Kyokushin Karate
SOSAI MAS OYAMA (FOUNDER)
Masutatsu ('Mas') Oyama was the founder of the KYOKUSHIN system of martial arts. After studying and exploring several martial arts styles in Japan, Mas Oyama recognized that none offered what he felt was the 'true' way. He began practicing alone and in his solitary, developed his own training, fighting methods and philosophy.
Mas Oyama's technique was so powerful and realistic that it gained widespread recognition in Japan and soon a huge following of would-be students formed around the world wanting to follow what they coined as "The Strongest Karate".
Mas Oyama named his system, KYOKUSHIN™ which translates to "The True Way" or "The Ultimate Truth" and so his legacy began.
The International Karate Organization Kyokushin Kaikan was established in 1964 and has evolved into a global network of karate practitioners numbering over 12 million in 125 countries. Sosai (founder) Mas Oyama is credited as originating the "full-contact" style of karate. Since it's inception, Kyokushin has directly produced thousands of martial arts champions. Indeed full-contact knockdown fighters of today can trace their current methodology in some way to the success of Kyokushin.
Mas Oyama passed away in April 1994 in Tokyo, Japan. Before his untimely death, he named his favorite student and long-time protege, Shokei Matsui as his successor and Director of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan. The IKO Kyokushinkaikan "Honbu" World Headquarters operate in Tokyo, Japan.
SHIHAN KATSUHITO GORAI (7 DAN, IKO USA BRANCH CHIEF, DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT)
Born and raised in the motherland of karate - Japan, Katsuhito Gorai began Kyokushin training as a youth and has since been continually involved in the organization; competing, judging and coaching knockdown fighters, spreading the philosophy and spirit of Kyokushin the world over.
Sosai Mas Oyama himself personally appointed Shihan Gorai to his post as Branch Chief for the USA; it was the last appointment Sosai made before his untimely death in April 1994. Mas Oyama challenged Gorai to open and establish the Kyokushin system in America, a task Shihan Gorai has taken on with immense dedication.
Initially, a recognized national Championship contender in Japan, Shihan Gorai directed his path towards teaching and the growth and advancement of Kyokushin around the world. In so doing, he has formatted and conducted clinics, training seminars and camps as well as established and organized martial arts matches and international competitive championships in over 70 countries worldwide, including the first “Coupe du Monde” - World Cup Team Karate Championships event in Paris, France, the first Women’s World Karate Championships in New York and establishing the first full-contact US Weight Category Championships in Los Angeles and the renowned All American Open International Karate Championships in New York City. These events have made way for the further development and promotion of the Kyokushinkaikan and the advancement of all its members.
In his position as Director of the International Department for IKO Honbu (Headquarters) with offices in Tokyo & New York, and in his capacity serving as General Secretary & Member of the IKO International Committee, as well as an advisory body to the Kyokushinkaikan Kancho Shokei Matsui, Shihan Gorai has had the honor of travelling to over 60 IKO-member nations to oversee the IKO International Tournament Circuit, as well as meet with and train tens of thousands of IKO members over the last two decades. Shihan Gorai currently holds a 7th Degree (Nana Dan) Black Belt in the Kyokushinkaikan, is a Licensed IKO Tournament Official, and the IKO USA Branch Chief & Head Instructor for Kyokushin Karate New York KKNY.
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 10,000 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.
KANCHO SHOKEI MATSUI (PRESIDENT IKO KYOKUSHINKAIKAN)
Shokei (Akiyoshi) Matsui started Kyokushin Karate at the age of 13. In 1976, he joined the Kita Nagare-Yama Dojo in the Chiba prefecture of Japan, managing to achieve Shodan (first degree) Black Belt in a little over a year.
In 1980 Matsui placed fourth in the 12th All Japan Open Karate Championships when he was just 17. Soon after this he became Chief Instructor of the International Kyokushin Headquarters School, "Honbu" Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. Both in 1981 and 1982 Matsui took 3rd Place in the All Japan Open Karate Championships and then 8th place at the same event in 1983. He earned worldwide recognition and admiration for his amazing spirit, strength, and determination when he took a remarkable Third place finish at the 3rd World Open Karate Tournament in 1984. He succeeded in winning the All Japan Championships in both 1985 and 1986 and then successfully completed the ultimate Kyokushin challenge, the "100 Man Kumite" in record time. In Japan, he became known as the man of "unparalleled genius", one who comes along but once in an eon.
In 1987 he became the youngest ever World Champion.
In May of 1992, Matsui opened his own school in Asakusa, Tokyo and was later appointed Branch Chief by Sosai Mas Oyama. On April 26, 1994, founder Sosai Mas Oyama regrettably passed away, leaving the Directorship of the worldwide organization to Matsui, who became "Kancho" (President). In the wake of Sosai's untimely death, and despite the well-documented backlash concerning his appointment, Kancho Matsui forged ahead that year staging the 11th All Japan Weight Tournament and the 27th All Japan Championships; the latter with a record 16,000 spectators in attendance. The following year, he produced the hugely successful 6th World Open Karate Tournament with 168 fighters from all over the world competing and more than 25,000 spectators watching.
As Director & President of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan, Kancho Shokei Matsui has presented numerous groundbreaking martial arts events to the world, including inaugurating the "World Cup" Team Karate Championships, the "Women's World Karate Championships", the "World Weight Category Karate Championships", the "International Senior Karate Championships", the "International Kata Championships" and the "International Youth Karate Championships" in which nearly 2,000 competitors aged 4-17 from around the world participated. These events are in addition to continuing the grand legacy Mas Oyama began by presenting the once-every-four-year, World Open Karate Tournament; an event that has grown to become the largest, most revered and renowned martial arts competition the world has ever seen.
The International Karate Organization currently has over 12 million members in 125 countries. While simultaneously managing the organization from its headquarters in Japan, Kancho Matsui travels tirelessly to Branches around the globe to teach and spread the spirit of the Kyokushin Way to countries and cultures everywhere.
What is Kyokushin?
Karate is both an art and a philosophy.
Because each person has a different personality and physical capability, this is reflected in their interpretation of Karate. Therefore the Karate Masters founded their own schools over the ages, teaching their own style of ryu.
Kyokushinkai is the name given to our ryu, which originated with the legendary Master Masutatsu Oyama – a man of tremendous physical strength and mental resources.
Kyoku – means ultimate
Shin – means truth or reality
Kai – means to meet, join or associate.
It takes time to fully understand the meaning.
The symbol of Kyokushinkai is the kanku. The kanku is derived from the kanku kata – the sky gazing form. In this kata the hands are raised to scan the sky, and so the symbol is formed.
The points of the kanku represented by the fingers imply the peaks or ultimates. The thick sections represented by the wrists, imply power. The centre represents infinity, implying depth. The whole kanku is based on and enclosed by a circle, representing continuity and a circularity – the basic physical and spiritual principles of Kyokushinkai.