Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa, 8th Dan, was born in May 1972 and is the eldest of the late Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa’s three sons. Kancho (隊長) means head or captain, and it is this role that Kancho Kanazawa fulfils for both SKKIF (our association) and SKIF (our international parent organisation); he frequently travels the world hosting seminars and gradings.
Kancho was educated at Taisho University and began Karate in his teenage years, quickly finding his natural talent in the process. Renowned for his prowess in competition, he has won many notable championships over the years including 2 Gold medals at the SKIF World Championships in Bali in 2000, taking the both the heavyweight gold and the coveted title of Grand Champion. Kancho also won Silver at the 1994 SKIF World Championships in Yokahama Japan and has a plethora of domestic titles, including winning the SKIF All Japan championships 5 consecutive times (1996-2000), as well as the All Styles Japan National Karate Championship in 2004, the Metropolitan Championship 3 times and the JKF All Japan Championship 6 times.
Kancho Kanazawa visits the UK on average twice per year to conduct training and grading seminars exclusively for SKIF members. Kancho is also often accompanied by other senior instructors from Japan HQ including Shuseki Shihan Manabu Murakami (8th Dan and SKIF Chief Instructor), Sensei Ryusho Suzuki (7th Dan) and Sensei Daizo Kanazawa (6th Dan).
