KANCHO YOUSEF SHIRZAD(9th Dan)

Fonder of the International Shinzen Kai Karate Organization (ISKO)

Due to instability in the area where he lived, and to protect himself against danger, he, at the age of 12 (in 1962), started training wrestling and boxing.
When he turned 14 he started taking karate lessons with trainer Abutaleb Mashinchian.

In 1967 he met Dr. FARHAD VARASZEH (founder of Kan-Zen-Kai-Karate), and in 1972, at the age of 22 he graduated 1. Dan and recieved the black belt.
He then joined the National Karate team of Iran and had a lot of thoughts regarding the Asian Martial Arts.

In 1975 he met SOSAI MAZUTATZU OYAMA (founder of Kyokushin Kai Karate) and went on several occasions to Japan to train with him.
With the coaching assistance of his Trainer Sosai Oyama, he quickly became of the foremost athletes in his country.

After the demise of Sosai Oyamas, Kancho Yousef Shirzad founded the organisation ISKO, (International Shinzen Kai Karate Organisation).
Shinzen Kai Karate had been exercised since 1973 but the official work with the organisation didn`t begin until 10 days after the death of Sosai Oyamas May 6th 1994.

KANCHO YOUSEF SHIRZAD 9th Dan,
developed the Shinzen system from his own knowledge of Kyokushin Kai Karate and other Martial Arts systems like Kickboxing, Thaiboxing, Chinese boxing and traditionel Iranish fighting.

He recognised the importance of the Kata as an expression of a fight and that the reasons for passing on the Kata training were not just for Martial Arts tradition, but moreover a way to liberate the thoughts and to strengthen the mental balance.

The Katas contained a number of hand and foot-techniques combined with impressive jumps, and was named Tobino Kata.

Today Shinzen Kai Karate is trained in more than 30 countries worldwide.
OSU!