Hanshi | Roman Szyrajew

Teacher. Expert. Mentor. Leader.

Description

With more then 45 years of experience in Kyokushin, Hanshi Roman oversees the teaching of Kyokushin Karate within his organization and regularly teaches at his two dojos, located in Pointe-Claire and in Laval. He has several hundred students under his direct tutelage, including well over 20 black belts. Overall, his organization has over 500 students, with at least 50 black belts, including 5 yondans and many nidans and sandans.

Hanshi Roman has traveled all over the world to promote Kyokushin Karate in the true Budo spirit of Sosai Oyama. He has personally helped many dojos to grow and prosper for free for over 20 years before opening his own in 1991 because of the love he has for the martial arts and what it has done for him. During that time, he promoted Kyokushin Karate on many television programs with students of all ages. Among these TV programs, there are two best and most memorable ones: “YOU ASKED FOR IT”, which was broadcast over 100 stations on national television and hosted by comedian Rich Little; and “THE PIERRE LALONDE SHOW”, a well-known variety special in Quebec. Some of the feats he performed were: breaking two baseball bats simultaneously with one blow from the sune (shin); breaking ten blocks of cement with shuto (knife hand) and hiji (elbow); and breaking (with shuto) six blocks of ice measuring 10 inches thick and 39 inches long, doused with gasoline and set aflame.

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Throughout the years, there were many people Hanshi Roman worked and trained with, and from whom he has received enormous support. Among them Shihan Stuart Corrigal of Vancouver, Canada, and Shihan Bobby Lowe of Hawaii. Shihan Roman joined Shihan Corrigal many times at karate camps as well as taught at Shihan Corrigal’s dojo. He has high admiration for him and considers Shihan Stuart a very long-time friend. Hanshi Roman participated in numerous clinics with Shihan Lowe and thanks him for all his knowledge and advice.

Learning from each master teacher has made Hanshi Roman a far more complete karateka in true Budo spirit. Since 1997, Hanshi Roman has been North American chairman and Canadian representative of the International Karate Organization under Kancho Y. Matsushima (I.K.O. Matsushima).

Since September 2006, Shihan Roman has been director of his own dojo in the western part of the island of Montreal where he continues to promote Mas Oyama’s Kyokushin Karate and mentors hundreds of students under his supervision.