Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama was born Yong I-Choi on the 27th of July, 1923, in a village not far from Gunsan in Southern Korea. At a relatively young age he was sent to Manchuria, in Southern China, to live on his sisters farm. At the age of nine, he started studying the Southern Chinese form of Kempo called Eighteen hands from a Mr. Yi who was at the time working on the farm. When Oyama returned to Korea at the age of 12, he continued his training in Korean Kempo.
In 1938, at the age of 15, he travelled to Japan to train as an aviator, to be like his hero of the time, Koreas first fighter pilot. Survival on his own at that age proved to be more difficult than he thought, especially as a Korean in Japan, and the aviator training fell by the wayside.
Gichin Funakoshi - Shotokan
He did however continue martial arts training, by participating in judo and boxing. One day he noticed some students training in Okinawan Karate, this interested him very much and he went to train at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi at Takushoku University, where he learned what is today known as Shotokan Karate.
His training progress was such that by the age of seventeen he was already a 2nd Dan, and by the time he entered the Japanese Imperial Army at 20, he was a fourth Dan. At this point he also took a serious interest in judo, and his progress there was no less amazing. By the time he had quit training in Judo, less than four years after he had started, he had achieved the rank of fourth Dan in Judo.
So Nei Chu - Goju Ryu
The defeat of Japan and the subsequent indignity of Occupation almost proved to be too much for Mas Oyama, who nearly despaired. Fortunately for all of us, So Nei Chu came into his life at that time. Master So, another Korean (from Oyamas own province) living in Japan, was one of the highest authorities on Goju Ryu in Japan at the time. He was renowned for both his physical and spiritual strength. It was he who encouraged Mas Oyama to dedicate his life to the Martial Way. It was he too who suggested that Oyama should retreat away from the rest of the world for 3 years while training his mind and body.
Mas Oyamas Mountain Training
When he was 23 years old, Mas Oyama met Eiji Yoshikawa, the author of the novel Musashi, which was based on the life and exploits of Japans most famous Samurai. Both the novel and the author helped to teach Mas Oyama about the Samurai Bushido code and what it meant. That same year, Oyama went to Mt. Minobu in the Chiba Prefecture, where Musashi had developed his Nito-Ryu style of sword fighting. Oyama thought that this would be an appropriate place to commence the rigours of training he had planned for himself. Among the things he took with him was a copy of Yoshikawas book. A student named Yashiro also came with him.
The relative solitude was strongly felt, and after 6 months, Yashiro secretly fled during the night. It became even harder for Oyama, who wanted more than ever to return to civilisation. So Nei Chu wrote to him that he should shave off an eyebrow in order to get rid of the urge. Surely he wouldnt want anyone to see him that way! This and other more moving words convinced Oyama to continue, and he resolved to become the most powerful karate-ka in Japan.
Soon however, his sponsor informed him that he was no longer able to support him and so, after fourteen months, he had to end his solitude.
A few months later, in 1947, Mas Oyama won the karate section of the first Japanese National Martial Arts Championships after WWII. However, he still felt empty for not having completed the three years of solitude. He then decided to dedicate his life completely to karate-do. So he started again, this time on Mt. Kiyozumi, also in Chiba Prefecture. This site he chose for its spiritually uplifting environment.
This time his training was fanatical - 12 hours a day every day with no rest days, standing under (cold) buffeting waterfalls, breaking river stones with his hands, using trees as makiwara, jumping over rapidly growing flax plants hundreds of times each day. Each day also included a period of study of the ancient classics on the Martial arts, Zen, and philosophy.
After eighteen months he came down fully confident of himself, and able to take control of his life. Never again would he be so heavily influenced by his society around him. Though it is probably safe to say that his circumstances were also probably never again as traumatic!
Mas Oyamas Bull Fighting, Challengers, and the Godhand
In 1950, Sosai (the founder) Mas Oyama started testing (and demonstrating) his power by fighting bulls. Three of which were killed and some had their horns taken off with knife hand blows. That it is not to say that it was all that easy for him. Oyama was fond of remembering that his first attempt just resulted in an angry bull. In 1957, at the age of 34, he was nearly killed in Mexico when a bull got some of his own back and gored him. Oyama somehow managed to pull the bull off and break off his horn. Today of course, the animal rights groups would have something to say about these demonstrations, despite the fact that the animals were already all destined for slaughter.
In 1952, he travelled the United States for a year, demonstrating his karate live and on national television. During subsequent years, he took on all challengers, resulting in fights with 270 different people. The vast majority of these were defeated with one punch! A fight never lasted more than three minutes, and most rarely lasted more than a few seconds. His fighting principle was simple. If he got through to you, that was it.
If he hit you, you broke. If you blocked a rib punch, you arm was broken or dislocated. If you didnt block, your rib was broken. He became known as the Godhand, a living manifestation of the Japanese warriors maxim Ichi geki, Hissatsu or "One strike, certain death". To him, this was the true aim of technique in karate. The fancy footwork and intricate techniques were secondary (though he was also known for the power of his head kicks).
Oyama Dojo
In 1953, Mas Oyama opened his first "Dojo", a grass lot in Mejiro in Tokyo. In 1956, the first real Dojo was opened in a former ballet studio behind Rikkyo University, 500 meters from the location of the current Japanese honbu dojo (headquarters). By 1957 there were 700 members, despite the high drop-out rate due to the harshness of training.
