Who is Mas Oyama?
Masutatsu Oyama (大山 倍達, Ōyama Masutatsu, July 27, 1923 – April 26, 1994), more commonly known as Mas Oyama, was a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate, arguably the first and most influential style of full contact karate. Oyama was born in Gimje, South Korea, during Japanese occupation.
What is Mas Oyama’s philosophy of martial arts?
It is also reflected in the Dojo Kun and in the Spirit of Osu. Mas Oyama summed up his entire martial arts philosophy in eleven mottos, known as the Zayu no Mei Juichi Kajo, which are central to his teaching: The Martial Way begins and ends with courtesy.
Is the story of Oyama’s life a true story?
However, the story of the young Oyama’s life has been sensationalized in manga and movies so the line between fiction and fact has become obscure. In March 1938, Oyama left for Japan following his brother who enrolled in the Yamanashi Aviation School Imperial Japanese Army aviation school.
Who is Ōyama Sensei?
Ōyama Sensei, born Choi Young-Eui in Gimje, South Korea during the Japanese occupation, along with Kurosaki Sensei, whose role is frequently understated in the literature (Jarvis, 2005), founded Kyokushinkai karate-do in 1964.
Mas Oyama was born as Choi Young-Eui (최영의) in Gimje, Korea under Japanese rule. At a young age he was sent to Manchuria, Northeast China to live on his sister’s farm. Oyama began studying Chinese martial arts at age 9 from a Chinese farmer who was working on the farm. His family name was Lee and Oyama said he was his very first teacher.
What is Mas Oyama’s judo rank?
Mas Oyama’s training progressed so rapidly that by the age of 17, he was a Nidan 二段 (2nd Dan), and by the age of 20, he was a Yondan 四段 (4th Dan) in Shōtōkan 松濤館流. At this point, Mas Oyama took a serious interest in Jūdō 柔道, and in less than four years he achieved the rank of Yondan in Judo as well.
How did Mas Oyama get started in karate?
After the end of World War II, Mas Oyama began training under Nei-Chu So, one of the highest authorities in Japan of Gōjū Ryū 剛柔流, an Okinawan karate style. Master So, renowned for the power of his body as well as his spiritual insight, encouraged Mas Oyama to dedicate his life to Budō 武道, the Martial Way.
How long would a fight with Mas Oyama last?
A fight never lasted more than three minutes, and rarely lasted more than a few seconds. Mas Oyama’s fighting technique was based on the Samurai warriors’ principle of “Ichi Geki Hissatsu” 一撃必殺移動, or “One strike, certain death”. If he got through to you, the fight was over.