On this day….(January 22)

On 22 January 1961, Hirokazu Kanazawa was sent to Hawaii by the JKA, to become their Chief Instructor in Hawaii. He held this position for two years. Introducing the new art of Shotokan Karate to Hawaii was not without its problems. Kanazawa faced challenges from other instructors of other Karate styles and martial arts. They wanted to test the authenticity of his Karate. Through talking he was able to prevent many conflicts. However, on five occasions he faced challengers who could not be dissuaded from conflict. He defeated them. On 22 January 1964, the British Karate Federation (BKF) formally accepted the Japan Karate Association’s (JKA) invitation to become their agents in Great Britain. This was in response to a letter dated 19 December 1963. In the letter, written by Vernon Bell to Masatomo Takagi, the BKF agreed to the following terms with the JKA:

• The payment of a registration fee to the JKA.
• The wording of the official registration diploma to include all domains coming under the legal jurisdiction of Great Britain.
• Anyone wishing to join the JKA would have to first become a member of the BKF.
• Anyone wishing to join JKA could not do so directly. They would have to do so through the national federation of the county acting as the JKA’s representative.
• An official certificate of affiliation would only be forwarded by the JKA headquarters once the registration fee to them had been paid and also the terms for membership had been agreed.
• The BKF would be the only authorized association to conduct gradings and confer belts on behalf of the JKA.
• Ranks above 3rd kyu could only be conferred by a JKA approved examiner.

In the same letter, Bell also inquired about the Shodan (1st Dan) diploma and badge that were promised to him.