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Pronounced Kai-Ko-shink-eye (Kyokushinkai) or Kai-Ko-shink (Kyokushin),
it is both a martial art and a philosophy of life. Our style was founded
in the 1950's by Masutatsu Oyama, and exists today in many different
forms and groups, all of whom follow Mas Oyama as their Sosai (President).
- Kyoku - Ultimate
- Shin - Truth or reality
- Kai - To meet, join or associate
Kyokushinkai is a Japanese rather than Okinawan form of Karate. It
is a 'hard' style based mainly on linear punches, strikes, blocks
and kicks. Lower/Mid level Kyokushinkai is similar in style to Shotokan,
whilst Higher Level Kyokushinkai is similar to Goju Ryu.
The Kanku
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Our symbol is the Kanku (see fig i). The Kanku is symbolic
of many things. The points of the Kanku represents the fingers and
is symbolic of ultimate or physical peaks. The thick middle section
represents the wrists, and implies strength and power. The centre
is symbolic of infinity and depth. The circle that encloses the Kanku
suggests unity and continuity. The Kanku is derived from the Nidan
Kata, Kanku Dai, where the karateka scans the sky with their hands
in the Kanku form at the start and end of the kata
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(fig i) The Kanku |
The Founder of Kyokushinkai
Kyokushinkai Karate was founded by Sosai Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama in
1951. He is famed for his amazing martial arts ability, particularly
in Tameshiwari (Art of Breaking), and also for having killed a bull
with his bare hands. He was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1923, and
began studying Chinese Kempo in 1932, aged 9. As a child, Oyama was
fascinated by aviation, and he moved to Japan to live aged 12, with
the intention of learning to become a pilot. Whilst in Japan, he began
studying Judo. Later, he began studying what would become Shotokan
karate, under the great Gichin Funakoshi. He was seen as a natural,
and made such rapid progress in Shotokan that Funakoshi awarded him
his Nidan aged just 17. By the time he was 20, he had earned the rank
of Yondan. Oyama was drafted into the Japanese Army during World War
II, but the war ended before his squadron were due to enter it. Oyama
was bitterly disappointed at the loss of the war and the subsequent
occupation of Japan. It was around this time that he decided to devote
his life and soul to Karate, and in 1946, spent a year in solitude
in the Japanese mountains. He trained harshly for 12 hours a day every
day, training under icy waterfalls (something we still practise today
in Kyokushinkai) breaking rocks and using trees as Makiwara. During
this immensely physical and mental endurance feat, Oyama's had virtually
no contact with the outside world. He returned to civilisation in
1947 and entered the 1st All Japan Karate Championships, which he
won. After this he returned to the mountains again, for 20 months
this time.
In 1952, Oyama travelled to the United States as a representative
of Japanese karate. Whilst he was there, he held many Tameshiwari
demonstrations, believed to be around 270 in all. Due to this ability,
he became known as the 'God Hand' and his most famous demonstrations
include breaking large blocks of ice and breaking the top of a glass
bottles with a knife hand strike. He also fought Exhibition matches
with professional boxers and wrestlers, and beat all opponents. It
was around this time that Oyama chose the name Kyokushinkai, roughly
translated as The Way of Ultimate Truth. When he arrived back in Tokyo,
he began to build the Honbu Dojo in Nishi Ikebukuro. This was to become
the World HQ for Kyokushinkai, as the style spread rapidly over the
world. The Honbu can still be visited today as a Memorial Hall to
Mas Oyama, who sadly died on April 26th 1994 of cancer, aged 70.
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