Shokei (Akiyoshi) Matsui started Kyokushin Karate at age 13. In 1976, he joined the Kita Nagare-Yama Dojo in Chiba prefecture and managed to achieve the first level of Black Belt in a little over one year. In 1980, he 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 school, (“Honbu” Dojo) located in Tokyo.

Both in 1981 and 1982, Matsui took 3rd Place in the All Japan Open Karate Championships. At the Third World Open Karate Tournament in 1984, he took a remarkable 3rd place and became famous worldwide for his amazing spirit, strength and determination. He then succeeded in winning the All Japan Championships in the consecutive years of 1985 and 1986 and then successfully completed the ultimate Kyokushin challenge, the “100 Man Kumite” in record time. In Japan, he became known as a man of “unparalleled genius”, someone who comes along but once in an eon. In 1987, he became the youngest ever, Champion of the World. In May 1992, he opened his own school in Asakusa, Tokyo and was appointed Branch Chief by Sosai Mas Oyama.

On April 26, 1994, Sosai Mas Oyama regrettably passed away, leaving the Directorship of the worldwide organization to his famed protege, Matsui, who then became “Kancho” (Director). In the wake of the founder’s untimely death and contrary to the well documented backlash concerning Kancho’s extraordinary appointment, in June of the same year, Kancho Matsui staged the 11th All Japan Weight Tournament and then in November, the 27th All Japan Championships to which over 16,000 spectators attended. The following year, he produced the hugely successful, Sixth World Open Karate Tournament, to which 168 fighters from all over the world competed, more than 25,000 spectators witnessed and millions viewed on national broadcast.

In the past decade since assuming IKO directorship, Kancho Matsui has introduced, planned and produced not just one, but three groundbreaking events in the martial arts field: the “World Cup” - Team Karate Championships, the “Women’s World Karate Championships” and the “World Weight Category Championships”, continuing to promote and expand on the original ideals of Sosai Mas Oyama, and bring Kyokushin into the future.

In the past decade since assuming IKO directorship, Kancho Matsui has introduced, planned and produced not just one, but five groundbreaking events in the field of martial arts: the “World Cup” – Team Karate Championships, the “Women’s World Karate Championships”, the “World Weight Category Karate Championships”, the “International Senior Karate Championships” and just recently, the “International Youth Karate Championships” to which over 1200 competitors aged 4-17 from around the world participated, continuing to promote and expand on the original philosophy of Sosai Mas Oyama and bring the spirit of Kyokushin to every corner of the globe.

Currently, the International Karate Organization has over 12 million members in 120 countries. While simultaneously managing the organization from its headquarters in Japan, Kancho Matsui travels to scores of Branches each year visiting countries and cultures around the globe to teach and spread the spirit of the Kyokushin Way.