Sosai Masutatsu Oyama 1923 – 1994

The following article by Liam Keaveney appeared in the BKK’s magazine and we reproduce
this here to give a general outline of the formation of Kyokushin Karate by Sosai Masutatsu
Oyama. It is now over fifteen years since the death of Masutatsu Oyama and as the British
Karate Kyokushinkai celebrate its 40th Anniversary it is fitting that we, in the pages of our
magazine, record the achievements of probably the greatest karateka of the latter part of the
twentieth century. I hope, as we host our 3rd IFK World Tournament we can, in part, celebrate
the achievements of a man who for all his life was dedicated in promoting Budo Karate. To
attempt to do justice to his achievements, in karate terms, would not be possible within the
limitations and size of our magazine – but what I will attempt to do is summarise and comment
on the man’s life and driving force since the 1950’s.

The Beginning
The measure of an individual within martial arts today can be fairly quickly summarised. In our
field we are surrounded, if not smothered, by self appointed innovators and experts – open the
pages of any martial arts magazine and you will discover a multitude of newly founded styles
and systems that appear on a regular basis. Without change and individual thought our
progress would be slow. I read the following passage recently “Time will define the innovations
and experts, will their views and theories stand the rest of practicality and the passing of
years?” How true this is – and certainly this is true of Masutatsu Oyama and his style of karate
“Kyokushinkai”. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Masutatsu Oyama was indeed the
renegade of Japanese karate. He refused to accept certain dogmas. He set out to change the
system from within by the formation of his own system of karate. His attitude and outspoken
character to this day is, if not agreed with, is respected. In the past 40 years he built a strong
and powerful world organisation under one leader with countless practitioners in nearly every
country in the world. His teachings and philosophy, in the sphere of budo karate, have been a
positive inspiration to uncountable karateka. I only met the man briefly a couple of times and
trained with him for a short time, as a Branch Chief with other representatives, at a course in
Mitsume in 1987 - therefore, I have had to rely on the personal knowledge of such people as
Hanshi Steve Arneil (9th Dan), who was a student, friend and advisor to Masutatsu Oyama
since the 1960’s. I am indebted to Cameron Quinn’s book “The Budo Karate of Masutatsu
Oyama” which was an unrivalled source of information and I have quoted from this book
extensively.

Miyamoto Musashi
At some time or other we all look for encouragement and many individuals, one way or
another, influence our actions and thoughts. Masutatsu Oyama was no different, he sought
inspiration from the books of the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Throughout his life
Masutatsu Oyama followed closely the example set by Musashi. Masutatsu Oyama first went
into the mountains in 1946 after meeting Eiji Yoshikawa who was the author of the novel
Musashi. From this book Masutatsu Oyama learnt much of the way of the Samurai or Bushido.
Prior to his meeting with Yoshikawa, Masutatsu Oyama was also influenced by So Nei Chu. So
Nei Chu was one of the highest authorities of Goju Karate in Japan. Not only was he renowned
and respected for his physical ability but also for his spiritual teaching. He was also a follower
of both Buddhism and the Martial Way and accordingly taught Masutatsu Oyama “the
inseparability of Budo and the spiritual foundation of religion”. The advice given by So Nei Chu
is well chronicled but worth repeating here. ”You had better withdraw from the world. Seek
solace in nature. Retreat to some lone mountain hide-out to train your mind and body. In three
years you will gain something immeasurable. As the proverb goes, “Temper the heated iron
before it gets cold”, so train yourself in self discipline before you grow older if you wish to be a
great man.”

