On Sunday 18th April 2004, Sensei's Richard Scoot and John Gillespie along with Vicky Byford and Farah Malick ( Potton & Sandy Clubs) trained with Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan SKIF and his no.1 son Sensei Nobuaki Kanazawa 5th Dan SKIF at Wanstead in East London. The Course began with Moksu (meditation), followed by a very traditional Japanese warm up by Nobukai Kanazawa.

We began with various basic techniques and linking them together to form a couple of great combinations. After an hour or so of Basics we were treated to a phenominal display of Ju Ippon kumite SKIF style with Nobukai Kanazawa partnering up with one of the English black belts. His Zanshin (speed, Timing, kimae, control etc) were excellent, every technique delivered perfectly to the target with incredible speed and control.

After this the Dan grades went through Gojushiho-Dai kata which was infact our Gojojushiho-Sho Kata with Kancho Kanazawa, this was excellent training and the lower grades went through Ju Ippon with Nobukai Sensei. After 2hrs the first session was finished with mokso again.

The 2nd session started with Ju Ippon kumite training with the only problem being that we had to learn the SKIF sets which differ from our own. We then partnered up and put these into practice with our opponents. We finished up with a fun session where, in teams of three's, the middle man attacked his opponent only when either his arm or leg was touched by the person behind him, this is good reaction training and great fun.

Overall the day was fantastic and it was an honour to train with not only Shotokan's living legend Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa but also his son Nobukai showed us that the Kanazawa name will continue in Shotokan for many years to come.

PS On behalf of our association I threw down the Gauntlet and told the Boys from the Central Federation of Traditional Shotokan (CFTS) that we want our Kumite trophy back. So watch this space for news of a re-match.

Sensei Richard Scoot
Tuesday 27th April 2004