President, IKO Kyokushinkaikan, Tokyo, Japan

Kancho Shokei (Akiyoshi) Matsui was born in 1963. In 1976, he joined the Kita Nagare-Yama Dojo in the Chiba prefecture of Japan and commenced his illustrious karate career at the age of 13. He quickly established a firm reputation for being a karate man of exceptional skill and ability, with a highly individual, technically superior style of fighting. He took the basics he learnt in the dojo, and through intense and dedicated training, he managed to achieve Shodan (first degree) Black Belt in a little over a year.

In 1980, Matsui placed fourth in the 12th All Japan Open Karate Championships when he was just 17. Soon after, he became Chief Instructor of the International Kyokushin Headquarters "Honbu" Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. Both in 1981 and 1982, Matsui took 3rd Place in the All Japan Open Karate Championships.

He earned worldwide recognition and admiration for his amazing spirit, strength, and determination when he took a remarkable Third place finish at the 3rd World Open Karate Tournament in 1984. He succeeded in winning the All Japan Championships in each of 1985 and 1986, and then successfully completed the ultimate Kyokushin challenge — the "100 Man Kumite" — in record time. Sosai Mas Oyama used to call him "a true champion." He became known as the man of "unparalleled genius," and then in 1987 became the youngest ever Champion of the World at the age of 24. In May of 1992, Matsui opened his own Karate Dojo in Asakusa, Tokyo and was later appointed Branch Chief by Sosai Mas Oyama. On April 26, 1994, founder Sosai Mas Oyama regrettably passed away, leaving the Directorship of the worldwide organization to Matsui, who became "Kancho" (Director).

In the wake of the Sosai's untimely death, Kancho Matsui forged ahead staging the 11th All Japan Weight Tournament and the 27th All Japan Championships, the latter with a record 16,000 spectators in attendance. The following year, he produced the hugely successful 6th World Open Karate Tournament, to which 168 fighters from all over the world competed and more than 25,000 spectators witnessed.

Kancho Shokei Matsui has planned, produced and presented numerous groundbreaking martial arts events to the world, including the "World Cup" Team Karate Championships, the "Women's World Karate Championships", the "World Weight Category Karate Championships", the "International Senior Karate Championships", the "International Kata Championships", and the "International Youth Karate Championships."

Currently, the International Karate Organization has over 15 million members in 167 countries. While simultaneously managing the organization from its headquarters in Japan, Kancho Matsui travels to branches around the globe to teach and spread the spirit of the Kyokushin Way.

       Achievement: 

• 1980 — 4th place, 12th All Japan Open Karate Championships (age 17)
• 1981 — 3rd place, All Japan Open Karate Championships
• 1982 — 3rd place, All Japan Open Karate Championships
• 1983 — 8th place, All Japan Open Karate Championships
• 1984 — 3rd place, 3rd World Open Karate Tournament
• 1985 — 1st place, All Japan Open Karate Championships
• 1986 — 1st place, All Japan Championships; completed 100-Man Kumite
• 1987 — World Champion, 4th World Open Karate Tournament (youngest ever, age 24)