The Young Oyama

However, the start of his famous life began 23 years earlier in 1923 in Korea. Masutatsu
Oyama was the last child of a large family. Two years later he was sent to live on his sister’s
farm in Manchuria. It is believed that it was here he began his first martial arts training at the
age of 9, learning Southern Chinese Kempo. Masutatsu Oyama returned to Korea five years
later and entered school in Seoul and continued his training this time in Korean Kempo. In
1938 he travelled to Japan and entered the Yamanashi Airways School to train to become a
pilot. However, due to his age and other external forces he was forced to abandon this venture.
He recalls “I could not become a pilot but I felt there must be some other way to succeed. I will
find success in some other field of study. I made a firm resolution to prove my worth and swore
to withstand the cold rejection I met as a foreigner”. Luckily Masutatsu Oyama did not abandon
his search and teaching of the martial arts. Amongst other things he studied Judo and boxing
but was to be influenced greatly by a man called Gichin Funakoshi, one of the first three people
to bring Okinawan Karate to Japan. He met Funakoshi at Takushoku University. Masutatsu
Oyama did not look any further and began his training with Funakoshi – he made rapid
progress, graded 2nd Dan within two years at the age of 17, three years later at 20 he was
graded 4th Dan.

Other Martial Arts

Having gained 4th Dan he renewed his interest in Judo once more and continued his training at
the Sone Dojo at Kasagaya, Tokyo. He trained there for four years. Within these four years he
had mirrored the rapid progress he had made in karate was graded 4th Dan. The years that
followed held much personal distress for Masutatsu Oyama, like many others in Post-War
Japan. The occupation of Japan was in many ways too much to bear for the young. It was
here at this juncture in his life he met So Nei Chu and began his training in the mountains.
Masutatsu Oyama’s first visit to the mountains to train was with a student of his. They erected,
with the intention of remaining three years, living quarters on the mountain side. After six
months his student was unable to bear the isolation and solitude and left the mountain. The
isolation however was not total as a friend of Masutatsu Oyama called Kayama would deliver
food on a regular basis. He recalls: “These visits on Mr. Kayama were a “meeting with Buddha
in hell” for me, especially so after my pupil left the mountain. I often felt as if I waited thousands
of days between visits. I warned myself not to anticipate the visits. My training became more
intensive, and yet solitude distressed me. I must say that the emptiness of solitude is much
more painful than the hardship of training. I habitually became lost in thought watching the poor
light of the shack. Even the scripture of the Hokke-kyo which I chanted every night could not
soothe my irritated mind; even Zazen (sitting in meditation) could not make me reach a state of
serenity of mind.” Isolation and solitude at times weakened and disturbed Masutatsu Oyama
and in desperation he wrote to So Nei Chu for advice. Chu replied: “Whether a painter
seriously studying the concept of beauty, or a martial artist investigating budo, those who
become recognised as geniuses work much harder and demonstrate far more perseverance
than the average person. There has never been a genius who has not displayed tremendous
effort and fortitude in their particular pursuit. Oyama, I believe you to be an irreplaceable figure
in the world of Japan Martial Arts. Training harder than anyone else will make you invincible.
You have what it takes to stand alone, unrivalled as a modern day warrior, and become the
example of a true martial artist for the world. If you have the urge to come down from the
mountain hut then shave off an eyebrow. You will most likely have very little desire to see
anyone until it grows back. What others have done should not be impossible to you. Was there
any Master of the martial arts who had not experienced mortification? The really great man can
only be produced through continuous heavy training. You should be more courageous in
striving towards your goal. That is the most important thing.” His training continued with
renewed vigour and with new resolve swore to himself he would become the most powerful
karateka of Japan.

First All Japan Tournament

After a year Masutatsu Oyama came down from the mountains more through necessity than
choice. He was unable to remain for the three years he had wished because his friend Kayama
could not longer sponsor his friend’s stay in Mount Minobu. It is reported that shortly after his
return in 1947 to society he entered the First All Japan Tournament since the War, held in
Maruyama Gymnasium, Kyoto and he was undefeated and declared the Champion. In the
following year Masutatsu Oyama decided that the rest of his life would be devoted to the study
of karate. He again returned to the solitude of nature and trained alone for 18 months on Mount
Kiyozumi. His intention was to perfect his techniques and formalise his own thoughts and
principles into his own Karate Way. His days of training were extremely difficult, training 12
hours a day. His physical training was coupled with spiritual training tameshiwari. He remained
on Mount Kiyozumi for 18 months and returned to society in 1950. In later life he recalled the
benefit of his training: “Although it is important to study and train for skill in techniques, for the
man who wishes to truly accomplish the way of Budo, it is more important to make his whole
life in training and therefore not aiming for skill and strength alone, but also for spiritual
attainment. However, it is difficult at first to understand that attainment of the Budo way
requires one’s whole life, and it is extremely hard to keep the right attitude towards this goal. It
is necessary to impose the greatest effort and concentration on oneself in order to merely
accomplish the right attitude to training … Living alone in the mountains, isolated from
everything and everyone, confronted face to face with nature and oneself, is the severest
condition to karate training. Although I willingly went into the situation, it was the fist time I had
been required to stand alone with the fear of nature… The greatest fruit of my stay in the
mountains was that I trained my physical and mental strength during the day, and I confronted
nature and my inner-self at night. Of course my skill in karate was greatly developed, but more
fulfilling was the strengthening of a great mental state, a state developed far in excess of that
before entering the mountains.”

