International Federation of Karate President
Hanshi Steve Arneil (10th Dan) was born in South Africa in 1934. At the age of 17, he became a black belt in Judo, as well as being reasonably versed in both Kenpo and Karate.
In 1961 Hanshi Arneil travelled to Japan to study Karate under Sosai Mas. Oyama (10th Dan). By the time he left Japan in 1965, he had gained the rank of 3rd Dan, as well as receiving certificates from Sosai Oyama for his outstanding technical abilities. Hanshi Arneil also became the first Kyokushin student to successfully accomplish the 100-man kumite.
After his marriage, Hanshi Arneil travelled with his new wife to Great Britain in 1965. In that same year, Hanshi Arneil also became a co-founder of the British Karate Kyokushinkai.
During the period 1968-1976 Hanshi Arneil was the team manager and coach for the All Styles English and British Karate team which won the World Karate Championship 1975/76. Hanshi Arneil was awarded the title of “World’s Best Coach” by the French Karate Federation in 1975.
While studying Kyokushin Karate in the early 1960’s, Hanshi Arneil took meticulous notes of what Mas Oyama taught him. Because of this, for the past four decades he has taught Kyokushin Karate true to the spirit of Sosai Mas Oyama. Despite his busy schedule as head of the IFK, Hanshi Arneil still teaches Kyokushin Karate – to beginners as well as black belts – on a regular basis travelling the world in the process.
Hanshi Steve Arneil serves the needs of the IFK by conducting seminars, camps and grading worldwide, attending tournaments and supervising the standards of the IFK established in more than 30 countries. To ensure the relevant standards are applied the Kata and Kihon books are used as the basis of IFK teachings keeping the traditional Kyokushin methods alive. IFK black belt camps are conducted to pass on Hanshi’s many years of teaching experience and provide quality IFK instructors throughout the organization who can in turn ensure the standards are maintained.
