ABOUT KYOKUSHIN

Kyokushin (極真) or Kyokushinkai (極真会) is a style of stand-up, full contact karate founded by Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達) in 1964. Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society for the ultimate truth."

Originally existing as a single organization, Kyokushin now exists as several large organizations with the "Kyokushin" title, plus various other organizations that teach similar techniques but go by different names. Also, numerous dojo throughout the world claim to teach a Kyokushin curriculum without formally belonging to one of the Kyokushin "umbrella" organizations. Although difficult to quantify, it is conjectured that the number of students and instructors involved in learning or teaching the style or one of its close variations around the world is significant. Some estimates have put this number as high as 10 million, 12 million and even 20 million.

Techniques and Training

Kyokushin training consists of three main elements: (1) technique, (2) forms, and (3) sparring. These are sometimes referred to as the three "K's" after the Japanese words for them: kihon (technique), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).

Technique (kihon)

The Kyokushin system is based on traditional karate like shotokan and Goju Ryu, but incorporates many elements of combat sports like boxing and kickboxing in kumite. Many techniques like mae oroshi kakato geri (axe kick) are not found in other styles of karate. Today, some kyokushin fighters (like Francisco Filho and Glaube Feitosa) appear in kickboxing events like K-1, but apart for some exceptions, Kyokushin does not allow its students to appear in paid fights and remain with the style. In the past this has caused many high ranking competitors to leave the organization, even if they continue practice the art and skills of kyokushin.

In this form of karate the instructor and its students all must take part in hard sparring to prepare them for full contact fighting. Unlike some forms of karate, Kyokushin places high emphasis on full contact fighting which is done without any gloves or protective equipment. This apparent brutality is tempered somewhat due to the fact that you are not allowed to strike your opponent in the face, thus greatly reducing the possibility of serious injury; knees or kicks to the head and face on the other hand are allowed.

In the earliest kyokushin tournaments and training sessions bare knuckle strikes to the face were allowed, but resulted in many injuries, and thus, students who were forced to withdraw from training. Mas Oyama believed that wearing protective gloves would detract from the realism that the style emphasizes. Therefore, it was decided that hand and elbow strikes to the head and neck would no longer be allowed in training and competition. Also, many governments don't allow bare knuckle strikes to the head in sanctioned martial arts competitions, providing further reason. The vast majority of Kyokushin organizations and "offshoot" styles today still follow this philosophy. However, at least one organization, Kyokushin-Kan, is attempting to bring face punching back into the training curriculum in a relatively safe way.

Technically kyokushin is a circular style. This is in opposition to Shotokan karate which is counted as a linear style, and closer to Goju Ryu which is counted as circular. Shotokan and Goju Ryu were the two styles of karate that Oyama learned before creating his own style. However, Oyama studied Shotokan for only a couple of years, before he switched to Goju Ryu where he got his advanced training. This reflects in Kyokushin, where the early training closely resembles Shotokan but gradually change closer to the circular techniques and strategies the higher you advance in the system.

Grading (click here to understand the belt colors)

Kyokushin karate has a belt grading system similar to others in existence. The belt assigned to each student upon commencing training is a white belt. With each successful grading attempt, the student is awarded a kyu ranking, and either a stripe on his current belt or a new belt color altogether. The corresponding kyu and belt colors are as follows: 10th Kyu (Red or Orange), 9th Kyu (Red or Orange with Blue Stripe), 8th Kyu (Blue), 7th Kyu (Blue with Yellow Stripe), 6th Kyu (Yellow), 5th Kyu (Yellow with Green Stripe), 4th Kyu (Green), 3rd Kyu (Green with Brown Stripe), 2nd Kyu (Brown), 1st Kyu (Brown with Black Stripe). Grading to this level can take up to ten years of training. Once a student has attained his 1st Kyu ranking (the highest of the "beginner grades"), he may apply for dan grading: the rigorous process of attaining a first-degree black belt, also referred to as 1st dan or shodan. This usually consists of a 6-8 hour grading with all required elements of the grading syllabus completed including: kihon (basics), ido geiko (moving basics), goshinjitsu (self defense), sanbon and ippon kumite (three and one step sparring), kata (predescribed series of movements/forms), tameshiwari (board, tile or brick breaking) and kumite (contact free fighting). In Australia and New Zealand, Kumite for Shodan normally consists of 40 rounds: 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per round with no rest time between rounds. The last 10 to 15 rounds are usually against fresh black belts. The defense for this type of test is that while no-one realistically fights that many opponents in a row in a real fight situation, It is a test for stamina, technique, spirit and determination. As such the test is not there to test for a realistic situation, but to test the grading fighter to the outmost of his abilities, and beyond.

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