Fighting Bulls
It was in the 1950’s that he began testing his ability against bulls. The stories are not unknown
throughout the world on his strength and agility in fighting these animals. Reports conflict, as is
expected with the passage of time and imagination. He did however kill three bulls with his
bear hands. His public display did more than reinforce his own belief in his ability, it brought to
the attention of the Japanese public the effectiveness of karate and the power of a man call
Masutatsu Oyama. From 1950 – 1954 he travelled extensively throughout the USA and later in
the decade continued to travel through Europe, in a successful attempt to give publicity to
Karate.

Oyama Dojo
The first Oyama dojo was in a burnt out area of Tokyo, Mejiro. Here in 1953 with instructors K.
Mizushima and E. Yasuda he continued for three years until 1956. During this period he
returned to the USA and extended his journey to South America and Europe. In June 1956 he
opened the first true dojo near the Rikko University, less than half a mile from the present day
Honbu in Ikebukuro. He added two further instructors to cope with the ever increasing influx of
students, K. Kato and K. Minamoto. The following year after its opening the Oyama dojo had
700 members despite the severity of training and the associated “drop out rate”. The drop out
rate was indeed high and in some instances was 90% due to the hard training. Karateka from
other styles would visit and train with Masutatsu Oyama – especially for the kumite sessions
(fighting) which was full contact. The young Oyama was at his peak and would at these fighting
sessions fight with them all – it was not surprising that the sessions lasted in some instances
four hours. During this time he studied many other martial arts – taking and developing where
necessary the techniques and concepts and adapting them as he felt to the better. This was
the foundation on which he built the Kyokushinkaikan.

Kumite
Masutatsu Oyama in many ways differed from other instructors of that era, primarily his karate
as his students interpreted, was “fighting karate”. Once they entered the dojo they both
expected to be hit and would expect to fight. Few rules were adhered to in kumite with attacks
to the head and face common-place (usually with the palm heel or knuckles wrapped in a
towel). Grabbing and throwing the opponent was also permitted. Individual kumite would
continue for an indefinite period of time until one person shouted “Mairi masutatsuhita” (I give
in). As the dojo began to grow Masutatsu Oyama continued his travels and it was in Mexico in
1957 that he nearly met his end. During an exhibition in Mexico he was gored by a bull which
luckily did not kill him but he was seriously injured which necessitated six months
hospitalisation.

Oyama Dojo
It was in 1953 that this first dojo was opened, a grass lot in Mejiro, Tokyo. The Chief Instructor
of the dojo was Kenji Mizushima. In June 1956, the true beginning of Japan Kyokushin (and the
IKO) began with the opening of the Oyama Dojo in a former ballet studio behind the Rikkyo
University, 500 metres from the current Honbu (headquarters) in Ikebukuro. Mizushima
continued as the instructor, along with Masutatsuami Ishibashi, Kenji Kata, Ken Minamoto and
Eiji Yasuda. Within a short space of time membership grew to 300. In just over a year the dojo
had 700 members, despite an extremely high drop out rate due to the harshness of the
training. This was the time that Masutatsu Oyama’s karate strength was at its peak, so training
was severe. Many of the students were members of other styles who came to the Oyama Dojo
for training in full contact karate. In this way Oyama built on his karate. He would take what he
felt were the best techniques and concepts from not just other karate styles but from any
Martial Art and gradually incorporated them into his training. Thus, the foundations of
Kyokushin were slowly and steadily laid. In 1958 Oyama published “What is Karate?” which
sold 250,000 copies – this book became the Kyokushin bible and was without doubt an
international best seller.
In October 1961, the first National American Tournament was held in Madison Square Garden,
New York. At this tournament Oyama gave a demonstration which earned him the name
Godhand.

