Kyokushin Karate is a hard style of karate, characterized by its realistic full-contact style of fighting, it’s emphasis on graceful power in technique and its use of “tameshiwari” in the development of spirit and character.

Sosai (Great Master) Masutatsu Oyama was born in Korea in 1923 and became the founder of Japan’s most renowned — and the world’s most widespread — style of karate. From the age of 9, Mas Oyama learned Chinese Kempo in Manchuria and followed into his teens by practicing Judo and boxing. Finally, this led him to the practice of Okinawan karate, which ultimately served as the springboard for the creation of his own style, Kyokushin, or the “The Ultimate Truth.” By the time Mas Oyama was 20, he had received his 4th Dan in Okinawan karate and, though tireless study, eventually attained a 4th dan in Judo as well.

The three pillars of Kyokushinkai

3 pilars of kyokushin

KIHON: Basic exercises (blocking techniques and blows)

KATA: Pre-established forms with positions, hits, blockages determined in a certain order.

KUMITE: combat. YAKUSO KUMITE, pre-arrange combat; IPPON KUMITE, combat one step; SAMBON KUMITE, combat three steps. JIYU KUMITE, free sparring. JISSEN KUMITE, full contact / real combat.

The intention of these pillars is to improve our techniques, react quickly and have control over our body. We will learn to maintain the center of gravity (Jushin), how to remove the opponent’s balance / create “openings” (Tsukuri), how to maintain the appropriate distance (MAAI), how to occupy and take the opponent’s distance with foot-work / leg movement (Unsoku), how to improve eye contact – overall vision and above all to think openly that one particular technique leads you to another. We see this with the practice of BUNKAI. KUMITE and IDO GEIKO