Practitioners of other styles came to train here too, for the jis-sen kumite (full contact fighting). One of the original instructors, Kenji Kato, has said that they would observe those from other styles, and adopt any techniques that "would be good in a real fight". This was how Mas Oyamas karate evolved. He took techniques from all martial arts, and did not restrict himself to karate alone.
The Oyama Dojo members took their kumite seriously, seeing it primarily as a fighting art, so they expected to hit and to be hit. With few restrictions, attacking the head was common, usually with the palm heel or towel-wrapped knuckles. Grabs, throws, and groin attacks were also common. Kumite rounds would continue till one person loudly conceded defeat. Injuries occurred on a daily basis and the dropout rate was high (over 90%). They had no official do-gi and wore whatever they had.
The beginning of Kyokushin
The current IKO World Headquarters were officially opened in June 1964, where the name Kyokushin, a name aptly chosen by Sosais wife Mrs Chiyako Oyama meaning "Ultimate truth" was adopted. From then, Kyokushin continued to spread to more than 120 countries, and registered members exceed 10 million making it one of the largest martial arts organisations in the world. Among the better known Kyokushin Yudansha (black belts) are Sean Connery (Honorary Shodan), Dolph Lundgren (Sandan, former Australian heavyweight champion), and President Nelson Mandela of South Africa (Honorary Hachidan), and most recently (June 1988), the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard (Honorary Godan) who was awarded the grade at the official opening of the one of the dojo in Sydney.
The End?
Sadly, Sosai Mas Oyama died, of lung cancer (though nominally a non-smoker, its rumoured that he may have enjoyed to odd cigar, at the age of 70 in April 1994, leaving the then 5th Dan Akiyoshi Matsui in charge of the organisation. This has had many political and economic ramifications throughout the Kyokushin world, which are still being resolved. In the end, the result may well be a splintering of Kyokushin, much like Shotokan now appears to have done, with each group claiming to be the one-and-only true heir of Mas Oyamas Kyokushin, either spiritually or even financially. It has even been suggested, not entirely in jest, by one Kyokushin commentator in Australia (Harry Rogers) that maybe Oyama created the turmoil on purpose, because he didnt want Kyokushin to survive without him! Perhaps though the fact that Sosai was a Korean native living in Japan and so too is Matsui is not simply a coincidence, that Sosai left his beloved association in the hands of a fellow countryman is not beyond reason, indeed no-one can doubt Matsui, who was the youngest ever knockdown world champion and is one of just a handful of Kyokushin practitioners to complete the 100 man Kumite, is an awesome Karate-ka. It is however reasonably certain that all Kyokushin groups, regardless of their ultimate allegiance, will still try to maintain the standards set by Mas Oyama.
Maybe a Kyokushin splintering will be a good thing, since in all good families; some of the children eventually do leave home and start their own families. Some of the splinter groups may remain faithful to the Kyokushin principles, such as our very own Hanshi Steve Arneil in Great Britain did in 1991. Many others, such as Shigeru Oyama and Tadashi Nakamura in the U.S.A, have taken it further by developing their own style based on Kyokushin. With Kyokushin practitioners featuring in MMA in Bass Rutten and 5x World Strongest Man winner Mariuz Pudzainowski, UFC in Champion Georges St-Pierre and K-1 with World Champions Andi Hug, Semmy Schilt, Francisco Filho and Glaube Feitosa, it is clear that Kyokushin continues to develop and Sosais legacy is set to continue long into the future.
Sosai Philosophy
Sosai Masutatsu Oyama summed up his entire Martial Arts philosophy in eleven mottoes also known as the Zayu no Mei Juichi Kajo, which are central in his teaching. Many of these hold very practical application, even today. Many people do not pay enough, if any, attention to them. When practicing Kyokushin we should not forget there principles.
The Martial Arts way begins and ends with courtesy. Therefore, be properly and genuinely courteous at all times.
Following the Martial Way is like scaling a cliff - Continue upwards without rest. It demands absolute and unfaltering devotion to the task at hand.
Strive to seize the initiative in all things, all the time guarding against actions stemming from selfish animosity or thoughtlessness.
Even for the Martial Artist, the place of money cannot be ignored. Yet one should be careful never to become attached to it.
The Martial Way is centered on posture. Strive to maintain correct posture at all times.
The Martial Way begins with one thousand days and is mastered after ten thousand days of training.
In the Martial Arts, introspection begets wisdom. Always see contemplation on your actions as an opportunity to improve.
The nature and purpose of the Martial Way is universal. All selfish desires should be roasted in the tempering fires of hard training.
The Martial Arts begin with a point and end in a circle. Straight lines stem from this principal.
The true essence of the Martial Way can only be realized through experience. Knowing this, learn never to fear its demand.
Always remember: In martial arts the rewards of a confident and grateful heart are truly abundant.
In 1950, Sosai (the founder) Mas Oyama started testing (and demonstrating) his power by fighting bulls. Three of which were killed and some had their horns taken off with knife hand blows. That it is not to say that it was all that easy for him. Oyama was fond of remembering that his first attempt just resulted in an angry bull. In 1957, at the age of 34, he was nearly killed in Mexico when a bull got some of his own back and gored him. Oyama somehow managed to pull the bull off and break off his horn. Today of course, the animal rights groups would have something to say about these demonstrations, despite the fact that the animals were already all destined for slaughter. 
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