What is Kyokushin?
Kyokushin Karate is a hard style of karate, characterized by its realistic full-contact style of fighting, it’s emphasis on graceful power in technique and it’s use of “tameshiwari” in the development of spirit and character.
This style of karate was developed during the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s by the founder, Sosai Masutatsu Oyama, 10th Dan. Kyokushinkaikan Karate is administrered by the International Karate Organization-Kyokushinkaikan. The Kyokushinkaikan is one of the largest karate organizations in the world with it’s headquarters in Japan.
Kanji (Japanese characters) calligraphy, worn universally on the front of the gi, simply means “Kyokushinkai”, which is the name given by Sosai Mas Oyama to the karate style he created. It is composed of three characters:
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Kyoku meaning “Ultimate” |
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Shin meaning “Truth” or “Reality”. |
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Kai meaning “Society” or “Association”. |
The symbol of Kyokushin Karate is the Kanku, which is derived from Kanku Kata, the Sky Gazing Form. In this kata, the hands are raised and the fingers meet to form an opening through which the sky is viewed. The top and bottom points of the Kanku represent the first fingers of each hand touching at the top and the thumbs touching at the bottom, symbolizing the peaks or ultimate points. The thick sections at the sides represent the wrists, symbolizing power. The center circle represents the opening between the hands through which the sky is viewed, symbolizing infinite depth. The whole Kanku is enclosed by a circle, symbolizing continuity and circular action.