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The founder of Kyokushin, Masutatsu Oyama, was born Yong I-Choi on 27 July 1923 in southern Korea. Some debate exists as to Oyama's actual history and activities before establishing the Kyokushin organization. However, the following is the generally accepted story of Oyama's early life.

As a young child, Oyama reportedly studied Chinese and Korean Kempo. In 1938, he is said to have emigrated to Japan and studied Judo and Okinawan Karate under Gichin Funakoshi. He reportedly attained upper rank or "dan" status in both disciplines, although there is no confirmation that he actually did so. Also, at this time it is believed that he took his Japanese name, Masutatsu Oyama, in order to better assimilate into his adopted country. Masutatsu, or simply, Mas, Oyama was the name he would primarily use for the rest of his life. After World War II, Oyama is said to have trained in Goju-Ryu karate under a Korean master- So Nei Chu. During this time, he reportedly retreated into the mountains for almost three years to karate train in solitude. Again, some doubt exists as to whether Oyama really stayed in the mountains for three years, or if it was for a somewhat shorter time. Nevertheless, it is generally believed that Oyama engaged in some type of intense, full-time martial arts training during this period and also traveled to the U.S. to engage in exhibition bouts with professional wrestlers.

In 1953, Oyama opened his own karate dojo, named "Oyama Dojo," in Tokyo but continued to travel around Japan and the world giving martial arts demonstrations, reportedly including the fighting and killing of live bulls with his bare hands. His dojo was first located outside in an empty lot, but eventually moved into a ballet school. Oyama's own curriculum soon developed a reputation as a tough, intense, hard-hitting, but practical style. He also developed a reputation for being "rough" with his students, often injuring them, perhaps purposefully, during training sessions. As the reputation of the dojo grew, students were attracted to come to train there from in and outside Japan and the number of students grew. Many of the eventual senior leaders of today's various Kyokushin-based organizations began training in the style during this time. In 1964, Oyama formally organized the style of karate as Kyokushin-kai.

1964 to 1994

After formally establishing Kyokushin-kai, Oyama directed the organization through a period of expansion. Oyama and his staff of hand-picked instructors displayed great ability in marketing the style and gaining new members. Oyama would choose an instructor to open a dojo in another town or city in Japan. The instructor would move to that town and usually demonstrate his karate skills in public places, such as at the civic gymnasium, the local police gym (where many judo students would practice), a local park, or conduct martial arts demonstrations at local festivals or school events. In this way, the instructor would soon gain a few students for his new dojo. After that, word of mouth would spread through the local area until the dojo had a dedicated core of students. Oyama also sent instructors to other countries such as the United States of America and Brazil to spread Kyokushin in the same way.

Kyokushin Today

The organizations that resulted from the split after Oyama's death are generally recognised as three IKO groups. Shinkyokushinkai, currently led by Kenji Midori, formed the World Karate Organization (often known as IKO2). Some also joined Hanshi Steve Arneil who left the IKO in 1991 to form the International Federation of Karate (IFK). Other groups 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. IKO is currently led by Kancho Shokei Matsui. IKO3 is lead by Kancho Matsushima.

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 student's overall goal.

Mas Oyama's Three Hundred Man Kumite

It was with these examples in mind that Oyama decided to test his own abilities. And he would go one day better! He chose the strongest students in his dojo, who were to fight him one at a time until they'd all had a turn, and then they'd start from the beginning again, until the three hundred rounds were up. He defeated them all, never wavering in his resolve, despite the fact that he himself suffered severe physical injury in the process.

Each student had to face him about four times over the three days, though some never made it past the first day due to Oyama's powerful blows. Legend even has it that Oyama was willing to go for a FOURTH day, but no one else was willing or able! This took place no long after he had completed his mountain training.

It is worth making some comparisons in order to put the 100 man kumite in perspective. Most of the readers here might already have an inkling, but some figures will help in appreciating Mas Oyama's unparalleled 300 fights.

A World Championship tournament might consist of 7 or 8 rounds of tough kumite, and with allowances for 4 extensions and no byes, this would come to just over half an hour of fighting. There would however be lengthy rest breaks between rounds, with time to tend to injuries. Consider a boxer going 100 rounds non-stop with no breaks and with a new opponent each round, and with the requirement of winning at least 50 of these rounds.

Imagine up to 4 hours of non-stop full-contact kumite, bearing in mind that in Kyokushin tournaments we are only allowed mouth and groin guards! To be fair, if the candidate is good and knocks his opponent down fast enough, the round can be over in less than full time. It seems unlikely that anyone will ever again achieve the same as Mas Oyama did with his 300 rounds!