Formation of Kyokushin Karate

It is apt that we give space to an article on the formation of Kyokushin Karate by Oyama that
appeared nearly thirty years ago: “Following my stay in the mountains, my emergence again
into civilian life and my victory fights with the bulls, I then travelled about the world engaging in
fights with anyone who wished to challenge me. Throughout my travels, I met many people of
all different races, cultures and ideas. I tried to impart to them the techniques and spirit of
Karate and managed to gain some success in this area. The interest in Karate had begun. On
returning to Japan, I thus considered deeply the next step in my life and I slowly began to
evolve a number of ideas which lead to the formation of my Kyokushin style of Karate and
eventually to the establishment of Kyokushinkaikan. I pondered deeply on the question of
courage. It was a fact that I had overcome many hurdles in my life, many battles and even
defeated bulls, but what is courage? People, knowing my history expected me to have courage
at all times, but I knew that sometimes I felt so cowardly that I was ashamed. Although I am
sometimes so cautious my friends are surprised, I am also sometimes convinced that I have
more courage than a lion in the heat of the hunt. Everyone has these two sides; being both
courageous and yet cowardly. I am sure it depends on the condition of the mind and the
surroundings at any given time. I believe it is true that we cannot live without courage. We
desire a person full of courage and scorn cowards. The easiest way to develop courage is to
devote oneself to a cause for justice. If we offer our lives to society, others, or an ideal, we
have nothing to fear and can deal with any situation calmly. I believe one who is cowardly in
daily life is so because he lacks readiness of mind and it was in the training of young minds for
this steadfastness, that I decided I wished to aim my life. We are destined to live with other, on
the hand we seem equally destined to struggle against others and ourselves from time to time.
Where can we find life without struggle? Perhaps when struggle between us ends, all human
history ends. It is an unchangeable fate that every single human is mortal. Thus living things
must show their power of life during their lives and hand it down to their descendants.
However, unpleasant it is to see society driven by power, or a thirst for power and however
much we feel violated by even the word “power”, it nevertheless exists and is a vital part of our
lives. There are many kinds and levels of struggle, from struggle with oneself to individuals
fighting to large scale battles for power or justice. We cannot avoid these struggles throughout
our lives and history goes on repeating them. Therefore life is to struggle, life is to fight. Life is
nothing but fighting and struggling at one level or another, and even the smallest and most
insignificant person should not be defeated. Defeat may teach us many things however, all is
reduced to meaninglessness if we cannot make good use of our defeat and experience to win
at the next battle. Throughout my travels I experienced many kinds of death matches; Karate
versus Wrestling; Karate versus Boxing or Thai Kick Boxing; Karate versus a bull, and I
overcame them all. I have never clearly been defeated in a bare fist fight in which I was
permitted to use the techniques of Karate. So I came to realise that Karate is a very excellent,
very strong Martial Art. I believe I have never lost because I devoted myself only to Karate. It is
part of human nature that we have some sympathy for the poor and weak, however, on the
other hand we always have a longing for true strongness. Therefore the stronger we become,
the better we are on in our human way. Since the Second World War, I am the only one that
has engaged in Death Matches in order to propagate the strength of Karate. I was often
criticised throughout my fighting years and was looked on with scorn by those Karateka who
love “peace”. But what are they beyond instructors of dancing Karate? How can they teach the
techniques of a fighting art and the spirit behind it which leads to the physical and mental
strength to overcome all obstacles and to refrain from violence, when they have never
experienced a true fighting situation? So I formulated Kyokushin Karate, as a Budo Karate. A
Karate very necessary in today’s world. Kyokushin means to seek for the ultimate, in the
physical, mental and spiritual. With these perfections, other perfections come as a matter of
course. So I set out on the road to developing an International Budo Karate, a Karate available
to everyone in the world which would aid them to live with themselves and to live with others in
this, our world of struggle. Furthermore, I believe that Kyokushin Karate is the right way to
succeed the tradition and wisdom of the Oriental spirit which I believe has to much relevance
today.”
Full Contact Kumite
Kumite (fighting) at the Oyama Dojo was notoriously demanding. From the first lesson Kumite
was hard. The members of the Oyama Dojo saw their karate first and foremost as a fighting art,
so it was expected of them to hit and be hit. There were few restrictions. Injuries were a daily
occurrence, but those who remained became strong. The drop out rate was very high – over
90% but no one really worried; those who stayed just remained silent and continued training.
Whilst the Tokyo dojo continued to grow, Masutatsu Oyama continued to travel the world,
researching all types of Martial Arts and demonstrating his power karate.

