Our base style is Kyokushin or Kyokushinkai a full contact style of Karate developed in the 1950s. The first official Honbu (headquarters) was founded by Masutatsu Oyama in 1964. Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society for the ultimate truth". It is considered one of the most challenging forms of Karate.
Developed by Masutatsu Oyama (a Korean-Japanese), this is probably the hardest form of Karate today, placing great emphasis on combat effectiveness. Oyama himself has fought and killed bulls in demonstration fights, fighting unarmed and without protection.
This form of Karate takes on all comers, the instructor and its students all must have taken part in sparring. Unlike other forms of Karate, Kyokushin demands the black belts spar without any gloves or safety gear on. Each fighter is expected to be not only strong, but be able to take the hits as they come, making this martial art both dangerous and difficult to master.
The Kyokushin system is based on traditional Karate like Goju Ryu and Shotokan, but incorporates many elements of other combat sports like Boxing, Kickboxing and Muay Thai in its fighting style (Kumite). Many techniques like Hiza-Geri (knee kick), Mae Oroshi Kakato Geri (axe kick) and Gedan Mawashi Geri (low kick to the thigh using the shin) arent found in other traditional Karate styles. Some Kyokushin fighters have successfully appeared and competed in traditional Knockdown, Kickboxing and MMA events like K-1, Pride and the UFC. (Like Francisco Filho, Andy Hug, Glaube Feitosa, Semmy Schilt, Georges St-Pierre, multiple winner of the Worlds Strongest Man title and MMA fighter Mariusz Pudzianowski and Hollywood actor and fighter Dolph Lundgren, to name a few). Continuing to spread the growth of Kyokushinkai as arguably the toughest form of stand-up fighting in the world today.
After the death of Masutatsu Oyama in 1994, the International Karate Organization (IKO) splintered into several groups with IKO retaining the majority of its members. IKO1 is currently led by Kancho Shokei Matsui. Shinkyokushinkai, currently led by Kenji Midori, formed the World Karate Organisation, often known as IKO2 or Shinkyokushin. Some, like the BKK, also joined Hanshi Steve Arneil who left the IKO in 1991 to form the International Federation of Karate (IFK).
See our Knockdown fighting style in this video of the 3rd IFK Championships
Other groups also 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. Some groups mixed Kyokushin with Judo and Jujutsu methods to form hybrid MMA styles, while retaining the traditional Budo ethic, like Kancho Azuma & his style; Kudo.
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 students overall goal but rather the defeat of ones own barriers and the exceeding of our personal limitations.
Chart below shows the influences of Kyokushin in the Martial Arts World,
This form of Karate takes on all comers, the instructor and its students all must have taken part in sparring. Unlike other forms of Karate, Kyokushin demands the black belts spar without any gloves or safety gear on. Each fighter is expected to be not only strong, but be able to take the hits as they come, making this martial art both dangerous and difficult to master.
Kyokushin Academy
Knockdown full contact karate & muay Thai
Felen Rhyd Fawr
Maentwrog
Blaenau-Ffestiniog.
LL41 4HY
07830 262709
info@kyokuacademy.co.uk