Shotokan master to appoint successor

JAKARTA (JP): Sensei (master) Kanazawa, the world's Shotokan guru from Japan, is scheduled to appoint his successors at the seventh world Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIP) championship at the Sheraton Convention Center in Bali in April 2000.

The chairman of Indonesian Karate-Do (Inkado), E. Tando, said on Tuesday that Kanazawa, also the SKIP chairman, would display his new movements at the championship's martial arts events. It is the first time the championship held in Indonesia.

Tando said the championship would cost about US$760,000. "We have raised some Rp 500 million ($71,430). We are trying to make up the deficit from sponsorships. We will also request government support," he said.

At the sixth world SKIP championships in Milan, Italy, held in 1997, Indonesia collected two silver medals from the women's team kumite and men's individual kata. Indonesia has taken part in the world SKIP championships since the first championships were held in Tokyo in 1983.

The championships will feature three weight divisions in kumite: below 65 kgs, below 75 kgs and above 75 kgs, as well as a kata event.

Tando said that 70 of 102 countries who registered to compete in the seventh world SKIP championships have reconfirmed their participation. Some 2,000 karatekas are expected to compete at the championships, which are held every three years. (ivy)