SKIF DVDs and Books

Karate My Life

Hirokazu Kanazawa's biography has been accurately translated by Alex Bennett. One of the most influential karate Masters Japan has seen. He has devoted himself to the study and promotion of karate for more than 50 years. 'The more I know, the more I climb, yet the mountain just gets higher. The more I try; the more I focus; the depth is limitless. There is no end in sight. That is karate; my life.' 299 pages. 6 x 8. Hardcover. Kanazawa Hirokazu was born in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, in 1931. After graduating from Takushoku University in 1958, he entered the first class of the Japan Karate Association's live-in instructor's course. On graduation he became one of the pioneers of karate's globalization, Living and instructing in Hawaii and throughout Europe. In 1978 he formed the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation, which he still heads. He continues to tirelessly promote karate built on the "way of harmony", teaching in more than 100 countries around the world.

Karate Fighting Techniques: The Complete Kumite (Hardcover)

This book is Kanazawa's first complete guide to kumite, or sparring. The karate training process comprises four areas: basics, kata (forms; prearranged movements and techniques), kumite, and competition. Kumite-"the art of grappling with opponents," as it might be called-is the application of kata, and is the key to success in karate tournaments. Karate Fighting Techniques teaches all the various kumite techniques, and presents a systematic approach to applied kumite that is designed to provide essnetial information for match-style kumite and tournament kumite. The author also writes with great affection of his experiences with Master Gichin Funakoshi, and offers some insight into the true spirit and teachings of Shotokan karate. With 700 photos of the author, his students, and some rare photos of the late Gichin Funakoshi and his famous disciple Masatoshi Nakayama (author of the popular Best Karate series), Karate Fighting Techniques is the first book of its kind to provide such a comprehensive guide to kumite and its role in Shotokan karate. It will be an indispensable resource for all karate practitioners.

Black Belt Karate: The Intensive Course (Hardcover)

In Black Belt Karate, Hirokazu Kanazawa, the most respected figure in the karate world, offers a systematic approach to basic karate, and provides an intensive training course. Karate is a martial art that can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age or gender, and can be undertaken at any time during a person's life. The training system employed in karate comprises three main areas: kihon (basics), kumite (sparring), and kata (forms). Using meticulously detailed explanations and illustrative photos, Kanazawa provides readers with an intensive self-study training course designed to be accessible to beginners, as well as to those already at an intermediate level. If practiced continuously and diligently over the course of a year, a practitioner will be able to attain black-belt-level proficiency. Praise for Black Belt Karate: "By following each and every page of this book as if receiving instruction directly from Mr. Kanazawa, I believe that over time, with careful practice, gaining proficiency is all but guaranteed. For anyone setting out to master karate-do, you hold in your hands a fine book indeed. The late Masatoshi Nakayama, former chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association and author of Kodansha's Best Karate series.

Kanazawa Mastering Karate Box Set

Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa 9 DVD box set is a must have for any collection. Renowned karate master Hirokazu Kanazawa instructs this comprehensive nine-part series that explains and then demonstrates karate principles and techniques like stances, footwork, hand strikes, kicking, blocking, shifting, timing, and posture. The collection also includes an interview, photographs from Kanazawa's trip to Hollywood.

Collection Includes: TE WAZA - Hand Techniques. ASHI WAZA - Foot techniques. KIHON IDO - Combinations of hands and feet together. KYU KATA - Heian Kata, Tekki Kata. DAN KATA - Black Belt kata. Each kata includes the form being done first slow and then fast along with the bunkai (explanation) of each move by Kancho. NI JU HACHI - White Crane form done in slow speed and then full speed by Kancho Kanazawa including many explanations of the moves. KUMITE - Kihon Ippon Kumite, Sanbon Kumite, Gohon Kumite and Jiyu Kumite. Manabu Murakami and Nobuaki Kanazawa will show you what their teacher taught them. INTERVIEW WITH KANCHO - This is a tell all interview. The interview was conducted by acclaimed author, writer, interviewer Don Warrener. A MASTER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - Hirokazu Kanazawa behind the scenes of the making of Mastering Karate and more.

Shotokan Karate International Kata (Volume 1) (Paperback)

Famous shotokan master Hirokazu Kanazawa, chief instructor of SKIF (Shotokan Karate International Federation). Excellent photographic images showing detailed sequences of kata and kumite provide a superb reference for students and instructors alike. Shotokan Karate International Kata Volume 1 and Shotokan Karate International Kata Volume 2 are complete references for the all 26 Shotokan Kata. Numerous photographs with explanations in English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese.

Shotokan Karate International Kata (vol. 2) (Paperback)

A must - have shotokan book featuring kata and kumite by the world famous shotokan master Hirokazu Kanazawa, chief instructor of SKIF (Shotokan Karate International Federation or Kokusai Shotokan Karate-do Renmei in Japanese). Excellent photographic images showing detailed sequences of kata provide an excellent reference for shotokan karate students and instructors alike.

