Kyokushin

Histoire

Kyokushin — "the ultimate truth" — was founded by Mas Oyama, a Korean-born karateka, who opened the Kyokushinkaikan headquarters in Tokyo in 1964. Oyama wanted karate tested in real contact, and his tough training and public demonstrations made it famous.

Kyokushin tournaments are full contact with bare fists: punches to the head are not allowed, but kicks and knees to the head are. After Oyama's death in 1994 the organisation split into several groups. Its fighters strongly influenced kickboxing and the K-1 tournaments.

Le saviez-vous ?

• The "100-man kumite" — fighting a hundred opponents one after another — is Kyokushin's hardest test; very few have completed it.
• Oyama was famous for breaking stones and, by his own account, fighting bulls.
• Andy Hug, a Kyokushin champion from Switzerland, became a K-1 legend.
• Georges St-Pierre started with Kyokushin karate as a child.

Glossaire des techniques

Gedan mawashi-geri

low roundhouse kick

Kakato otoshi

axe kick

Tsuki

punches to the body

Tameshiwari

breaking boards, tiles or bricks

Formes

Taikyoku 1–3Pinan 1–5SanchinTenshoGekisaiSaihaKankuSeienchinGaryu

Armes et équipement

Karate-gi

uniform

Obi

belt

⚔ In the Arsenal

Makiwara

☯ Philosophy and quotes

OsuSee all →

Figures clés

• Mas Oyama (1923–1994) — founder of Kyokushin
• Andy Hug (1964–2000) — Swiss Kyokushin and K-1 champion
• Francisco Filho (1971–) — Brazilian Kyokushin and K-1 fighter

Sources: International Karate Organization (IKO) Kyokushinkaikan · Encyclopaedia Britannica