SKIF is dedicated to following the guidance and philosophy of Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan), a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi, who was the founder of Shotokan karate. We have a comprehensive training syllabus for traditional Shotokan style karate in both set and freestyle fighting. Apart from gaining a thorough grounding in self-defence, training with SKKIF improves and maintains fitness, flexi
bility, speed, strength, self-awareness and discipline. The teaching structure results in high technical standards and the ability to utilise techniques in practical situations. It is however an inclusive style of training so that karateka of all ages and abilities are able to benefit from the training (some members of SKKIF continue to train into their 70s), but we teach adults only. He started karate training in 1964 at the Lyons Sports Club In Sudbury Hill, Wembley. Originally he trained in the Wado-Ryu style and graded under Sensei Suzuki. In 1967, he became the first karate teacher employed by the inner London County Council. In 1968, as Chief Instructor of his karate club in Greenford, he and his club switched to the Shotakan style with the KUGB under Hirokazu Kanazawa, who was then 5th Dan. In 1977 when Hirokazu Kanazawa formed SKIF, Roger and his club moved to SKIF and since then he has organised the schedules for Hirokazu Kanazawa in the UK. Originally this was for SKIEF and then for his own English organisation, SKKIF. He is the Chief Instructor and Chairman of SKKIF and as such he undertakes bi-annual tours of all of the clubs in the association to instruct and maintain high technical standards in the organisation as well as to conduct gradings. He teaches most weeks at his karate club in Lifton. He is now the most senior instructor in Europe both in terms of grade and time with SKIF. He is well known on the international karate circuits and at the Honbu HQ of SKIF in Japan. In 2011 he was awarded the title “Kyoshi” by Hirokazu Kanazawa. In 2014 he celebrated 50 years of karate training and in 2016 was awarded his 8th dan.
