The Founder: Masutatsu Oyama
Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin, was born in Korea in 1923 as Choi Yeong-i. At the age of nine, while living on his sister’s farm in Manchuria, he began training in Kenpō under a man he remembered simply as “Mr. Yi.” When he returned to Korea, he continued studying martial arts, including boxing and judo.
In 1938, he moved to Japan to attend a flight school and continued his martial studies there. Oyama trained in Shotokan Karate under Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi, who emphasized strong stances, full-power techniques, and body mechanics that became part of Oyama’s later style. He also trained in Goju-Ryu Karate under Gōgen Yamaguchi and So Nei Chu, whose breathing methods and focus on spiritual development influenced his outlook deeply.
From these combined experiences, Oyama developed a philosophy that karate must unite strength and humility—the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of Budo forged through direct experience and personal testing.
Mountain Training and Self-Discipline
After the Second World War, Oyama sought solitude in the mountains of Japan to focus entirely on training. He lived in isolation, conditioning his body and spirit through daily practice, meditation, and study. This period solidified his belief that true mastery comes from perseverance and self-discipline.
After returning from isolation, he demonstrated his karate publicly. One of the most famous examples was his confrontation with a bull, during which he broke its horn with a bare-handed strike. The feat, captured on film, symbolized not spectacle but the courage to confront fear directly.
The Birth of Kyokushin
By the early 1950s, Oyama’s reputation had spread across Japan. He began touring and giving demonstrations abroad, including an American tour in 1952–53, where he performed public exhibitions and accepted open challenges from other martial artists. His composure and discipline under pressure earned widespread respect.
In April 1956, Oyama opened his first official dōjō in Mejiro, Tokyo, while still affiliated with the Goju-Kai organization. His teaching combined the linear strength of Shotokan with the breathing, body conditioning, and circular movements of Goju-Ryu. This synthesis laid the foundation for what would become Kyokushin Karate.
The Founding of Kyokushin Kaikan
In March 1964, Oyama formally established the Kyokushin Kaikan—the “Society of the Ultimate Truth.” The name reflected his conviction that karate was more than self-defense or competition; it was a lifelong pursuit of truth through training.
The Kyokushin Kaikan headquarters in Tokyo became the center of a new era in karate—one that emphasized realistic training, strong spirit, and the unity of mind and body.
Early Students and Growth
During the 1950s and 60s, Oyama’s dōjō in Tokyo became known for its demanding training and powerful fighters.
Bobby Lowe met Masutatsu Oyama in 1952 during Oyama’s visit to Hawaii. Already skilled in judo, boxing, and kempo, he was invited to Japan to train, becoming Kyokushin’s first uchi deshi (live-in student). Lowe traveled to Japan in late 1952 and remained there until early 1954, training daily with Mas Oyama. He would go on to become Kyokushin’s first officially appointed branch chief outside Japan, opening the Hawaii Branch in 1957.
Don Buck, in California, was the first recognized Kyokushin instructor in the continental United States, receiving branch recognition from Mas Oyama in 1957. Buck had previous martial arts experience and a reputation as a strong, practical fighter. Oyama visited him during trips to the United States, and Buck’s dojo reflected the spirit of Kyokushin’s early years—direct, disciplined, and focused on fighting spirit and personal development.
Steve Arneil began training at Oyama’s Honbu dōjō in Tokyo in 1961. In May 1965, he became the first person to complete the 100-man kumite after Mas Oyama himself—a test that demonstrated the endurance, determination, and fighting heart that came to symbolize Kyokushin.
Tadashi Nakamura followed as the second person to complete the 100-man kumite in October 1965, and Shigeru Oyama became the third in September 1966.
Afterward, each would play a vital role in spreading Kyokushin beyond Japan. Arneil was later sent to the United Kingdom, where he established the British Karate Kyokushinkai and helped build Kyokushin throughout Europe. Tadashi Nakamura became the first instructor sent from Japan to teach on the U.S. mainland, opening a dōjō in New York. Shigeru Oyama, along with his brother Yasuhiko Oyama, was sent later, and together they laid the foundation for Kyokushin in the eastern United States.
Through the dedication of these pioneers, Kyokushin took root around the world—known for its realism, discipline, and the spirit of Osu no Seishin: the perseverance to push beyond one’s limits and discover strength through challenge.
Legacy
Mas Oyama continued to teach and refine his art for the rest of his life. He believed karate must be more than technique—that it must develop character, humility, and perseverance. He often reminded students that true purpose was self-improvement through the struggle of training.
Mas Oyama passed away in 1994, leaving behind one of the most influential martial arts systems in the world. His legacy lives on in the countless dojos and instructors who continue to train and teach in the spirit of Osu no Seishin,the spirit of pushing forward with courage, respect, and endurance.
The Spirit of Kyokushin
The word Kyokushin means “Ultimate Truth.” It reflects Oyama’s belief that truth can only be found through hard training, honest effort, and humility in the face of challenge. The spirit of Kyokushin endures wherever students bow, train, and push themselves beyond what they thought possible.
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