Kyokushin

Kyokushin ("極真", roughly “the ultimate truth”) is a Japanese style of full-contact karate founded by Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama in 1964.

Oyama developed kyokushin from his studies of the karate styles Shotokan and Gōjū-ryū, as well as judo, in which he held 4th-, 7th- and 4th-dan black belts respectively. When Oyama opened his first dojo in Tokyo in 1953, while kyokushin was still in its infancy, he quickly became well known across Japan—not least for touring the country and fighting bulls with his bare hands to demonstrate the power of his karate. As an instructor he was as uncompromising as the training was demanding, which, together with the spectacular demonstrations, attracted many students.

Kyokushin is characterized by a strong emphasis on discipline, physical strength, endurance, conditioning and hard full-contact sparring (kumite). In kumite competition, the most common rule set is so-called knockdown, which means points are primarily awarded for successfully damaging the opponent rather than, for example, technical quality. Kicks to the head are permitted, but hand strikes to the head are not. Techniques aimed at the joints, groin and spine are forbidden. No protective gear other than a groin guard and (for women) a chest guard is used.

Kata is also practiced and contested, but generally does not receive the same emphasis as in traditional karate. Kyokushin has also given rise to a number of other karate styles such as Ashihara, Enshin and Seidokaikan.

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