Kanbun Izumikawa: The Successor of Kanki Izumikawa

Kanbun Izumikawa was the oldest son of Kanki Izumikawa, born in Kawasaki city in 1942. From an early age he was absorbed in karate and learning the Senbukan Goju-Ryu from his father Kanki. It is typically the tradition for the firstborn son to succeed the father as the head of the school and he was being prepared for this role early on. Kanbun would have received a detailed instruction in the inner techniques and teachings of Goju-Ryu from his father.

In 1967, Kanki Izumikawa the shodai soke of the Senbukan passed away. Kanbun Izumikawa then became the second soke of the Senbukan and inherited his father’s teachings and legacy. Under his leadership the “Goju Ryu karate do Senbukan” was renamed to "Goju Ryu karate do Senbukai”.  According to his younger brother Katsuya, Kanbun was very serious about karate and practiced it strongly. He was committing to growing and expanding the Senbukai. Unfortunately, though, following the passing of their father, many of Kanki Izumikawa's senior students left and established their own organisations.

From 1963-1968 he had consecutive victories in kata competition at the All Nihon Karate-do Senshu Ken Taikai which was sponsored by the Nihon karate Do Rengokai. In 1973 he also travelled to the Senbukan branch dojo on Hawaii to teach as his father did before. In addition, each summer he would travel to Okinawa and train with Juei Tamaki who was a senior student of Seiko Higa and former dojo brother of his father Kanki Izumikawa. These annual visits went on for a period of ten years and were to further his understanding of the Seiko Higa lineage of Goju-Ryu. Kanbun also served as director of the Kawasaki Karate Association.

In 1982, sadly he succumbed to an illness and died at the young age of 39. His younger brother Katsuya Izumikawa who was his assistant instructor inherited the Senbukai as the third soke and continues to pass on the traditional Goju-Ryu teaching from his father and brother.

Kanbun Izumikawa 
Sanchin Kata