Kancho's Visit to India - 2004
Kancho Kanazawa arrived at Bangalore on January 27th for his 2004 year visit. He was accompanied by Sensei Ryusho Suzuki from Honbu dojo. There was a 2-day seminar and grading conducted on Jan 28-29 at the East Cultural association hall.
In the seminar, Kancho elaborated on 'harmony'- of harmony with nature and how Karate as a Do promotes it. Kancho went through polishing basics of different techniques both in Kihon and Kata. Sensei Suzuki demonstrated many of the finer points in Shotokan Katas that Kancho was detailing. Also, the application of different techniques in Kata( Bunkai) were demonstrated by Kancho. Kancho discussed some aspects of Kumite techniques as well. Kancho complimented the karatekas for their discipline .
The grading sessions were conducted by Kancho for San-dan, Ni-dan and Sho-dan. Overall, 17 members took various Dan gradings.
The farewell dinner was organized at the Bangalore Golf Club lawns on 29th Jan. SKI-India students gave a Tai-Chi demo to Kancho. In his farewell address Kancho mentioned that Sensei Subramanyan was his 'oldest and most favorite student in India'. He also said the Karatekas here demonstrated good 'focus and concentration' and that he would like to see them reach greater heights next time he comes. Sensei Subramanyan, in his opening remarks, said Kancho was always a fatherly figure for him, and recalled fond memories of his first visit to Tokyo in 1982 travelling with Kancho attending Gushukus in Japan. Tim Leatherbarrow, former student of Sensei Terry O'Neill ( JKA-England), and student of Sensei Subramanyan for past few years, said he had tough time coping up with the early morning training sessions under Sensei Subramanyan and said he found the emphasis on relaxation and breathing in Kancho's style very appealing. Dr. Pandey marvelled at Sensei Suzuki's finesse in Kata execution.
Kancho and Sensei Suzuki were seen off at the airport the following day leaving all eagerly looking forward to his next India visit.