HanshiAndy Reynoff
Martial Artist • Coach • Singer • Composer
8th Degree Black BeltPresident
World SoKarate Federation
Chairman
World Full-Contact Karate Federation
1983Martial arts journey began
8th DanAchieved in 2022
22Original rock ballads
Martial arts & purpose
A Life Dedicated to Martial Arts
Hanshi Andy Reynoff (Андрей Рекунов) has dedicated his life to the development, teaching, and promotion of Full-Contact Karate. His work brings together practical fighting skills, the values of traditional Budo, and a commitment to helping students become stronger, more confident, and more disciplined.His martial arts journey began in 1983. Through decades of training, competition, and teaching, he developed a deep understanding of Full-Contact Karate and the responsibility that comes with passing that knowledge on to others.As the founder of the World SoKarate Federation (WSF) and the World Full-Contact Karate Federation (WFKF), Hanshi Reynoff has brought together practitioners and instructors from around the world. His work supports international cooperation, instructor development, and opportunities for martial artists to train, compete, and exchange experience.Under his leadership, international tournaments and seminars have provided a platform for practitioners to test their skills, learn from experienced masters, and build lasting friendships through mutual respect.His contributions extend beyond competition. Through books, instructional videos, and the training of instructors, he has shared his knowledge with aspiring martial artists and helped prepare the next generation of teachers.Having taught thousands of students, mentored dozens of instructors, and developed champions at local, national, and world levels, Hanshi Reynoff continues to approach karate as a lifelong path of learning, service, and personal growth.Recognition & honors
Recognition and Honors
Honorary Order — 2nd Degree
Awarded for outstanding achievements in organizing the educational process, productive scientific and teaching activities, and significant contributions to the development of the International Humanitarian University.Odesa, Ukraine · October 29, 2021Rank & experience
Black Belt Progression
| Rank | Year |
|---|---|
| 8th Dan | 2022 |
| 7th Dan | 2015 |
| 6th Dan | 2010 |
| 5th Dan | 2006 |
| 4th Dan | 2002 |
| 3rd Dan | 2000 |
| 2nd Dan | 1998 |
| 1st Dan | 1994 |
Milestones
Career and Leadership
- Began training in Judo
- Started Kyokushin Karate
- Practiced Kyokushin Karate, Simmey-do Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and SoKarate
- Head Coach Odesa Regional Federation of Contact Karate and Kung-Fu
- Chief Instructor Eastern Ukrainian Region — ISKF
- Director and Chief Instructor Daihido Organization
- Vice President ISKF
- Vice President All-Ukrainian Kyokushin Karate Federation
- Official Representative in Poland World Sokyokushin Organization
- President World SoKarate Federation
In my own words
My Story — The Beginning
Since childhood, like many boys, I dreamed of becoming strong and learning how to fight. That desire eventually became a lifelong dedication to martial arts.At the time, opportunities to learn martial arts in the Soviet Union were limited, and karate was restricted. Judo was one of the few available options. One of the legal Judo clubs was in Chernomorka, Odesa, where my friends and I began training in 1983.We were proud to wear our gis. I still remember my mother buying mine for 21 rubles. Our coach was a respected Judo master who also held a rank in Karate. Unfortunately, after so many years, I cannot recall his name or exact rank. At that age, we simply did not pay much attention to those details.Alongside Judo, we gathered in the basement of our building and practiced karate in secret with older boys.The first person to introduce me to Kyokushin Karate, in 1987, was Oleg Nazarov, the older brother of my late friend Alexander Safronov. To us, Oleg was a hero and a role model — we even copied the way he walked. We remain friends to this day.The early years
Learning Behind Closed Doors
