Mas Oyama
Founder of Kyokushin Karate.
Masutatsu Ōyama, known internationally as Mas Oyama, was a Korean-Japanese karateka who founded Kyokushin Karate, a full-contact style of stand-up fighting rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline, and hard training. Born Choi Yeong-eui in Gimje, Korea, he was sent as a child to live on his sister’s farm in Manchukuo, where at age nine he began studying Chinese martial arts under a Chinese farmer named Lee, whom he credited as his first teacher. His family belonged to the landed-gentry class, and his father, Choi Seung-hyun, was a noted composer of classical Chinese poetry. In March 1938, Oyama followed his brother to Japan, enrolling in the Imperial Japanese Army’s Yamanashi Aviation School. During this period he adopted the Japanese name Masutatsu Oyama, a transliteration of Baedal, an ancient Korean kingdom. After World War II ended in 1945, Oyama left the aviation school and settled in Tokyo, where he met his future wife, Chiyako, whose mother ran a dormitory. He enrolled at Waseda University to study sports science in 1946 and sought top instruction, training at the Shotokan dojo of Gigō Funakoshi and later at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi for two years. He then studied Gōjū-ryū karate under fellow Korean Nei-chu So, a senior student of system founder Chojun Miyagi. During this period he also trained at Kanbukan, a dojo known for its large Zainichi Korean membership and its use of protective gear for full-contact practice, which influenced his fighting mentality, though he showed little interest in it as a sport. Oyama fought many U.S. military personnel after the war, driven by anger over lost friends, until his portrait was posted at police stations. Seeking solitude, he retreated to Mt. Minobu for fourteen months of harsh isolation, followed by eighteen months on Mt. Kiyosumi, where he read Miyamoto Musashi’s *The Book of Five Rings*, which he credited with changing his life. He also trained under Kōtarō Yoshida, whom he later called the greatest of all his teachers. In 1953, Oyama opened his own dojo in Tokyo, initially teaching Gōjū-ryū before his instruction evolved into Kyokushin. He gave demonstrations worldwide, including knocking bulls unconscious with his bare hands. In 1958, his book *What is Karate* became a best-seller, translated into multiple languages.
- died
- 26 April 1994
- nationality
- Korean-Japanese
- known_for
- Founder of Kyokushin Karate
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Mas Oyama opened his first official dōjō – the Oyama Dojo – in 1953, in a small building behind Rikkyo University to teach Goju-ryu style of traditional Karate. His instruction was distinguished by goals improving the strength in the actual battle by performing a kumite that directly hits the opponent's body with a thrust or kick, unlike other schools at the time. Around 1956, Oyama renamed his school the 'Oyama Dojo'. In early days, Oyama would not take the duty of teaching newer students; instead, Eiji Yasuda (a Shotokan teacher), Masashi Ishibashi, Ichiro Minamimoto (both Goju-ryu practitioners), and others taught newcomers. Later, Kenji Kurosaki also became a teacher. On December 6, 1959, Hirofumi Okada was the first person granted a black belt (first dan) at the Oyama Dojo, listed as first in the official yearly promotion register of the Kyokushin Kaikan. In 1969, Oyama staged The First All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships, won by Terutomo Yamazaki. In 1975, The First World Full Contact Karate Open Championships were held in Tokyo. Kyokushin developed notoriety as 'Kenka Karate' or 'Brawling Karate', a moniker Oyama disliked. At its peak in the 1990s, Kyokushin had branches in each prefecture, over 1,000 official branch dojos in 123 countries, and 12 million members.
Reader's Guide
Oyama hand-picked instructors who displayed ability in marketing the style and gaining new members. He would choose an instructor to open a new dojo; the instructor would move to that town and demonstrate his karate skills in public places, after which word of mouth would spread. Oyama sent instructors to other countries such as the Netherlands (Kenji Kurosaki), Australia (Mamoru Kaneko and Shigeo Kato), the United States (Miyuki Miura, Tadashi Nakamura, Shigeru Oyama and Yasuhiko Oyama), Great Britain (Bob Boulton, later joined by Steve Arneil), Canada (Tatsuji Nakamura) and Brazil (Seiji Isobe). Many students, including Steve Arneil, Jon Bluming, and Howard Collins, traveled to Japan to train with Oyama directly. Kyokushin also sought to develop a close connection with VIPs and celebrities, focusing on a mass media strategy to increase fans and gain students. Oyama died of lung cancer on April 26, 1994 at age 70 without naming a successor, leaving Akiyoshi Matsui in charge of the IKO, which led to fragmentation. After his death, the IKO split into two groups: one led by Shokei Matsui (IKO) and another led by Yukio Nishida and Sanpei (IKO-2). The will was proven invalid in the family Court of Tokyo in 1995.
Did You Know?
- Mas Oyama opened his first official dōjō in 1953 in a small building behind Rikkyo University, initially teaching Goju-ryu karate.
- Hirofumi Okada was the first person granted a black belt at the Oyama Dojo on December 6, 1959.
- Oyama staged the first All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championships in 1969, won by Terutomo Yamazaki.
- At its peak in the 1990s, Kyokushin had over 1,000 official branch dojos in 123 countries with 12 million members.
- Oyama died of lung cancer on April 26, 1994 at age 70 without naming a successor, leading to the IKO crisis.
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