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  • Illustration representing Mas Oyama’s “point and circle” principle in Kyokushin karate

    Kyokushin Was Never Just About Toughness

      “The Martial Arts Begins With a Point and Ends in a Circle” – Mas Oyama One of Sosai’s eleven mottos states: “The Martial Arts begins with a point and…

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  • Dramatic Kyokushin Karate poster featuring Sosai Mas Oyama beside a knockdown fight scene under arena lights, with the bold text “Budo Begins Where Sport Ends” and the phrase “Ichi Geki, Hissatsu” in Japanese and English.

    Kyokushin Beyond Sport

    Budo Begins Where Sport Ends My sensei used to say, “Any time a martial art is turned into a sport, you weaken it.” I first heard those words more than…

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  • OSU graphic with 押忍 kanji on white background for Kyokushin Karate article.

    Osu: The Heart of Kyokushin

    If you spend any time in a Kyokushin dojo, you’ll hear the word Osu constantly. We say it when we bow, when we acknowledge instruction, when we greet each other,…

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  • Two female karate fighters sparring with lightweight hand protection in Kyokushin dojo, surrounded by students in gi, circa early 90's.

    Kyokushin doesn’t punch to the face???

    “Kyokushin doesn’t punch to the face.” What? Really? I’ve heard or read this about Kyokushin many times over the years and I always shake my head. That was not the…

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  • Bill Stewart delivering a kick during a point-fighting match as a green belt in Florida in 1982, with WKA World Champion Mike Bell refereeing at ringside.

    Reflections on Tournament Fighting

    I competed in my first karate tournament in 1981. I was a white belt in the beginner’s division, and I drew a yellow belt for my very first fight. Only…

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  • Claudio Rodriguez steps in on Sebastian Bonislawski with a well-timed knee during their knockdown fight at the 33rd American International Karate Championships.

    We Win or We Learn

    Kyokushin competition lessons from the 33rd American International Karate Championships. At the judges’ meeting before the tournament, Shihan Jerry Poe said something that stuck with me: “I like to say,…

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  • Sweat marks on red and black dojo mats after Kyokushin training, symbolizing hard work and preparation.

    The Only Secret is Sweat

    Mas Oyama said, “The only secret is sweat.” It’s a simple statement, but one I feel goes right to the heart of what Kyokushin is about. It’s a quote my…

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  • Illustration of an older Kyokushin instructor observing two karate practitioners sparring in a traditional dojo with wooden floors, Kyokushin banners, and a portrait of Sosai Mas Oyama displayed at the shomen.

    Lessons From My Sensei

    Lessons From My Sensei Martial Art vs Sport “Any time you turn a martial art into a sport, you weaken it.” My sensei said that often, and after forty-five years,…

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  • Sensei Bill Stewart performing chūdan yoko geri (middle side kick) in Kyokushin karate — featured in the article “Beyond the Belt: What Really Matters in Karate.”

    What Decades in Kyokushin Taught Me About Rank

    Rank in Kyokushin marks progress, but the true essence lies in the knowledge and character forged through training. Bill Stewart reflects on his journey from white to black belt, showing…

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  • Illustration of a young karate student kneeling beside a black belt in a traditional dojo, representing the lifelong journey from white belt to mastery in Kyokushin karate.

    What Shihan Cameron Quinn’s Budo Karate of Mas Oyama Teaches About the Black Belt Journey

    “A black belt is a white belt who never gave up.” Most martial artists have probably seen that phrase somewhere — likely as part of a meme shared on social…

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  • Junior Kyokushin karate competitors wearing protective gear exchange body punches during a knockdown tournament match while a referee watches closely.

    Is Kyokushin Kinder and Gentler now?

    A video posted in Kyokushinkai Karate, one of my groups on Facebook, recently generated a bit of controversy. According to the OP, the video was a fight from an IFK…

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  • What martial arts go well with Kyokushin Karate?

    “I have not permitted myself to be ignorant of any martial art that exists. Why? Such ignorance is a disgrace to someone who follows the path of the martial arts.”-…

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  • Mas. Oyama – Judo and BJJ

    I’m quite active on social media as many of you reading this know. One platform I occasionally post to is Reddit. Someone asked a question there for people’s thoughts about…

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  • Illustrated Kyokushin Karate banner showing a karate practitioner seated in seiza on a mountain overlook at sunset, facing a glowing horizon. Large text reads “We Will Train Our Hearts and Bodies for a Firm Unshaking Spirit,” alongside reflections on perseverance, humility, and the Dojo Kun. A Miyamoto Musashi quote appears along the bottom.

    We will train our hearts and bodies…

    “ “Karate is not a game. It is not a sport. It is not even a system of self-defense. Karate is half physical exercise and half spiritual. The karateist who…

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  • Karate pioneer Mas Oyama standing at Kyokushin Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, wearing a white gi with the Kyokushin kanji.

    The Best Karate Style? – Reflections on Training

    “I have not permitted myself to be ignorant of any martial art that exists. Why? Such ignorance is a disgrace to someone who follows the path of the martial arts.”-…

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