On behalf of Asano Hanshi, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Kancho Kanazawa and to all the students who travelled to take part in our Annual Autumn Course.
Kancho leads each class with panache, clarity, and a profound understanding of what is required from his students. The technical aspects of his tuition are always delivered with a deep appreciation for Budo’s continual evolution, while never losing sight of the core principles of karate. Regardless of age, gender, grade, or experience, Kancho reminds us that the most important thing is simply to train to the best of our ability.
We always enjoy catching up and training with those who regularly participate in our seminars. Whether you travelled from near or far, we truly appreciate the continued effort and dedication you show.
It was wonderful to welcome new students from other Federations whom we had not met before, as well as to reconnect with students we haven’t seen for some years - who dusted off their dogi 
and hit the floor once again.
We hope everyone enjoyed the Seminar and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
🏯 Kyoto Representation at the Course
Members of Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo were in attendance at the course, travelling from our Bristol (BS11) classes to train under Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa.
Those in attendance included:
- Steve Ashby
- Nick Bruce-Jones
- Neil Bishop
- Annabel Bishop
- George Bishop
- Arthur Bishop
- John Sun
- Matthew Sun
- Phoenix Shelper
Notably, several of the attendees—both from Kyoto and across other clubs—were younger students, reflecting the strong pathway within the SKIF structure for dedicated juniors to progress into national-level training.
At Kyoto, we are proud to support this pathway, with younger students training alongside more experienced practitioners as they develop.
Training under Kancho Kanazawa provided a valuable opportunity to experience instruction at the highest level within SKIF, continuing the strong connection between Kyoto and the wider international karate community.
Experiences such as this play an important role in ensuring that the knowledge, standards, and traditions of SKIF are carried back into our dojo and passed on to the next generation of students.
🥋 Training Under Kancho Kanazawa
Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa (8th Dan) is the President (Kancho) of the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF) and eldest son of the late Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan), one of the most influential figures in modern Shotokan karate.
Courses such as this provide a rare opportunity to train directly under the leadership of SKIF, maintaining a direct link to the organisation’s technical standards and heritage.
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