USA Kyokushin™ Karate
Sosai Mas Oyama
The founder of Kyokushinkai Karate, Grand Master Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama was one of the toughest men to grace this world. He was born in Korea, on July 27th 1923 in Kimji, and his birth name was Choi Young-Eui. At a very young age he trained in a Korean martial art called Chabee and Shaolin temple boxing.
In 1937, at the young age of 14, he left his native land for Japan to attend a boys’ military academy in Yamanashi Prefecture. He was training to be an aircraft mechanic. While in Yamanashi, he began the study of Shotokan karate. He soon went to Tokyo and enrolled at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi at Takushoku University. By the age of seventeen he was already a 2nd Dan, and by the time he entered the Japanese Imperial Army at 20, he was a 4th Dan. In Japan he took on the Japanese name Masutatsu Oyama, but he was more popularly known as “Mas” Oyama.
Mas Oyama then met the Gojukai specialist, So Nei Chu and trained under him. Another life altering event for him was when he met Eiji Yoshikawa, the author of the novel Musashi, in 1946. Both the novel and the author helped to teach Mas Oyama about the Samurai Bushido code and what it meant. Soon afterward, he entered the Physical Department of Waseda University, Tokyo.
By 1950, he attained legendary strength and was famed for smashing rocks with his hands. He started experimenting with smashing bulls with his hands, killing a few and maiming many. He substituted his hands for a hammer.
In 1953 Oyama opened his own karate dojo, named Oyama Dojo. It developed a reputation as a tough, intense, full-contact style. In 1965, he published the legendary book “This is Karate” which is considered the Bible of Karate today.
In 1966 he sent Kenji Kurosaki to Hawaii and Europe to teach Karate. In 1967 he sent Shigeru Oyama to USA to expand Kyokushinkai to USA.
Although he never smoked, the Grand Master, Sosai Mas. Oyama passed away on April 26th 1994 due to complications from lung cancer.
Soshu Shigeru Oyama
Soshu Shigeru Oyama was born in Tokyo on July 7th, 1935. After beginning the study of karate at an early age and attending Japan University, he became a professional karate master, having trained with and under Mas Oyama during the early days of the development of Kyokushin. Undefeated in tournament bouts throughout Japan, he fought the 100 man kumite on September 7th, 1966, becoming the 3rd person to do so after Mas Oyama and rose to the rank of Grand Master.
In 1967, Mas Oyama, sent his then chief instructor, Shigeru Oyama, from the Tokyo honbu to New York to help spread Kyokushin Karate worldwide. All worldwide Kyokushin champions subsequently travelled to New York to train under his tutelage, coming from Japan and Europe, as well as throughout the USA. In addition to his teaching and mentoring duties, Shigeru Oyama has written three volumes on karate, including the prize-winning novel “U.S. Karate Adventure”.
He is posthumously the chairman of World Oyama Karate, which became an independent organization in 1985 and was headquartered in New York City. In October 1985, he received a citation for professional excellence presented by President Ronald Reagan at the the Whitehouse.
Software Samurais
Kyokushin™ is a renowned art that has proven to take the human body to incredible heights. Sosai Mas Oyama was a legendary figure. His student Soshu Shigeru Oyama was awarded the International Years Best Master in 1981 and 1985. He was feted at the White House by President Ronald Reagan in recognition of his teaching excellence.
That excellence is now enabling Silicon Valley’s Geeks, Nerds, Chip Heads and Programmers become Knock Down Fighters.
Testimonials
“Meeting Dr. Joseph was incredible. It was one of the highlights of my life. His energy 62 is infectious and his fitness and mobility is highly motivating. Being around these guys is a life changer.”
— ROBERT GRIFFITH, MINNESOTA VIKING LEGEND AND LONGTIME NFL PA PRESIDENT.
OUR PROMISE
We will train your heart, body and mind to form an unshakable spirit. Your senses will be trained to be alert.
We train to be courteous, respect our superiors and to refrain from violence.
We strive to humbly seek wisdom and strength and not other worldly desires.
With discipline and repeated training we help you find the true meaning of life.
“My body was stiff and I had trouble moving. We came in 7th in 2017. They trained me and I moved like Cat again and won the Big-3 championship in 2018. Many thanks to these guys at USA Kyokushin Karate!”
— CUTTINO MOBLEY, HOUSTON ROCKETS, LA CLIPPERS AND BIG-3 HOUSTON POWER
“I am a ASIC designer who works for a large Chip company in Silicon Valley. I have been training Oyama Karate for 15 years. It is a huge part of my life and it keeps me healthy and focused. I am a black belt now and I cannot imagine life without it.”
— KATSUSHI SAKAGUCHI
“I am the CEO of a AI company and am a serial entrepreneur. I used to be a weak kid before Oyama Karate. Now I pound the heavy bag when a problem frustrates me. You can call me a software bully. That actually sounds good!”
— LEONARD SHEIBA