Tokyo Honbu
The building of the current World Headquarters commenced in 1963 and was officially opened
in June 1964. It was at this time that Oyama Karate adopted the name Kyokushin, the Ultimate
Truth. Mr. Eisaku Sato was appointed President and Matsuhei Mori appointed Vice President.
In 1964, Masutatsu Oyama sent Tadashi Nakamura, Kenji Kurosaki and Akio Fujihira, all
instructors at the Tokyo Oyama Dojo, to Thailand. The purpose was to accept the challenge to
Japanese Karate from the Muay Thai boxers. The Oyama Karate team won the challenge and
served to not only redeem the name of Japanese karate, but to make Masutatsu Oyama and
his new, powerful Kyokushin respected worldwide.

The formative years of Kyokushin Karate

(As published by Honbu in their World Tournament Programme)

1946
The Eiwa Karate-Do Institute was established in Suginame, Tokyo, in September but was
closed six months later.

1953
The Field Dojo in Meijiro Tokyo, was opened and instruction was given by Shihandai Kenji
Mizushima.

1954
A signboard for Oyama Dojo was set up and instruction given by Messrs. Kenji Mizushima and
Eiji Yasuda.

1956
An old ballet school behind Rikko University was rented as a dojo. Instruction was given by
Messrs. Kenji Mizushijmja, Eiji Yasuda, Masutatsuami Ishibashi and Ken Minamimoto, to a
membership of 300.

1957
Mr. Tsutomu Yajima and Mr. Kenichi Matsui were instructing over 700 students.

1958
Messrs. Kasuhisa Watanabe, Shigeru Oyama and Hirobumi Okada became instructors. “What
is Karate?” was published and 250,000 copies were sold. The book became an overseas best
seller. Mr. Jon Bluming, Mr. Bob Boulton, Mr. Steve Arneil and Mr. Peter McLean became
members.

1961
Messrs. Shogo Ariake, Yasuhiko Oyama, Tadashi Nakamura, Yuzo Goda, Ichiro Ozawa,
Shigeo Kato, Akio Fijihara and Tsutomu Koga became instructors. Oyama dojo was growing in
popularity and prosperity and Shigeru Oyama himself began instructing at the request of many
students. In October, the First Open North American Tournament was held in Madison Square
Garden, New York. Kancho Masutatsu Oyama officiated as the main judge of the tournament
and performed demonstrations that earned him the acclaim of God Hand in the New York
Times.

1962
Oyama dojo accepted a Thai Boxing challenge to Japanese Karate that other schools had
considered foolhardy. Mr. Tadashi Nakamura and two other men travelled to Bangkok and won
two of the three fights, hence ennobling the dignity of Japanese Karate. Over 20 students
gained black belts in this very successful year and more than 10 overseas branches were
established, including branches in Hawaii and San Francisco. Since membership was rapidly
increasing, plans for a new dojo building were formulated.

1963
Construction of the International Karate Organisation, Kyokushinkaikan Honbu, at Ikebukro,
Tokyo began October the first of this year. Kancho visited Europe and South America for four
months to attend Branch Chief Meetings.

1964
After three set backs, the International Karate Organisation Kyokushinkaikan was officially
established and Mr. Eisaku Sato and Mr. Matsuhei Mori were inaugurated as President and
Vice President respectively.

