Kanazawa Kancho had a further special duty to perform at the Dan gradings in Mayfield, Cork on Sunday 26th April when he presented Dan certificates to senior SKIF Ireland Sensei.  He presented Nana-Dan (7th Dan) certificates to Sensei Neil Sargent, Chief Instructor, and Sensei Abe McCarthy, awarded at the 9th World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in November 2006.  Sensei Seán Sargent, Nana-Dan(7th Dan) and Sensei Greg Manning, Chairperson, Rokudan (6th Dan) were presented with certificates awarded from the SKIF 30th Anniversary celebrations in Tokyo in November 2008.

These promotions are a major achievement for SKIF Ireland and place our senior instructors at the top level of Sensei in Europe.  They are also a reflection of the close ties with Japan and the regard Kancho has for SKIF Ireland, and reflect their contributions to his Shotokan Karate-do International Federation.

Our sincere congratulations go to Sensei's Neil Sargent, Abe McCarthy, Seán Sargent and Greg Manning; all at St Vincent's & St Joseph's Shotokan Karate Club in Dublin are very proud of their achievement.

(L-R) Abe McCarthy, Greg Manning, Nobuaki Kanazawa Sensei, Kancho Kanazawa, Neil Sargent, Sean Sargent