Jump to content

Kyokushin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Pohart (talk | contribs) at 02:13, 29 May 2006 (→‎Forms ([[kata]])). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kyokushin
File:Kyokushin.gif
Japanese Name
Japanese 極真
Kana spelling きょくしん
Rōmaji (Hepburn) Kyokushin

Kyokushin (極真) or Kyokushinkai (極真会) is a style of stand-up, full contact karate founded by Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達) in 1964. Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society for the ultimate truth."

Originally existing as a single organization, Kyokushin now exists as several large organizations with the "Kyokushin" title, plus various other organizations that teach similar techniques but go by different names. Also, numerous dojo throughout the world claim to teach a Kyokushin curriculum without formally belonging to one of the Kyokushin "umbrella" organizations. Although difficult to quantify, it is conjectured that the number of students and instructors involved in learning or teaching the style or one of its close variations around the world is significant.

History

Origin

The founder of Kyokushin, Masutatsu Oyama, was born Yong I-Choi on 27 July, 1923 in southern Korea. Some debate exists as to Oyama's actual history and activities before establishing the Kyokushin organization. However, the following is the generally accepted story of Oyama's early life.

As a young child, Oyama reportedly studied Chinese and Korean Kempo. In 1938, he is said to have emigrated to Japan and studied Judo and Okinawan Karate under Gichin Funakoshi. He reportedly attained upper rank or "dan" status in both disciplines, although there is no confirmation that he actually did so. Also, at this time it is believed that he took his Japanese name, Masutatsu Oyama, in order to better assimilate into his adapted country. Masutatsu, or simply, Mas, Oyama was the name he would primarily use for the rest of his life. After World War II, Oyama is said to have trained in Goju-Ryu karate under a Korean master- So Nei Chu. During this time, he reportedly retreated into the mountains for almost three years to karate train in solitude. Again, some doubt exists as to whether Oyama really stayed in the mountains for three years, or if it was for a somewhat shorter time. Nevertheless, it is generally believed that Oyama engaged in some type of intense, full-time martial arts training during this period and also traveled to the U.S. to engage in exhibition bouts with professional wrestlers.

In 1953, Oyama opened his own karate dojo, named "Oyama Dojo," in Tokyo but continued to travel around Japan and the world giving martial arts demonstrations, reportedly including the fighting and killing of live bulls with his bare hands. His dojo was first located outside in an empty lot, but eventually moved into a ballet school. Oyama's own curriculum soon developed a reputation as a tough, intense, hard-hitting, but practical style. He also developed a reputation for being "rough" with his students, often injuring them, perhaps purposefully, during training sessions. As the reputation of the dojo grew, students were attracted to come to train there from in and outside Japan and the number of students grew. Many of the eventual senior leaders of today's various Kyokushin-based organizations began training in the style during this time. In 1964, Oyama formally organized the style of karate as Kyokushin-kai.

1964 to 1994

After formally establishing Kyokushin-kai, Oyama directed the organization through a period of expansion. Oyama and his staff of hand-picked instructors displayed great ability in marketing the style and gaining new members. Oyama would choose an instructor to open a dojo in another town or city in Japan. The instructor would move to that town and usually demonstrate his karate skills in public places, such as at the civic gymnasium, the local police gym (where many judo students would practice), a local park, or conduct martial arts demonstrations at local festivals or school events. In this way, the instructor would soon gain a few students for his new dojo. After that, word of mouth would spread through the local area until the dojo had a dedicated core of students. Oyama also sent instructors to other countries such as the United States of America and Brazil to spread Kyokushin in the same way.

Succession Controversy

Kyokushin Today

The International Karate Organization (IKO) splintered into several groups, in part due to conflict over who would succeed Oyama as chief and the future structure and philosophy of the organization. The organizations that resulted from this split are generally recognised as three IKO groups. Shinkyokushinkai, currently led by Kenji Midori, formed the World Karate Organization (often known as IKO2). Some also joined Hanshi Steve Arneil who left the IKO in 1991 to form the International Federation of Karate (IFK). Other groups splintered off even before his death, among these Seido Juku, formed by his student Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura, U.S. Oyama, formed by his student Shigeru Oyama, and Mushin Karate Do formed by his student Ganci. IKO is currently led by Kancho Shokei Matsui. IKO3 is lead by Kancho Matsushima.

