Asano Hanshi 9th Dan
The world renowned Shiro Asano 9th Dan, Chairman and Chief Instructor of Shotokan Karate Internation European Federation, regularly teaches at Chilwell Olympia.
HANSHI SHIRO ASANO was born in Shinjuku, Tokyo on 29th October 1939. He took up Karate aged 15, although his father practiced Judo. A graduate of Takushoku University, Tokyo, and a former pupil of Master Masatoshi Nakayama, Shiro Asano became the All Japan Universities Champion in 1957. He repeated this success in 1958. Upon leaving Takushoku University, famous for it's martial arts but in particular it's Karate heritage, during which time he had been a prominent member of the Takushoku University Karate Club, he enrolled in the infamous Japan Karate Associations Instructors Course (nick-named "The Hornets Nest") He was appointed a J.K.A. Instructor on 1st April, 1963, and by this time he was a 4th Dan. Shiro Asano taught in Germany, and at Liverpool before finally taking up residence in Nottingham in early summer 1968. He settled in Nottingham after becoming involved in clubs here and in Leicester and Wolverhampton. The two other clubs folded, leaving Nottingham to carry on. It was a shaky start for a man who had left his birthplace for a new home where karate was a little-known minority sport, with standards far below those expected in Japan. Mr Asano, used to training for six hours a day, found the attitude of his British students wanting. The Japanese master's disciplined methods proved unpopular. "For the first two or three years there was no fighting spirit here, nothing", he recalls. "Teaching was no good so it was difficult to make the standard strong." During the first year he only had two or three pupils, teaching at a church in Hyson Green, Nottingham. He said: "Students would look through the window first before coming to lessons to see who was teaching, if they saw it was me they would go - they would look out for the English teachers, who weren't as hard on them." But the students slowly came round to his way of training and Mr Asano built up a loyal, dedicated class - some of whom still train with him today. After a year at Hyson Green, classes moved to Carlton Forum Leisure Centre in Nottingham, which now hosts the longest running classes in Notts.
He became Chief Instructor to the MIDLANDS KARATE GROUP and in 1974 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Instructor to SHOTOKAN KARATE INTERNATIONAL (Great Britain). Hanshi Asano received his 7th Dan towards the end of 1978 and he was appointed Chief Instructor in Europe in Spring 1979. He was awarded 8th Dan by the SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION in 1987. In October 2001 he was promoted to 9th Dan. He was presented with his 9th Dan Certificate at the S.K.I.F 8th World Championships held in Durban South Africa. His peers were waiting for an event of sufficient prestige to bestow the rare accolade. The modest Mr Asano said of the honour:"I was very surprised. It was unexpected. I was very thankful". But his true worth to international karate is reflected in the title bestowed upon him at the same time. Before he was known as 'Sensei', which translates as 'teacher'. Now he is known as 'Hanshi' - 'teacher of teachers'.
Hanshi Asano receives his 9th Dan certificate from Kanazawa Kancho 10th Dan at the 8th SKIF World Championships
He is noted for his superb timing, judgement of distance, his tremendous fighting spirit and his wide knowledge of Kata and Kumite techniques. His sole purpose is to teach authentic Shotokan Karate which he is uniquely qualified to do. His teaching is in very high demand and he is invited to instruct all over the world. He enjoys the travel, and seeing how karate is developing in different parts of the world. He travels to such diverse areas as Kiev, Israel and Mongolia in his attempts to spread true Shotokan Karate.
We in Nottingham can consider ourselves to be very lucky as Hanshi Asano can be found teaching at the Honbu Dojo in Wilford, Nottingham every Tuesday night, and he also visits Chilwell Olympia at least 4 times a year.