Masutatsu Oyama

大山倍達

["Karate Master", "Founder of Kyokushin", "Martial Arts Icon"]

Born Jun 04, 1923

Gimje, South Korea

Passed Away Apr 26, 1994 Tokyo, Japan

Lifespan 70 years old

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Notice / Correction

"One becomes a beginner after one thousand days of training and a master after ten thousand days of practice."

Archival Overview

Martial arts master who founded Kyokushin Karate, the premier full-contact karate style, famous for fighting fifty-two live bulls with his bare hands.

Biographical Record

Masutatsu Oyama was born Choi Yeong-eui in Korea and moved to Japan in his youth, training in Judo and Shotokan Karate under Gichin Funakoshi. Seeking ultimate martial mastery, he undertook severe mountain ascetic training on Mount Kiyosumi, punching trees and rocks for eighteen months.

In 1953, Oyama founded Kyokushinkai ('Ultimate Truth'), emphasizing knockdown full-contact sparring and extreme physical conditioning. He completed the legendary 100-man kumite three times and built Kyokushin into an international organization with over twelve million practitioners worldwide.

Key Life Milestones

Kyokushin Founding

Founding of Oyama Dojo

Opened his first dojo in Tokyo, pioneering bare-knuckle full-contact knockdown karate.

World Open

First Kyokushin World Open

Staged the 1st World Open Karate Tournament in Tokyo, attracting martial artists from 120 countries.

Memorial Guestbook & Tributes

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Gokoku-ji Temple
Tokyo, Japan

                         GPS: 35.7172, 139.7289                    

View on Memory Atlas

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