Many Kyokushin groups throughout the world have chosen to focus their experience around the philosophy of Kyokushin as a method of self-improvement and discipline. The Kyokushin way teaches its students that the most important aspects of training are not the ability to knock down an opponent. Instead, the person must contemplate the technique and understand that the true meaning of the Kyokushin way is not in violence, but the mastering of oneself. An important philosophy is never to do what you cannot undo, and never use more violence than is prompted or necessary. Through understanding of this comes the ability to fight on an elite level, but fighting is not the Kyokushin student's overall goal.


Techniques and Training

Kyokushin training consists of three main elements: (1) technique, (2) forms, and (3) sparring. These are sometimes referred to as the three "K's" after the Japanese words for them: kihon (technique), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).

Technique (kihon)

The Kyokushin system is based on traditional karate like shotokan and Goju Ryu, but incorporates many elements of combat sports like boxing and kickboxing in kumite. Many techniques like mae oroshi kakato geri (axe kick) are not found in other styles of karate. Today, some kyokushin fighters (like Francisco Filho and Glaube Feitosa) appear in kickboxing events like K-1, but apart for some exeptions, Kyokushin does not allow its students to appear in paid fights and remain with the style. In the past this has caused many highranking competitors to leave the organization, even if they continue practice the art and skills of kyokushin.

In this form of karate the instructor and its students all must take part in hard sparring to prepare them for full contact fighting. Unlike some forms of karate, Kyokushin places high emphasis on full contact fighting which is done without any gloves or protective equipment. This apparent brutality is tempered somewhat due to the fact that you are not allowed to strike your opponent in the face, thus greatly reducing the possibility of serious injury; knees or kicks to the head and face on the other hand are allowed.

In the earliest kyokushin tournaments and training sessions bare knuckle strikes to the face were allowed, but resulted in many injuries, and thus, students who were forced to withdraw from training. Mas Oyama believed that wearing protective gloves would detract from the realism that the style emphasizes. Therefore, it was decided that hand and elbow strikes to the head and neck would no longer be allowed in training and competition. Also, many governments don't allow bare knuckle strikes to the head in sanctioned martial arts competitions, providing further reason. The vast majority of Kyokushin organizations and "offshoot" styles today still follow this philosophy. However, at least one organization, Kyokushin-Kan, is attempting to bring face punching back into the training curriculum in a relatively safe way. [1]

Technicaly kyokushin is a circular style. This is in opposition to Shotokan karate which is counted as a linear style, and closer to gojuryu which is counted as circular. Shotokan and Goju Ryu were the two styles of karate that Oyama learned before creating his own style. However, Oyama stydied Shotokan for only a couple of years, before he switched to Goju Ryu where he got his advanced training. This reflects in Kyokushin, where the early training closely resembles Shotokan but gradualy change closer to the circular thechniques and strategies the higher you advance in the system.

Forms (kata)

Northern Kata

The northern kata have there origins in Shotokan karate, which Oyama learned while training under Gichin Funakoshi.

Southern Kata

The southern kata have there origins in Gojo Ryu karate, which Oyama learned while training under Gogen Yamaguchi.


Sparring (kumite)

Sparring is a fighting part of Karate and is used to train the application of the various techniques into a fighting situation. Kumite is usually an important part of training in most Kyokushin organizations, especially at the upper levels with experienced students.

In most, but not all, Kyokushin organizations, hand or elbow strikes to the head or neck aren't permitted in kumite. However, kicks to the head are permitted. This is because damage to the head or feet from kicking is less likely than from knuckles and elbows.

