History of Kyokushin Karate - Japanese Master Mas Oyama
I have been a fan of Japanese martial arts styles for many years, namely Karate & Kubudo and in fact Renbukan Karate was the first style I trained at the local Police Youth Center in 1986.
But my interest has been mainly in Kyokushin's tough traditional style founded by the late Masutatsu Oyama or more commonly known as Mas Oyama or the "hand of God"
Mas Oyama was instrumental in the early days of Karate, spreading his art from Japan to the rest of the world.
Kyokushin training focuses on self-development, traditional values, preservation of hard contact, tameshiwari and is highly respected in all martial arts circles as true hard karate.
Masutatsu Oyama was born Yong I-Choi on July 27, 1923 in South Korea. He started studying Kempo at the age of nine.
During 1938 at age 15 he moved to Japan. He soon began training in what is now known as Shotokan Karate with Gichin Funokoshi.
With exceptional abilities, he soon reached 2nd Dan at age 17.
He continued to train hard for the following years and even joined the Imperial Army of Japan.
He is known for his many months alone on Mount Kiyozumi training 12 hours a day every day under waterfalls, breaking river rocks with his own hands, using trees for strength training and as a makiwara.
In 1952, he was invited to the land of opportunities i.e. United States. He demonstrated karate live and on national television.
During his time in the US In the USA, he is said to have many rivals, resulting in over 270 matches against boxers, fighters, Thai gorillas and I would say many fools with no skills.
In 1953, Mas Oyama opened his first "Dojo", a simple installation in Mejiro Tokyo.
The world headquarters was formally opened in June 1964 and it was at this year that Oyama embraced the name Kyokushin which means "The Ultimate Truth".
In the same year the International Karate Organization (IKO) was rooted. By 1957, World Headquarters had 700 members and Kyokushin's reputation was expanding.
The dojo quickly earned a name for tough kumite and the regularly trained fighters from all over Japan there. During the following decades, Kyokushin Karate flourished around the world.
Kyokushin Karate has influenced many other karate school schools for good.
Kyokushin promotes realistic combat, endurance, physical endurance, conditioning, and traditional values ??in his teachings.
The Ultimate Warrior test in Kyokushin is the 100-man kumite, a grueling test that only a select few have passed.
But Oyama, perhaps due to his broadcast days, Kyokushin was fond of public protests.
He was one of the only men capable of hitting a balloon in the air and exploding it.
Try it, it requires a lot of speed and power. He also performed hand-held beer bottles with a knife and many tameshiwari demonstrations.
Mas Oyama also wrote many pioneering karate books that were instrumental in the early spread of art.
Sadly, in April 1994, the founder of the Kyokushin Karate Sosai Mas Oyama passed away.
He continued training until the day of his death, embracing the spirit of a Ultimate Warrior. The maximum strength of his spirit and the spirit of true Karate lives to this day in the thousands of Kyokushin dojo around the world.
The IKO, now chaired by Kancho Shokei Matsui, is the world's largest karate organization with more than twelve million members in 135 countries.
Eleven slogans of Mas Oyama
1. The Martial Path begins and ends with courtesy. Therefore, be correct and genuinely courteous at all times.
2. Following the martial path is like climbing a cliff. Continue up without resting. It demands absolute and unflattering dedication to the task at hand.
3. Strive to take advantage of initiative in all things, all the time avoiding actions stemming from selfish animosity or lack of consideration.
4. Even for martial artists, the place of money cannot be overlooked. However, one must be careful never to become attached to it.
5. The martial path focuses on posture. Endeavor to maintain correct posture at all times.
6. The Martial aisle commence with a thousand days and is mastered after ten thousand days of training.
7. In martial arts, introspection breeds wisdom. Always observe the contemplation of your actions as an opportunity to improve.
8. The nature and purpose of the Martial Path is universal. All selfish desires must be roasted in the moderate fires of hard training.
9. Martial arts begin with a dot and end in a circle. Straight lines are derived from this principle.
10. The true essence of the Martial Path can only be realized through experience. Knowing this, he learns never to fear his demands.
11. Always cite: in martial arts the rewards of a confident and grateful soul are absolutely abundant.
