be exposed to other styles and what they deem to be important in terms of technique. It was also probably the first time a group of Shotokan karateka and Kimura Shukokai karateka trained together in the same dojo for something other than an All Styles squad training.

Needless to say it was enjoyed by all and the dinner we had at the hotel afterward was equally as enjoyable.

i trained with Kancho Kanazawa sensei and his son back in 2011. the seminar was suppose to be 3 hours, but soon became close to 5 hahah.... it was a good seminar to emphasize how important kihon is to the karateka.

i distinctly remember him saying the hardest part of karate is lining up when it came to large groups.

he's still a fabulous instructor as well as his son, but he's definitely more frail since his skiing accident a few years back.

I would have loved to have trained with Kancho but I'm not a Shotokan Karateka so how would he use his Karate to explain mine

OSU!!!

I would have loved to have trained with Kancho but I'm not a Shotokan Karateka so how would he use his Karate to explain mine

OSU!!!

My understanding is that he accepts all types/styles of the MA to his seminars because he's quite versatile. Sure, when it comes to Shotokan, those Shotokan practitioners would benefit the most, but I believe for any MAist, a day with Kanazawa Sensei would be quite beneficial.

I'm not Shotokan, but I believe that learning the essence of Karate would still come though, and in that, I'd benefit quite a lot from Kanazawa Sensei; an honor for sure.

Check this out, and it might answer some questions for those that aren't of Shotokan...

http://www.seishinshotokan.com/index_files/Page646.htm