Shokei Matsui

Did You Know?

• Matsui attained the rank of 1st dan black belt in a little over one year after starting training at age 13.
• Matsui won the 4th World Open Karate Tournament in 1987, becoming the youngest champion ever.
• Following a dispute over the veracity of Oyama's will, Kyokushin karate split into three main groups, led by Matsui, Kenji Midori, and Yoshikazu Matsushima.

Later years

In 1987, while holding the rank of 4th dan, Matsui finished the 100-man kumite. He opened a dojo in Tokyo’s Asakusa district in May 1992, and Mas Oyama later made him a Branch Chief. Toward the end of Oyama’s life, it is claimed that he chose Matsui—then a 5th dan and clearly outranked by several senior instructors—to take over the IKO. Oyama’s family and Matsui himself have disputed this. Senior instructor Peter Chong wrote that Matsui was surprised to learn of the appointment, but also noted that Oyama had earlier listed Matsui as the top candidate. Matsui became Kancho. After a disagreement over the authenticity of Oyama’s will, Kyokushin karate split into three main factions, led by Matsui, Kenji Midori, and Yoshikazu Matsushima. Now an 8th dan, Matsui heads one IKO group, backed by Yuzo Goda, Bobby Lowe, Peter Chong, and Seiji Isobe. Loek Hollander initially supported Matsui but ended that support in August 2010. Peter Chong left Matsui in 2018 and started his own organization.