1965
Over the past three years more than 40 overseas branches were established. “This is Karate”
was published and Mr. Tadashi Nakamura was sent to develop Karate in America. The First
European Branch Chief Meeting was held in Amsterdam, Mr. Jon Bluming being elected as
Chairman, Mr. Steve Arneil as Vice Chairman and Mr. Loek Hollander as General Secretary.
The Hawaiian Branch Chief, Mr. Bobby Lowe visited Japan and Mr. Kenji Kurosaki was then
sent to the Hawaiian Branch. In May, the magazine “Modern Karate” was published with only
eight pages; within the next three years it had grown to a successful 80 page magazine. The
first winter training was held at Mount Mitsumine in Okuchichibu and was attended by 30
enthusiastic students. The summer training, at Ichinomiya School in Chiba Prefecture, was
attended by 100 students and as both schools proved most successful these places became
regular sites for summer and winter trainings.

1966
This year Kenji Kurosaki was sent to Holland and Shigeo Kato to Australia. As President
Eisaku Sato became Prime Minister, Matsuhei Mori assumed Presidency and Hideo Shiotsugu
became Vice President. World Karate Travel (domestic edition) was published.

1967
Shoichiro Ogura was sent to Brazil and Shigeru Oyama to the USA. Vital Karate, Dynamic
Karate, (domestic edition), For The People Who Learn Karate (domestic edition) were
published and all received immediate popularity. Sean Connery (actor) visited the Honbu to
take lessons during filming of one of the James Bond 007 movies.
1969
Ryoichi Matsushima was sent to South East Asia and the following books were published with
great success: Advanced Karate, Boy’s Karate, Karate for the Millions (domestic edition,
Hyakuman Ni No Karate), A Classroom of Karate (domestic edition, Karate Kyoshitsu) and
Boy’s Karate Self Defence (domestic edition, Syonen Karate Goshinjitsu). Attendance at
winter training was high and participation at summer training reached 200. The First Open
Karate Tournament was held at Tokyo Gymnasium on September 20th and it attracted an
audience of over 7,000. From the 48 competitors first place went to Terutomo Yamazaki,
second place to Yoshiji Soeno and third place went to Kazuyuki Hasegawa.

1970
The Prince of Jordan visited Honbu and presented Kancho Oyama with a medal. He also
received a letter of thanks from the Japanese Foreign Affairs Department for his outstanding
work in this area. Tsuneyoshi Tanaka, the South American Branch Chief, visited Tokyo and
undertook three months training after which Kancho Oyama was presented with a cultural
medal from the Brazilian Government. The Second European Branch Chief meeting was held
in Amsterdam; Loek Hollander was elected Chairman. In the North American Kyokushinkaikan
Organisation, Tadashi Nakamura was elected Chairman. The Second Open Karate
Tournament was held on September 26th at the Tokyo Gymnasium. From the 64 competitors,
Kazuyuki Hasagawa won first place; Terutomo Yamazaki second place and Yoshiji Soeno third
place.

1971
Regional Branch Chairman elections were held this year. Peter Chong became the Chairman
of South East Asia, Mr. Zavetchanos of the South Pacific, High Royal Highness Prince Raad of
the Middle and Near East and Mr. Ian Harris the Chairman of South Africa. In Europe and
North America, the previous Chairmen were re-elected. Tadashi Nakamura opened the North
American Organisation Honbu Dojo and the opening ceremony was attended by Kancho
Oyama, the Consular General and the Mayor of New York. Masutatsu Oyama’s Autobiography
appeared in a boy’s magazine and in reply to national demand, the Masutatsu Oyama
Correspondence School was established in Shibuya, Tokyo. It proved very popular and
membership soon reached 15,000. Nobuyuki Kishi was sent to the Republic of China and Seiji
Kanamura to the USA. The Third Open Karate Tournament was held at Tokyo Gymnasium and
again Kyokushin Karate took all the honours; Katsuaki Sato won first place, Yasuhiko Oyama
second place and Daigo Oishi third place.

