Sosai Masutatsu Oyama
Founder of Kyokushin
The Journey
From humble beginnings to founding one of the world’s largest martial arts
organizations
1923
Birth in Korea
Born on July 27th, 1923, in a village in Southern Korea. At the age of 9, while staying on his sister’s farm in Manchuria, he was first introduced to Martial Arts, studying the southern Chinese Kempo form known as “Eighteen Hands.” In 1938, Mas Oyama traveled to Japan with the desire to enter an aviation school and become a fighter pilot, but he was forced to abandon his dream and find work. He continued practicing judo and boxing, and his deepening passion for Martial Arts eventually led him to the dojo of Gishin Funakoshi, where he began training in the Okinawan discipline.
1932
First Steps in Martial Arts
With his dedication, Mas Oyama progressed quickly, and by the time he was 20 years old, he had obtained his fourth Dan. Around this time, he entered the Japanese Imperial Army and began studying judo, aiming to master its holding and grappling techniques. After about four years of training, he earned a fourth Dan in judo as well. Following Japan’s defeat in the Second World War, Oyama—like many young men of his time—faced a personal crisis. He found a path forward through training with So Nei Chu, a Korean master of Goju-Ryu. This remarkable teacher, known for his physical power and deep spiritual insight, left a lasting impact on the young Mas Oyama. Master So emphasized the unity of the Martial Way and the spiritual principles of Buddhism. After years of intense training, Master So encouraged Oyama to make a firm commitment to the path and retreat to the mountains to condition both mind and body.
1950
Battle with Bulls
In 1950, Mas Oyama began his famous battles with bulls—partly to test his strength, and partly to demonstrate the power of his discipline to the world. In total, he fought 52 bulls, killing 3 instantly and breaking the horns of 49 with knife-hand strikes. In 1953, he opened his first dojo in Mejiro, Tokyo. This marked the peak of his physical power, and training under him was intense and demanding. Many of his students came from different martial arts backgrounds, and Oyama would analyze and compare various styles. He adopted techniques and concepts he believed to be the most effective, integrating them into his own method. Through this process, he laid the foundations of what would become Kyokushin.
1963
World Headquarters started
The building of the World Headquarters started in 1963 and was officially opened in 1964. It was at this time that Mas Oyama adopted the name Kyokushin The Ultimate Truth”. Kyokushin had started its spread around the globe and at present is one of the largest martial art organization in the world. It goes without saying that a style is only as strong as the students who represent it. This is why it is the responsibility of all those who have chosen to follow Sosai, to train hard and forge and indomitable spirit so that the tradition of strength in Kyokushin Karate may be recognized by all for many years. Since its inception, Kyokushin Karate has spread to more than 120 countries, with more than twelve million practitioners, making it one of the largest martial arts styles in the world.
1994
Sadly, Mas Oyama died
Sadly, Mas Oyama (a non-smoker) died of lung cancer in 1994. Mas Oyama’s unexpected death left his organization, the International Karate Organization (IKO), in a very confused state. This has resulted in a splintering of the IKO into several groups, each of which claims to be the true successor to Mas Oyama’s organization.
武の道は礼にはじまり礼に終わる。ゆえにつねに礼を正しくすべし。
“The Martial Way begins and ends with courtesy.
Therefore, be properly and genuinely courteous at all times.”
— Sosai Masutatsu Oyama