Ira Watanabe
(Kaicho: Japan Karate Do Ken Zen Ichii Ha Wado Ryu Kyokai) (3rd Generation Kancho: Kokusai Ken Zen Ichii Karate Do Renmei) Has been involved in Wado Karate for 47 years. He started Karate since 1975 at the age of 5 under the tutelage of his father, Gerry Watanabe and uncle, Met Watanabe and from Mr. Bee (The one who brought Wado karate to the Philippines from Tokai region of central Japan). He started teaching karate under the supervision of his father in their family dojo when he was 16 years old. At the age of 18, after being granted permission, he organized his own dojo and as adviced by his father, He named his dojo as Ken Zen Ichii Karate Club Wado Style(Ken Zen Ichii is the buddhist name of Mr. Bee). In 1998 He re-located to his forefathers homeland in Japan and in August of 2000 after 2 years of preparation, re-opened the Ken Zen Ichii Karate Club Wado Style in the heart of Nishinasuno town. (Now Nasu Shiobara City) wherein it was eventually registered in the Nasu Shiobara City Karate Do Renmei (a local branch of JKF in his area) In the same year, Gerry Watanabe and Ira Watanabe officially changed the name of the Philippine Wado Kai Karate Do to Japan Karate Do Ken Zen Ichii Ha Wado Ryu Kyokai. He is the co founder and present president of the Asia Pacific Traditional Karate Do Alliance based in Japan. He is a registered affiliate of the International Wado Federation(England) under the leadership of Gary Swift Kyoshi, wherein he is also serves as the IWF Continental Representative for East and Southeast Asia and National Representative for IWF Japan branch and IWF Ambassador for Asia. He is a member of the Tochigi State Karate Do Federation, Watanabe Sensei is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Nasu Shiobara City Karate Do Renmei, and is also a registered member of the Japan Karate Do Federation (JKF). |