Shotokan master to appoint successor

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)