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SOSAI Mas OYAMA (10th DAN)

Masutatsu OYAMA was born, Yong I CHOI, on July 27, 1923 in Southern Korea. While still an infant, Oyama was sent to live with his sister, on her farm in Manchuria, in the Southern China, At the age of nine, Oyama began to receive instruction in the Southern Chinese KEMPO style of SHI PA LO and SHO, (eighteen hands), from Mr. Yi, who at the time worked at the farm. OYAMA returned to Korea at the age of twelve and continued his training in Korean KEMPO. He also became interested in JUDO and BOXING, his interests led him to the TAKUSHOKU University, where he began to train with the great Master Gichin FUNAKOSHI, the father of modern Karate: (the SOTOKAN). By the age of twenty, Oyama had attained the rank of YONDAN: 4th Degree Black Belt in SHOTOKAN Karate. He trained simultaneously as hard in JUDO, and his progress was amazing, earning him the rank of fourth degree black belt as well in four (4) years of intensive training. OYAMA in search of the WAY, then began training also with the well known Master So Ne CHU of the GOJU school of Karate. It was Master CHU who advised him to dedicate his life to the Martial Way and to commit himself to three (3) years of rigorous training in the solitude of the mountains. So in 1946, OYAMA went to a remote spot on Mount MINOBU in the Chiba prefecture of Japan to begin his training. He was accompanied by his student and friend Mr. YASHIRO. After six months, however, Mr. YASHIRO was unable to bear the solitude, and fled the mountain. A closed friend of Oyama, Mr. KAYAMA, visited OYAMA every month to deliver foods and supplies. However, after fourteen months, Mr. KAYAMA announced that he was unable to continue this arrangement. This decision ended OYAMA's training which had lasted just over a year. In 1947, a few months after his return to society, OYAMA won the: First (1st) Japanese National Karate Championship organized by the All Japan Karate Federation. Yet he was not satisfied and felt that there was still much more to be done and gained. He deeply regretted not completing the three years of intensive training. It was then that OYAMA decided to dedicate himself completely to Karate and began another period of training alone on Mount KIYOZUMI. Oyama trained twelve hours a day. His regimen consisted of physical training, fasting, and Misogi (meditation under waterfalls), and study of ZEN and Philosophy. He used trees and stones to strengthen his techniques, and bench press his body weight 100 times daily. After eighteen (18) months of rigorous training, OYAMA was ready to leave the mountain and confidently face his future. In 1950, OYAMA began his famous barehanded battles with bulls. He fought 52 bulls, (which were to be slaughtered), in all, killing at least three (3) instantly with a single blow, and taking the horns of 49 of them with his powerful knife hand blows. OYAMA's intent was not to be cruel, but simply wished to demonstrate to the world the power of his Karate, after years of inlassable training. OYAMA traveled to the United States in 1952 and there, he engaged in 270 matches against Boxers, Wrestlers, Judokas, and Karatekas: Fighters from all different styles, and defeated every one. Most of the matches lasted no longer than a single round and were often won by KO with one blow or IPPON. In 1953, a grass lot in Mejiro, Tokyo, served as OYAMA first Dojo. In 1956, after three years of hard work and by registering more students OYAMA opened the: OYAMA KARATE DOJO in a former ballet studio behind RIKKYO University. By 1957, the enrollment had reached 700 members that generated some income to help him establish the: International Karate Organization (IKO-SO-HOBU): The organization World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan in the 1964, and subsequently adopted the style name of: KYOKUSHINKAI, with translate as the: "Ultimate Truth Association". OYAMA's Karate continued to spread in 123 countries with over 17 million members. KYOKUSHIN Karate today, continues to spread worldwide. SOSAI OYAMA firmly believed that hard training could benefit any person, both physically and spiritually, and that practitioners would thus play a part in making the world a better place.