Masutatsu Oyama's Background
Known as "the strongest karate', Kyokushin Karate was developed by Mas Oyama and is today the largest international karate organization in the world. Sosai Oyama was well known world wide for his bare hand bull fight, where he killed them breaking off their horns with shuto strikes. Sosai Oyama also combined other arts with Kyokushin karate like kempo, Boxing, Taiboxing and others, making it the most realistic karate style of all. His world tournaments(every4 years) are famous in Japan and worldwide.
Born in Korea in 1923, he began studying the martial arts at the age of 9, where he learned Kempo, Jujitsu, and shaolin boxing. In 1938, he came to Japan and practiced under Gichi Fnuakoshi, the legendary "father" of karate. Here, he not only learned Shotan Karate, but Goju Ryu and Judo, becoming a yondan master in karate, and in 1963 formed his Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, and began training many famous karateka(eg. Dolf Londgren, T.Nakamura etc.) in his new Kyokushin-Kai style. It is reported that in over 270 bouts with all typed of fighters, pro wrestlers, boxers, Thai fighters, etc. Oyama remained undefeated.
After winning the ALL Japan Tournaments, Oyama developed his own bare knuckle tournaments in Japan called the World Tournament. Here, fighters from all styles and all over the world were invited, given accommodations and airfare, and a chance to prove who was "#1" in the world. These tournaments were held once every four years and became known as the "World Olympics of Karate." In the 26 years of these tournaments, many great fighters were discovered both in and out of Japan, fighters such as Matsui, Midori, Andi Hug, Thompson, Wedel, etc. Only once, however, has a non-Japanese placed as high as 2nd, (Andi Hug 1987)
There are now 2 World Tournaments held in Japan every 4 years, one by each of the two IKO organizations. IKO1 World Tournaments held in 1996 produced the first non- Japanese winner in Francisco Filio of Brazil. With the sudden death of Sosai Oyama in 1994, there has been a split in his once solid organization, resulting in numerous factions of Kyokushin in and out of Japan.
For now, the two primary groups are IKO1 headed by Shoke Matsui, the 1989 world champion and special student pf Sosai Oyama, and IKO2, the family group controlled by much of Oyamas older followers and students. Kyokushin Karate However is as strong as ever, and continues to grow in popularity and numbers.