About Kyokushin Kai Karate

Often referred to as the "world's strongest karate", the style of Kyokyshin was founded by Mas Oyama in 1953, though it was not known as Kyokushin at that time. Oyama opened his "Oyama Dojo" in what was essentially a grass lot in a central part of Tokyo: Mejiro ward. Oyama's style was named "Kyokushin" during a ceremony in 1957, just one year after moving into their first real dojo, a former ballet school behind Rikkyo University.

Kyokushinkai roughly translates into English as "Society of Ultimate Truth", or a group of people searching for the ultimate truth. This reflected Oyama's personal philosophy and conviction to his martial art. Oyama Sosai summed up the Kyokushin Spirit in the following way:

"The heart of our karate is real fighting.
There can be no proof without real fighting.
Without proof there can be no trust.
Without trust there can be no respect.
This is a definition in the world of Martial Arts"
- Masutatsu Oyama

Kyokushin quickly developed a reputation as a tough, effective and practical style of karate. Oyama Sosai and his team of hand-picked instructors would observe other styles of martial arts, picking out the techniques they believed would work in a real fight, and discarding the rest.

Kyokushin is one of the few styles of full-contact karate, aiming to prepare students for realistic fight situations, with an emphasis on personal development, self-discipline and tough, physical training. It has been (and continues to be) highly influential on other karate styles around the world. Furthermore, it is estimated that there has been over 12 million practitioners of the style around the world. Many of today's prominent instructors from around the world originally trained under Oyama Sosai, including Shihan Jim Phillips.

While more often than not, the focus on Oyama Sosai's life tends to be about his legendary physical strength and martial arts prowess, Oyama was also deeply interested in Zen Buddhism, the precepts of which he studied, along with philosophical classics and the philosophy of martial arts. In particular during his second session of training in solitude (on Mount Kiyosumi in Chiba Prefecture, south-east of Tokyo) Oyama spent considerable time in study and contemplation, along with his gruelling training schedule. This thought is reflected in his eleven mottos:

The Eleven Mottos of Mas Oyama

The Martial Way begins and ends with courtesy.
Therefore, be properly and genuinely courteous at all times.

Following the Martial Way is like scaling a cliff - continue upwards without rest:
It demands absolute and unfaltering devotion to the task at hand.

Strive to seize the initiative in all things, all the time guarding against actions
stemming from selfish animosity or thoughtlessness.

Even for the Martial Artist, the place of money cannot be ignored.
Yet one should be careful never to become attached to it.

The Martial Way is centered in posture.
Strive to maintain correct posture at all times.

The Martial Way begins with one thousand days,
and is mastered after ten thousand days of training.

In the Martial Arts, introspection begets wisdom.
Always see contemplation on your action as an opportunity to improve.

The nature and purpose of the Martial Way is universal.
All selfish desires should be roasted in the tempering fires of hard training.

The Martial Arts begins with a point and end in a circle.
Straight lines stem from this principle.

The true essence of the Martial Way can only be realized through experience.
Knowing this, learn never to fear its demands.

Always remember: In the Martial Arts the rewards of a confident and
Grateful heart are truly abundant.