1972
The Prince and Princess of Spain visited Japan. A welcome demonstration was held for them
at Geihinkan, after which Kancho Oyama was presented with a medal and a letter of thanks.
Yasuhiko Oyama and Miyuki Miura were both sent to the USA. The Fourth Open Karate
Tournament, held on October 22nd at Tokyo Gymnasium was a great success. From the 48
competitors Miyuki Miura won first place, Howard Collins second place and Toshikazu Sato
third place.

1973
Masutatsu Oyama’s autobiography Karate-Baka Ichidai was adapted and presented on
television, gaining great public favour. Kancho visited overseas branches on more than 20
overseas trips, to discuss the possibility of holding the First World Open Karate Tournament.
Winter training had a record number of 120 students participating and summer training was
attended by 300 students. Seiji Isobe was sent to Brazil. The Fifth Open Karate Tournament
was held on November 4th at Tokyo – 128 were chosen to participate. From this 128, Hatsuo
Royama won first place, Terutomo Yamazaki second place and Toshikazu Sato third place.

1974
Masutatsu Oyama was awarded 9th Dan by the International Organisation Honbu. The Prince
and Princess of Iran visited Japan and a karate demonstration was held at the Hotel Okura,
where the Prince was presented with an honorary 2nd Dan. Joko Ninomiya, Eisho Nakaza and
Nobuyuki Kishi were sent to the USA. The Sixth Open Karate Tournament was held at Tokyo
Gymnasium on November 9th and 10th. The first three place winners were: 1st – Katsuaki
Sato, 2nd – Takashi Azuma and 3rd – Hatsuo Royama.

1975 - World Tournament Year!

1975 saw the staging of the First World Open Karate Tournament on the 1st November at the
Tokyo Gymnasium and this was indeed a milestone in the history of the Kyokushinkaikan. The
popularity of Kyokushin rocketed not only in Japan but across the world. Purely as a public
relations exercise it would have achieved its goal but in getting the message across regarding
Knockdown Karate and the power of the Kyokushinkaikan it proved priceless. The focus of the
world was on this event which was spread over two days and I think it fair to say that after this
tournament the IKO in numeric terms blossomed. People from around the world were sent free
tickets by Honbu to compete in the tournament as were the country’s Branch Chiefs – so even
representatives from the poorest countries could attend and witness the event. It was not
surprising that on their return home fighters and representatives enthusiastically spread the
word of Kyokushin and now had proof that they and the IKO were indeed one of the most
powerful organisations in the world. With them they also took home the prize that in four years
time they would be invited again to attend the Second World Tournament. Branch Chiefs would
work furiously and fighters would train harder in the future having taken home the experience of
how good the Japanese fighters were. There is no doubt that the Japanese Karateka stood
head and shoulders above the rest of the world in terms of technical ability and above all spirit.
I think it fair to say that in the thirty years that has passed, the Japanese in general still
maintain their excellence of technique and without doubt their spirit is still superior. Having said
that, fighters from throughout the world have matched and beaten the Japanese at their own
game and there have in the past years been some brilliant and able non Japanese fighters.
Looking back now thirty years later the staging of the World Tournament was undoubtedly one
major reason for the popularity of Kyokushin Karate and at the same time the tournament was
one major factor in many people leaving the IKO none more famous than Tadashi Nakamura. It
is no understatement to say that at the time Nakamura would have been the natural successor
to Masutatsu Oyama. In the twenty years that passed many other senior grades either left the
IKO or were expelled. So in some ways it is a sad fact that the promotion of the World
Tournaments in essence led to its weakening. The success of this event was indeed tempered
by the unexpected shock resignation of Tadashi Nakamura and the shock waves rippled
around the world. I assume as an exercise in damage limitation Masutatsu Oyama expelled
Nakamura (after he had already resigned!) for amongst other things, financial irregularities. A
full and comprehensive explanation of the situation is recorded in The Human Face of Karate
by Tadashi Nakamura. This same pattern was to be repeated many times over the years with
top Karateka including Hanshi Steve Arneil. I suppose it gave credence to Honbu if they could
point the finger at anyone claiming they had been financially dishonest and this charge in itself
often seems to be the end of a person’s reputation. The First World Tournament itself was not
without drama – as Kancho Oyama had stated that if a Japanese fighter did not win the
tournament he would commit Seppuku (ritu To be continued)