"... One Thousand days of
training, A beginner; Ten thousand days of training, A master."
Masutatsu Oyama
To understand Better
"Kyokushin"
is comprised of two Japanese words, "Kyoku"
(ultimate,
extreme) and "Shin"
(reality or truth
from within). The full name is Kyokushin KaiKan, were "Kai"
means meet,
join or associate, and "Kan"
school/building. The
official dogi (karate uniform) used by a Kyokushin practitioner has the word
KyokushinKai embroidered on the left side of the dogi-jacket, this calligraphy
is called "Kanji"
. The
internationally recognized symbol of Kyokushin Karate, the
Kanku ,
originates from the kata Kanku Dai.
More history
Mas Oyama opened his first
"Dojo" in 1953 in Mejiro, Tokyo. This was the time that Mas Oyama's karate
strength was at its peak so the training was severe. Many students were members
of other styles and Mas Oyama would compare styles and build on his karate. He
would take what he felt were the best techniques and concepts from any Martial
Art and gradually fit them into his training; therefore, laying the foundations
of Kyokushin Karate.
The first "School of Oyama" outside Japan was opened in 1957 by Shihan Bobby
Lowe in Hawaii. In 1952, Mas Oyama gave his first demonstration in Hawaii. After
the demonstration Shihan Bobby Lowe met Mas Oyama and arranged to train with
him. Bobby Lowe's father was an instructor of Kung Fu so he had done
much
training in the Chinese Martial Arts. He had participated in any fighting Art he
could; by the time he was 23 he had earned his 4th Dan in judo, 2nd Dan in Kempo,
shodan in Aikido but Mas Oyama's powerful demonstration had stunned him. Mas
Oyama invited Bobby Lowe to Tokyo to train with him and Bobby Lowe did and
trained for over a year and a half. In this way Shihan Bobby Lowe became the
first "uchi-deshi" of Kyokushin, a tradition that later grew to be known as the
"Wakajishi" or Young Lions of Mas Oyama, where a select few are chosen each year
to devote themselves to Karate for one thousand days.
Bobby Lowe
The building of the World Headquarters started in 1963 and was officially opened
in 1964. It was at this time that Mas Oyama adopted the name Kyokushin "The
Ultimate Truth". Kyokushin had started its spread around the globe and at
present is one of the largest martial art organization in the world.
It goes without saying that a style is only as strong as the students who
represent it. This is why it is the responsibility of all those who have chosen
to follow Sosai, to train hard and forge and indomitable spirit so that the
tradition of strength in Kyokushin Karate may be recognized by all for many
years.
Kyokushin philosophy
The Kyokushin philosophy is based
on the rigid discipline of the practitioner's acts, on the understanding of the
limitations of companions and opponents, on the respect to parents and
superiors, and on the loyalty to its ideals.
The practitioner of Kyokushin
must not measure efforts to improve him/herself and must not compare him/herself
with the less favoured to justify his/her failings.
He/she must not only know, but
also practice all his/her knowledge.
Learning Kyokushin requires 1000
days, but to understand all its essence, at least 10000 days are required.
Who opts for Kyokushin must have
the strength to surpass any obstacle, without change of mind, until he/she
reaches his/her objective.
A good example for the
practitioner to follow is that of the tea-kettle with water:
"When the fire heats the
water to the boiling point, we have to keep it lighted with the same
intensity, because if we reduce its flame, the water gets cold. It is not
enough to boil the water, we have to keep it boiling all the time."
What has happened after the
Sosai death?