I am immensely saddened by the loss of Kanazawa Hirokazu (Soke) as I trained under his guidance at the Yotsuya SKIF GHQ in Tokyo when I did my Instructors course. He was a mentor and treated me like a father with the concept of Yin and Yang.The first time I met him I felt this Aura and vibrance that I had never felt before in my life. I am grateful that during this journey on this Earth I walked onto his path and he showed me the true way of manners, etiquette and the deep meaning of Shotokan Karate Do. I was fortunate enough to have been chosen to do Demonstrations with him and he always pushed us beyond what we ever imagined we could do, no matter what we did it was never enough. You will be sorely missed but your teachings and your legacy will remain and my Soul is connected with yours for eternity. Like you always did I also will strive to do my very best and beyond in Karate Do and push my student’s beyond their limit’s as this is the path and journey I have undertaken in this Human life. Karate Do is my life.

9 /12/ 2019 令和１年 (reiwa ichi-nen)

Goran Glucina
Technical director
SKIF NZ

“HIROKAZU KANAZAWA is considered one of the most skilful karate masters of all time. A great technician and an excellent instructor, he has built up a loyal and dedicated following of students worldwide. A gentle and sincere man and a direct student of FUNAKOSHI GICHIN, he has been able to convey the concepts of karate to many generations of students. As prolific author, he has also had many instructional books and videos produced. It could be argued that many people would not have started karate if they had not seen demonstrations from this very talented master. In any case, he is a true legend of Shotokan karate.”

” My philosophy is that I try always to be true to myself and to others … I can say that I fear nothing – not even death, and this I do not say in a big-headed or conceited way. My meaning is that I always try my best in everything I do, so I will be satisfied when I do die – I think the reason that people fear death is because they want to do and accomplish so many other things that are still undone . . . they always want to do more. Also, I truly believe that life continues after physical death – all life continues … life is a circle “.
Kanazawa Hirokazu.

The Legend of Karate, Hirokazu Kanazawa Soke Tribute

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvXzhjFqQgc

I was in Japan last year in October with him to celebrate his 81st Birthday and spend time with him.

I knew him for over 40 years and studied Karate under him in Japan, also he visited NZ on a yearly basis for the last 30 years and stayed with me and also taught us and guided us at our clubs here in NZ. He was not only a great Shotokan Karate Master but also an Iaido Master and born into a Samurai Family. His training sessions in Japan were hard and demanding and his detail to Kihon waza (Basic techniques ) were phenomenal, he was revered in Japan and also around the World. He was also the Chief Instructor at the JKA Headquarters in Ebisu in Tokyo Japan for 30 years and a direct student of NAKAYAMA MASATOSHI. Later on he formed his own Shotokan Organization JSKA.

To my Japanese Father and mentor and great friend you are sorely missed but your spirit and teachings that you implanted in me will remain with me deep in my soul permanently forever.You are with me every day.

Goran Glucina
SKIF NZ

KANAZAWA HIROKAZU Soke and ABE KEIGO Shihan 2014 Tokyo Japan