Shotokan Karate International Kumite Kyohan (Paperback)

This textbook is devoted to the fundamentals of shotokan kumite. Excellent photos show exactly how to perform the kumite for all student levels up to and including black belt. Several examples are shown for each type of kumite with a chapter concentrating on each type such as gohon kumite, kihon ippon kumite, ju-ippon kumite and more. Shotokan Karate International Kumite Kyohan is highly recommended for students of all grades. While 9th and 8th kyu students can learn the basic five step (go-hon) kumite fairly easily and perhaps without the aid of a book; yellow belt (7th Kyu) to dan grades will come to rely on it as an excellent reference source. There are currently no other books available which cover kihon-ippon kumite or ju-ippon kumite in quite as much detail as this book.

Karate: The Complete Kata (Hardcover)

The martial art of karate can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age or gender, and can be undertaken at any time during a person's life. Embraced by people the world over, this traditional Japanese art continues to hold universal appeal. Among the most important aspects of karate practice are the kata, patterns of movement that are carefully choreographed and arranged in sequences. With Karate: The Complete Kata, Hirokazu Kanazawa, the foremost figure in the karate world today and a disciple of Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate, offers the definitive work on the subject. Kanazawa explains all the key kata in great detail; and his text is accompanied by thousands of photographs. He also goes into some of the other more difficult aspects of karate, including steps, breathing techniques, and pressure points. Kata need to be practiced regularly on an individual basis, and this book is written with such training in mind. From the beginner to the most advanced practitioner, anyone interested in this revered martial art will want to add Kanazawa's book to his or her library.

Nunchaku: Dynamic Training

Drawing from the methods of the ancient Okinawan weapons experts, his own long and distinguished career in the Shotokan style of karate and techniques chosen from certain of the old schools of Japanese swordsmanship, the author presents his own unique and dynamic method of nunchaku training.

The Essence of Karate (Hardback)

Gichin Funakoshi is a legendary figure and the founder of Shotokan karate, the most popular style of Japanese karate, with millions of practitioners worldwide. In The Essence of Karate, Funakoshi creates, in his own words, a narrative of modern karate. He explains the philosophical and spiritual underpinnings and includes memories of his own training, as well as recollections of other karate masters and the history of the martial art. He also discusses the importance of winning without fighting, and the reason why many great martial artists improve with age. The preface has been contributed by Hirokazu Kanazawa, President of the Shotokan Karate-do International Federation (and Funakoshi's disciple). He fondly writes of his memories of Gichin Funakoshi during his youth and what he learned from the master. In the afterword, the founder's great-nephew, Gisho Funakoshi, shares previously unknown personal anecdotes about his "Uncle Funakoshi."

Lessons with the Master (Paperback)

A detailed and unique training resource, Lessons with the Master is a meticulous account of the teaching methods and lesson strategies of world-famous karate master Hirokazu Kanazawa, chief instructor and president of the Shotokan Karate International Federation of Japan. Author and karate instructor Paul Walker spent three years studying karate under the direct guidance of Master Kanazawa and his expert instructors and has now compiled his diary entries of those years into this easy-to-understand reference for all students and instructors of Shotokan karate. Lessons with the Master offers ideas, tips, and guidance on the use of authentic Shotokan karate-do to supplement and improve current training and drill-teaching. Using the database of lessons, the additional explanations on lesson components, and the many other instructional tips, students and coaches can design an endless number of coherent and effective workouts and incorporate them seamlessly into their regular karate training. Detailed lesson notes, a glossary, and Walker's engaging anecdotes make Lessons with the Master an indispensable resource for all karate practitioners.

Dynamic Power of Karate [Paperback]

Kanazawa's Karate or 'Dynamic Power of Karate' by H. Kanazawa is a textbook that covers all of the basic karate techniques and stances, with Kanazawa Sensei as the demonstrator for all of the techniques. In many ways, 'Black Belt Karate - The Intensive Course' by H. Kanazawa is a more in depth version of these books, but for the collector or Kanazawa fan, these books are a real treasure.

Hirokazu Kanazawa Karate DVD

With complete English narration, this DVD presents the techniques and personality of Kanazawa sensei more completely than other other video.

Karate Legend DVD by Hirokazu Kanazawa

Selection of Interviews with Kancho Kanazawa and Kata Demonstrations.

26 Shotokan Kata DVD by Hirokazu Kanazawa

This DVD contains all 26 SHOT?KAN karate kata (dynamic forms) by the world-renowned MASTER Hirokazu KANAZAWA, Chief Instructor of SHOT?KAN KARATE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION. His profound ability to demonstrate kata is reflected in this work and is not to be missed.

Shotokan Karate Kata

Shotokan Kata with Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan SKIF, Duration 64min. Released 1985, Katas Included: 5 Kata Heian, Tekki Shodan, Tekki Nidan, Bassai Dai, Jion, Enpi, Kanku Dai, Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Jitte, Sochin, Gankaku & Nijushiho.

Shotokan Karate - Kumite

Kumite with Hirokazu Kanazawa, 10th Dan SKIF. Released 1985, Duration: 56 min.,Kumite: Gohon, Kihon Ippon, Sanbon, Jiyu Ippon

Shotokan Karate - Kihon

Shotokan Kihon with Hirokazu Kanazawa, 10th Dan SKIF. Released 1985, Duration 55min, Kihon: Uke waza, Tsuki waza, Keri waza, Tachi kata, Renzoku waza.