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Interview with Master Kanazawa |
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This short interview was conducted in July 1994 when I first met Kanazawa-sensei. I had traveled from England to Japan for a two week stay and visited his dojo after calling ahead of time to arrange a meeting. Kanazawa-sensei very graciously and courteously granted me this interview, which was held in Japanese and which I have since translated into English for this website. After the interview I was able to join in the lesson and train and that very positive experience led to my revisiting Japan in July 1996, only that time it was the beginning of a three year period of study at Kanazawa-sensei’s Honbu-dojo (Headquarters) in Kugahara, Tokyo.
The interview went like this:
Q. How long have you been studying Karate?
A. For 44 years (born 1931)
Q. Why did you take up Karate in the first place?
A. I was born in Iwate Prefecture and in those days there was no Karate in the Tohoku area. In my high school days I played football (soccer) and did Judo. I first started Karate when I went to university. The reason I want to mention Judo is because at that time there were no weight distinctions as there are now and due to my small stature this was a big handicap for me. South of the Tohoku area there were many people who did Karate but because I didn't do Karate until I began university this was a particularly late start at the age of 18.
Q. What do you think is the most important aspect of Karate?
A. Basics are the most important. Basics mean the centre of your body, that is your "hara", is very important. Basics mean being able to stabilize your centre of gravity and concentrate your mind and energy. Also the way of using your hips is important.
Q. I hear you also study Tai Chi. How has this helped your Karate?
A. Yes, I do and Tai Chi is very useful for Karate. Karate and Tai Chi are of a quite opposite nature - just like ten and one, positive and negative, right and left, male and female. If you are truly to understand something you must be able to separate yourself from it and view it from afar. Human beings are the same. You must be able to look at yourself from another's point of view. In the same way by studying Tai Chi I began to have a much deeper understanding of Karate. You can't do this unless you can grasp the nature of opposite entities. Everything is about balance. We also see balance in nature. For example if male and female become one, a new life is born, everything is balance and nature. Each of these things has a role and individuality.
Q. How do you think Karate will develop in the future?
A. Nowadays we have unsatisfactory conditions. Martial arts and sport are becoming one and I think they will continue in this way. All throughout Japan people are practicing for the sole purpose of winning. I am aiming at leading Karate towards being a very quiet and calm pursuit. I hope to help children grow up into healthy human beings who will work towards creating a better society for us all. Recently children play on concrete covered streets unable to receive natural energy and vitality from the ground. Therefore I hope that through encouraging children to concentrate on Karate they can in turn develop this energy and vitality (that is so often lacking).
Thank you Kanazawa-sensei for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me. |
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Master Kanazawa on the set of his instructional DVD series “Mastering Karate” |
