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The History of Karate
As long as there is live on this planet, people are fighting. Against each other, animals and the elements. All over the world people developed different styles of fighting, so it wouldn't beright to say that it was invented in Japan, or Asia. Although the way we know karate at this moment, it's roots are in Japan.
The roots of 'ancient' karate can be found in the south of China where the famous Shaolin monks for many centuries trained to defend themselves on journeys.
Modern Karate started in the Ryukyu Islands (nowadays called Okinawa), the Southern Islands of Japan. Because of the geographic position of Okinawa, on the border of Japan and China, two culteres met each other here. Orginally karate-do ment technique of the Chinese Hand. Rather bij a little change of the chinese caracter for karate-do, nowadays it means Technique of the Empty Hand.
The Government on these Islands took the right to wear wapons from the locals, so they developed a way of unarmed fighting. One of them was Gichin Funakoshi. He is seen as the founder of modern karate. Just like Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, he made a system of teaching karate for bigger groups of students and called it Shotokan. After a demonstration for the empire, who was very enthousiastic, he introduced karate around 1920 to the mainland of Japan.
From that moment on karate became very populair and many new karatestyles were introcud in Japan and the rest of the World. As there are: Shotokan, Shukokai, Wado Ryu, Goju ryu, Shotokai, Kyokushin and many more.
The term karate that many people know and practice these days is only a small part of what is known as karate-do, which is much more than fighting and training your body. The reason that karate became so populair is probably that the way we know it reaches and interest more people than karate-do. And because by calling it a sport (and those who want to can take part in national and international competitions) karate is something you can do beside other things. But we never should forget that living live the karate-do way is much more than practising for a few hours per week.
The style Kyokushinkai
Funakoshi was convinced that the only right way to practise karate was by exercising kata. Kata is a fake-fight against several opponents. He thought exercising kata for many and many times, was enough to be prepared for a real fight. One of the reasons Mas. Oyama developed his own style was his idea that if you want to learn to fight you have to fight.
Kyokushin Karate is a full-contact karate style, which means that the practicing and the competition is based on real fighting, you are actually punching and kicking your opponent, without gloves or wearing protecting wear. This might sound dangerous and harsh, however Oyama meant that in order to become a true Budo-ka (a person who follow the warriors path) you have to be hundred percent present, and that, you can only be if you are fighting for real. Today Kyokushin karate is one of the most popular martial arts, and through the severe and strict training, you can achieve the physical and mental strength, needed not only for your training, but creating a better life for yourself.
Mas. Oyama has been trying to get back to the effective techniques of karate. He also applied techniques that were not know in any karate styles at hat time, like the mawashi gedan geri (low kick) from thai-boxing. Further on used some chinese terms (for example the term pinan for the first five basic kata's) and in kihon he introduced some blocks that are only used in Chinese Kenpo and Taekwondo. Later on the punches in sparring and kumite became more like boxing punches, including the hooks and uppercuts. Kyokushin has always been in movement and it still is.
He also knew that in that time there was a big need for legal competitions. In the beginning there were many illegal fights between dojo's from different styles to make out what the best karate style was. This was forbidden by the gouverment. Oyama therefore invented competion rules where it was not allowed to punch on the head. Although punching on the body and kicking on the head with full power was allowed. This way of competion fighting was/is very different from other styles. Some peolple think that is unnatural that in an extension two karateka's are hanging against eachother and giving only low kicks. But Oyama found - also because it is just a competition - that those moments are the best to see what kind of spirit a fighter has. Never give up. When this happened at world championships Oyama always gave a standing applause for those fighters.
In other Kyokushin disciplines is giving attention to puching on the head and blocking them, so Kyokushin is also as a self defending sport very usefull. Anyhow, it is a very complete sport. It is good for condition, stamina, spirit, balance, speed, strenght, power and controlling yourself. Kyokushin is a sport than can be done by anybody, at any level. No mather what sex, size or age you are.
The founder of Kyokushin Karate
The founder of Kyokushin Karate, Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama was born on 27th July 1923. He began his practicing of martial arts, Chinese kempo, at the age of nine, and in 1938, Mas Oyama went to Japan in order to enter an aviation school; he intended to become a pilot. The fifteen years old Mas Oyama had also a large interest in Martial Arts, and started to practice Judo, however, when he got in contact with Karate, he was instantly fascinated, and he started soon to practice under Gichin Funakoshi. Already from the very beginning, the young student showed to be a natural talent, and he was awarded his Nidan already after two years, at the age of 20, he obtained 4th dan. Another Karate Master who influenced Mas Oyama, and the future Kyokushin Karate, was Gougen Yamaguchi. The war ended just before Mas Oyama and the squad he belonged to were supposed to enter it. And after this he decided to devote his time to Karate. In 1946 he practiced for one year all alone up in the mountains, this was a year during which he tested himself to the extreme point, both physically and mentally. The only person he met was the man who came once a month with food supplies, otherwise he was completely alone surrounded by only nature and silence. After this year, in 1947 he fought in the 1st All Japan Karate Championship, and won it. It was at that time he took the decision to devote the rest of his life to karate.
In 1948, once again he went to the mountains for further practicing, this time, he stayed for one year and eight months. After this period, he wanted to test his strength and power, and he did it by breaking the horns of bulls, altogether he broke the horns of 49 bulls and he killed another three. To the new generations, this may sound cruel, but these bulls were all already destined to the slaughterhouse, and Mas Oyama stayed nearby for seven months in order to test himself, to see how far a man can push himself.
In 1952, Mas Oyama left for USA as a representative of Japanese Karate, and he held demonstrations throughout USA altogether 270 times, during these demonstrations, he surprised the audience with his breaking abilities, he soon got known as the GOD HAND. He also fought several exhibition matches against professional boxers, wrestlers and others, and won all of them. This was the beginning of a new style of karate; KYOKUSHINKAIKAN.
The actually forming of Kykoushinkaikan was made in 1964, before, Mas Oyama had called his karate Oyama Karate but in 1963, he started to build the Honbu Dojo (Headquarter) in Nishi Ikebukuro, Tokyo (the building is today a Memorial Hall of Mas Oyama. Kyokushin means the Ultimate Truth and the new built Honbu Dojo became the World Headquarter for many years until the death of Sosai Oyama.
Kyokushin Karate spread rapidly throughout the world, and today, most countries have Kyokushin Karate dojos, with students following the way created by Masutatsu Oyama.
Masutatsu Oyama passed away on April 26, 1994, at the age of only 70 years. This day was a big shock for all students around the world. However, although its founder is not longer leading Kyokushin in person, Kyokushin Karate-ka still see him as the only leader and mentor. And the work for developing Kyokushin Karate and spread it to new countries is still going on.
Dojo-Oath
We will train our hearts and bodies for a firm, unshaking spirit
We will pursue the true meaning of the Martial Way, so that in time our senses may be alert.
With true vigour, we will seek to cultivate a spirit of self denial.
We will observe the rules of courtesy, respect our superiours, and refrain from violence.
We will follow our religious principles, and never forget the true virtue of humility.
We will look upwards to wisdom and strenght, not seeking other desires.
All our lives, through the discipline of karate, we will seek to fulfil the true meaning of the Kyokushin Way.
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