Also known as

Description

Pioneer of Shotokan karate in Canada. Of Greek origin, born in Egypt, Anastasiadis trained at the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in Tokyo under Hirokazu Kanazawa, and was one of the very first foreigners to earn his black belt there in the late 1950s. He became the first person to teach karate in Canada, opening his first club in Montreal in 1957. He was the first non-Japanese to referee the All Japan Championship. By age 33 (1965) he held mastery in karate, judo, aikido, and bogotsu. He founded the first Canadian karate federation and collaborated with Hirokazu Kanazawa on instructional books and videos for the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF). Among his early students was Gilles Dufour, who later became the successor of Roger Lesseau in Kyokushin.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Hirokazu Kanazawa

  linkShotokan 2

  Probable

  Goran Glucina's first-person video description states that he and Ari Anastasiadis both trained under Hirokazu Kanazawa; corroborated by the Karate Maskoutain hommage documenting Anastasiadis's collaboration with Kanazawa on SKIF instructional materials. The interaction period is inferred from Anastasiadis's documented Tokyo/JKA stay in the late 1950s when Kanazawa was a JKA instructor, not directly dated by any source.

  sports_kabaddiJKA Honbu Dojo badge (1956-1960)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Goran Glucina's first-person video description states that he and Ari Anastasiadis both trained under Hirokazu Kanazawa; corroborated by the Karate Maskoutain hommage documenting Anastasiadis's collaboration with Kanazawa on SKIF instructional materials. The interaction period is inferred from Anastasiadis's documented Tokyo/JKA stay in the late 1950s when Kanazawa was a JKA instructor, not directly dated by any source.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "We all trained under the greatest Karate Master of modern times HIROKAZU KANAZAWA Soke who spread Karate-Do throughout the Western World."

  — Glucina, Goran. (2022). KARATE DEMONSTRATION on NHK TV, TOKYO JAPAN 1985 Rare footagelinkinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Gilles Dufour

  linkShotokan 2

  Probable

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states Dufour first trained in Shotokan under Ari Anastasiadis before switching to Kyokushin in 1965. Anastasiadis is documented as the first karate instructor in Canada.

  (1963-1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The Zanshin documentary transcript states Dufour first trained in Shotokan under Ari Anastasiadis before switching to Kyokushin in 1965. Anastasiadis is documented as the first karate instructor in Canada.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Puis par la suite, c'est ça Shotokan. Puis par la suite, c'était Ari Anastasiadis, qui était instructeur. Par la suite, ça a été en 1965, décembre 1965, le Kyokushinkai a été implanté au Canada par Roger Lesseau."

  — Zanshin - Épisode 9 - Maître Gilles Dufour - La passion d'une vie - Moi mes soulierslinkinfo

Honors (2)

• receipt_longCanadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee 3

  Confirmed

  Listed on the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductees page for 2010

  Title (2010)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Listed on the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductees page for 2010

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "2010 - Ari Anastasiadis - Karate"

  — Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductees list link
• receipt_longMaster 2

  Probable

  The hommage article states he trained at JKA in Japan and was a master in multiple arts, but specific dan grade is not listed

  Title

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The hommage article states he trained at JKA in Japan and was a master in multiple arts, but specific dan grade is not listed

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Issu de la Japan Karate Association (JKA), Sensei Anastasiadis devient le premier à enseigner le karaté au Canada, ouvrant son premier club à Montréal en 1957."

  — Ferro, Ricardo. (2024). Hommage à Sensei Ari Anastasiadis - Club de Karaté Maskoutainlinkinfo

  "Senior Sensei ARI ANASTASIADIS Sensei who was one of the very first foreigners to gain his black belt in the late 1950's in Tokyo Japan."

  — Glucina, Goran. (2022). KARATE DEMONSTRATION on NHK TV, TOKYO JAPAN 1985 Rare footagelinkinfo

Sources