Information about karate was extremely difficult to find. We collected grainy photocopies of Japanese masters, translated Western karate manuals, and copied what we learned into our notebooks.Using those notes, drawings, and photographs — together with the techniques we had already learned — we continued training in strict secrecy.During those years, even possessing karate photographs or training notes could lead to serious trouble. Parents could be called to school, young people could be placed under official scrutiny, and unauthorized karate instruction could carry legal consequences.With perestroika, things began to change. Restrictions eased, access to information expanded, and new sports became increasingly popular.Young people started turning former “underground” basements into gyms. We did the same: brought in weights, made punching bags from sacks, and installed makiwara boards.At last, we could train without hiding.By the late 1980s, official karate clubs began opening and attracting hundreds of students. But the growing popularity of karate also brought a new problem: self-proclaimed “masters” who saw an opportunity to make money without having the necessary skills or knowledge.Training under pressure
Military Service and
Full-Contact Experience
In 1989, I was drafted into the Soviet Armed Forces. My service began in an Air Force training regiment in Sterlitamak, Bashkir ASSR.At first, there was almost no time to train. After six months, however, I was transferred to the Akhtyrka Air Regiment in the Sumy region, where I met fellow martial arts practitioners.We trained almost every day, with a strong emphasis on full-contact sparring. Those sessions gave me my first substantial experience of fighting under pressure and helped shape my approach to practical karate.A defining encounter
Meeting My Sensei
After leaving the army in 1991, I began searching for a karate club that matched the way I wanted to train.In 1992, I came across an advertisement for Salam Kahil, who at the time held a 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate.His approach combined Kyokushin Karate, Full-Contact Karate, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu — exactly what I had been looking for.That was when I met my Sensei.By then, karate in Ukraine was becoming more organized. Tournaments, seminars, and grading examinations were being held, and experienced professional instructors were emerging.Building on my earlier training, I progressed into teaching and gained support from martial artists both in Ukraine and abroad.Teachers & inspiration
Masters Who Have Influenced My Journey
Over the years, I have trained under and organized seminars with many respected masters, including:
- Shihan Loek Hollander9th Dan · Netherlands
- Shihan Salam Kahil8th Dan · Ukraine
- Shihan Andre Drewniak8th Dan · Poland
- Shihan Antonio Pinero8th Dan · Spain
- Shihan Noriyuki Tanaka6th Dan · Japan
And many other masters from around the world, whose knowledge and example have contributed to my development.
Singer & composer
Music — Another Part of My Journey
Alongside martial arts, music has always held a special place in my life.I am also a singer and composer, and over the years I have written 22 rock ballads. These songs have been warmly received by my friends, acquaintances, and others who have heard me perform, and they continue to resonate with those listeners today.Music and Friendship in Odesa
In the early 1990s, I had the opportunity to sing and play in restaurants in Odesa with my friend Alex Piatkowski, a wonderful musician and arranger.Music was not how I earned my living — I pursued it because I enjoyed it.Alexander and I spent countless hours making music together and recorded several of my songs. Those sessions remain some of my fondest memories.We are still friends today, despite the 10,000 kilometers between us and the difficulties the world is going through. Our shared love of music and the years we spent together remain a lasting bond.An Unforgettable Wedding — Izmail, 1995
One particularly joyful memory brings my martial arts and musical worlds together.In 1995, in Izmail, Odessa region, my teacher Salam Kahil and I performed as musicians at the wedding of my friend Oleg Shyliaev, who is now Chairman of the Board of the World SoKarate Federation.Sharing the stage with my own Sensei on such a happy occasion was great fun — a memory I still treasure.Martial arts and music have both shaped who I am. Karate gives me discipline, strength, and purpose; music gives me another way to express my feelings, tell my stories, and connect with people.A lifelong path
Gratitude and the Road Ahead
I am grateful to my Sensei, my family, my students, and my friends. Without them, I would not be who I am today.Today, I proudly hold the title of Hanshi, having taught the art of the empty hand to thousands of students, trained dozens of instructors, and helped develop champions at local, national, and world levels.Yet no title or achievement marks the end of the journey.The path of karate has no end, and I will continue to learn and walk this path for the rest of my life.Sincerely,Andy Reynoff
Osu!