Kyokushin History

Mas Oyama
Founder Of Kyokushin Karate

Masutatsu ('Mas') Oyama was the founder of the KYOKUSHIN system of martial arts. 

After studying several martial arts styles in and, Mas Oyama found that none offered 

what he felt was the 'true' way. He began practicing alone, and developed his own training,

fighting methods and philosophy. Because Mas Oyama's technique was so powerful 

and realistic, he gained widespread recognition in Japan, and soon a huge following of 

would-be students around the world wanting to follow what they coined as "The Strongest 

Karate". Mas Oyama named his system, KYOKUSHIN™ which translates to "The True 

Way" or "The Ultimate Truth", and his legacy began. The International Karate Organization

Kyokushin Kaikan was established in 1964 and has evolved into a global network of 

karate practitioners numbering over 12million in 125 countries. Sosai (founder) Mas Oyama 

is credited as originating the "full-contact" style of karate. Since it's inception, Kyokushin has

directly spawned thousands of martial arts champions. Indeed full-contact knockdown 

fighters of today can trace their current methodology in some way to the success of

Kyokushin. Mas Oyama passed away in April 1994 in Tokyo, Japan. Before his untimely 

death, he named his favorite student and long-time protege, Shokei Matsui to succeed him

as Director of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan. The IKO Kyokushinkaikan "Honbu", World 

Headquarters, are continuously operating in Tokyo, Japan.