小林光紀会長　ー　九段範士 – 光武会- 片貝町,小千谷市, 新潟県

Hanshi Mitsunori Kobayashi – 9th Dan

President of the Gima-Ha International Karatedo Federation 27th Resident of Kaieizan Joshoji Temple, Niigata, Japan

Early Life & Education

Born: February 25, 1944, Katakai-Cho, Ojiya-Shi, Niigata, Japan
High School: Niigata Prefectural Nagaoka High School (Showa 37)
University: Meiji University, Department of English & American Literature (Showa 42)
Graduate Studies: Otani University Graduate School, Master’s Program (Showa 45–48)

Karate Journey

Began Karate-Do in 1963, now in his 62nd year of practice
Original student of Master Makoto Gima, founder of Gima-Ha Karate
Established his own dojo, Kobukai, under Gima Sensei’s guidance
Ranks & Titles:
- 4th Dan (Showa 49, awarded by Ryoichi Sasakawa, AJKF President)
- 5th Dan (Showa 58, AJKF)
- Kyoshi, 7th Dan (Heisei 4, Japan Karatedo Union President Yukio Kageyama)
- 8th Dan (Heisei 19)
- Hanshi, 9th Dan (2019, after 56 years of training)

International Contributions

Taught Karate in Canada, India, Sri Lanka, and the UK
Twice visited Germany with the Japan Athletic Association Youth Sports Team
Instructed by Goju-Ryu teacher Akihiko Suzuki during his time in Kyoto

Current Role

Current President of the Gima-Ha International Karatedo Federation
Continues to train and teach, with no intention of retiring his Dogi

Philosophy

Master Gima’s words resonate through Kobayashi Hanshi’s life: “Karate, 3 years for the peach and chestnut to ripen; 8 years for the persimmon to ripen; a lifetime for Karate.”

Google Translated article: Karate 56 years highest rank “Hanshi” 8th Dan, model instructor Ojiya head priest Kobayashi-san Learning with the teachings of his late master “Lifelong martial arts” in his heart Kobayashi Mitsunori (7), head priest of Joshoji Temple in Katakai-cho, Ojiya City, has received the highest title of “Hanshi” from the All Japan Karate-do Shotokan.

He started karate at the age of 18 and earned this honor after 60 years of training. He is grateful to his late master, who he once studied under, and continues to train with his master’s teachings of “productive martial arts” in his heart. He moved to Tokyo before entering Meiji University. He was strong-willed and devoted himself to training, and in 1963 he met the late Gima Mamoru and three years later he obtained his first dan.

After graduating from Meiji University, he started karate in order to study Buddhism. Gima went on to graduate school at Otani University in Kyoto, and served as an advisor to the All Japan Karate Federation and the coach of the Otani University Karate Club. He returned to his hometown at the age of 30, and, with his natural competitive spirit, he began teaching in both Nagaoka and Ojiya, where he has 80 students and also holds classes overseas.

He has visited six branches overseas, including Canada and India, to provide direct instruction. “It’s fun to come into direct contact with foreign history, culture, and language. It’s important to have exchanges with local people that have a strong smell,” he says of the significance of fighting. In 2007, he obtained the eighth dan required for Yoshikami. He met the requirements of age and rank, and became the first instructor to be recognized, becoming a karate master in February 2018. “I was able to win the karate title thanks to my experience with Gima-sensei.

I feel that I received this title thanks to him,” he said. He looks up to Gima-sensei, who continued to teach even after he turned 18, and teaches in Nagaoka and Ojiya City. Kobayashi has about 100 students, ranging from elementary school students to working adults. He leaves the main daily practice to his students who have become instructors, but he also holds a monthly training seminar for those with black belts that he teaches himself. He also serves as the chairman of the “Kansai International Tedō Federation,” which was founded by a student of Gima-sensei. He holds a training seminar for black belts about once a year. Kobayashi Mitsunori, who has received the highest title in karate, “Hanshi,” in Katakai-cho, Ojiya City He never misses out on his own training, and it is his daily routine to spend 50 minutes every morning at a dojo near Genji Temple, working on the fine arts of kata and other subjects. When you are young, you tend to rely on strength, but Kobayashi says, “There are things you can learn by continuing martial arts,” such as how to move your body to perform techniques without using force. “There is a saying that goes, ‘mind, technique, and body,’ but young people stop at the ‘mind, technique, and body’ stage. I want to deepen my skills and mind beyond that,” he says, and he intends to continue his efforts. More accurate is something like : [Karate 56 years highest rank “Hanshi”] 8th Dan, model instructor, Ojiya head priest Kobayashi-san Learning with the teachings of his late master “Lifelong martial arts” in his heart Kobayashi Mitsunori (74 years old) , head priest of Joshoji Temple in Katakai-cho, Ojiya City, has received the highest title of “Hanshi” from the All Japan Karate-do Shotokan.

He started karate at the age of 18 and earned this honuor after 60 years of training. He is grateful to his late master, who he once studied under, and continues to train with his master’s teachings of “productive martial arts” in his heart. He moved to Tokyo before entering Meiji University. He was strong-willed and devoted himself to training, and in 1963 he met the late Gima Makoto; three years later he obtained his first dan. After graduating from Meiji University, he studied Buddhism. Gima served as an advisor to the All Japan Karate Federation. Kobayashi coachrd the Otani University Karate Club. [Ōtani University traces its origin to the early Edo period (1603 – 1868). It was founded in 1655.] Kobayashi returned to his hometown at the age of 30, and, with his natural competitive spirit, he began teaching in both Nagaoka and Ojiya, and also holds classes overseas. He has visited six branches overseas, including Canada and India, to provide direct instruction. “It’s fun to come into direct contact with foreign history, culture, and language. It’s important to have exchanges with local people” he In 2007, he obtained the eighth dan required for Hanshii. He met the requirements of age and rank, and became the first instructor to be recognized, becoming a karate master in February 2018. “I was able to win the karate title thanks to my experience with Gima-sensei. I feel that I received this title thanks to him,” he said. He looks up to Gima-sensei, who continued to teach even after he turned 80 years old. Kobayashi teaches in Nagaoka and Ojiya City. Kobayashi has about 100 students, ranging from elementary school students to working adults.

He leaves the main daily practice (of Karate) to his students who have become instructors, but he also holds a monthly training seminar for those with black belts that he teaches himself. He also serves as the chairman of the “Kansai International Tedō Federation,” which was founded by a student of Gima-sensei. He holds a training seminar for black belts about once a year. He never misses out on his own training, and it is his daily routine to spend 50 minutes every morning at a dojo near Genji Temple, working on the fine arts of kata and other subjects. When you are young, you tend to rely on strength, but Kobayashi says, “There are things you can learn by continuing martial arts,” such as how to move your body to perform techniques without using force. “There is a saying that goes, ‘mind, technique, and body,’ but young people stop at the ‘mind, technique, and body’ stage. I want to deepen my skills and mind beyond that,” he says, and he intends to continue his efforts.