Culture

Grading

Kyokushin karate has a belt grading system similar to others in existence. The belt assigned to each student upon commencing training is a white belt. With each successful grading attempt, the student is awarded a kyu ranking, and either a stripe on his current belt or a new belt color altogether. The corresponding kyu and belt colors are as follows: 10th Kyu (Red or Orange), 9th Kyu (Red or Orange with Black Stripe), 8th Kyu (Blue), 7th Kyu (Blue with Black Stripe), 6th Kyu (Yellow), 5th Kyu (Yellow with Black Stripe), 4th Kyu (Green), 3rd Kyu (Green with Black Stripe), 2nd Kyu (Brown), 1st Kyu (Brown with Black Stripe). Grading to this level can take up to ten years of training. Once a student has attained his 1st Kyu ranking (the highest of the "beginner grades"), he may apply for dan grading: the rigorous process of attaining a first-degree black belt, also referred to as 1st dan or shodan. This usually consists of a 6-8 hour grading with all required elements of the grading syllabus completed including: kihon (basics), ido geiko (moving basics), goshinjitsu (self defence), sanbon and ippon kumite (three and one step sparring), kata (predescribed series of movements/forms), tameshiwari (board, tile or brick breaking) and kumite (contact free fighting). In Australia and New Zealand, Kumite for Shodan normally consists of 40 rounds: 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per round with no rest time between rounds. The last 10 to 15 rounds are usually against fresh black belts. In the IKO1 organization the shodan kumite consists of 20 rounds full contact fighting, and getting knocked down is not unusual. These tests are far more strenuous than the testing procedures for shodan for many other karate styles, like shotokan. Critics assert that since no one ever fights 20 people in a row in self defence, the test, while difficult, is somewhat pointless. The defense for this type of test is that while no-one realisticaly fights that many opponents in a row in a real fight situation, It is a test for stamina, technique, spirit and determination. As such the test is not there to test for a realistic situation, but to test the grading fighter to the outmost of his abillities, and beyond.

Dojo Kun

Sosai Oyama wrote the dojo kun as an oath for all kyokushin followers to proclaim. Today, it is often recited in kyokushin dojos all over the world.

(Japanese Version)

Hitotsu, ware ware wa, shinshin o renmashi, kakko fubatsu no shingi o kiwameru koto.

Hitotsu, ware ware wa, bu no shinzui o kiwame, ki ni hasshi, kan ni bin naru koto.

Hitotsu, ware ware wa, shitsujitsu gōken o motte jiko no seishin o kanyo suru koto.

Hitotsu, ware ware wa, reisetsu o omonji, Chōjō keishi sobō no furumai o tsutsushimu koto.

Hitotsu, ware ware wa, shinbutsu o tōtobi, kenjō no bitoku o wasurezaru koto.

Hitotsu, ware ware wa, chisei to tairyoku to o kōjō sase koto ni nozonde ayamatazaru koto.

Hitotsu, ware ware wa, shōgai no shugyō o karate no michi ni tsūji, Kyokushin no michi o mattō suru koto.

(English Version)

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 vigor, we will seek to cultivate a spirit of self-denial.

We will observe the rules of courtesy, respect our superiors, 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 strength, not seeking other desires.

All our lives, through the discipline of karate, we will seek to fulfill the true meaning of the Kyokushin Way.

Competition and Tournaments

Multi-man kumite

Kyokushin in popular culture

Video Games

Jin Kazama from Namco's Tekken series uses the art of Kyokushin Karate in Tekken 4 and 5

Kadonashi Shintaro from Namco's Urban Reign video game uses the art of Kyokushinkai.

Kyokugenryu Karate is a fictional martial art from SNK's Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series. Kyokugenryu, which is practiced by Ryo Sakazaki, Robert Garcia, Yuri Sakazaki, Takuma Sakazaki and Marco Rodriguez/Khushnood Butt, is heavily based on Kyokushinryu Karate.

Notable Kyokushin practitioners (former or current)

See also

Shihan Jan de Jong

References

External links

Organizations still operating under the name "Kyokushin"

Flavors, Styles, and Organizations based on Kyokushin

Books

  • Lowe, Bobby (Reprint: 1983). Mas Oyama's Karate. MacMillan Publishing Company. ISBN 0668011408. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  • Oyama, Masutatsu (1998). Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course. Sterling Publishing Reissue. ISBN 0806988452.

Audio/visual media

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.budokaratehouse.com/honbu/honbuhome4.htm
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyokushin&oldid=55668402"