Masutatu Oyama History
1923.6 Masutatu Oyama was born in Tokyo, Japan, on the 4th
June.
1935.3 Sent by his parents to his sister's house in Manchuria.
1935.4 Entered primary school in Seoul, Korea, where he started his study of
Chinese Kempo. In his 2nd year he gained Shodan.
1938.3 Entered Yamanashi
Airways School, Japan.
1938.9 Studied Karate under Gichin Funakoshi, one of
the first three people to bring karate to Japan.
1940.4 Entered
Takusyoku University. Gained 2nd Dan in Karate. Served in the World War
II.
1943? Started the Eiwa Karate Do Research Institute, but 6th month later
it was closed.
1946.4 Entered the Physical Education Department of Waseda
University.
1946.10 Visited Eiji Yoshikawa and Shiro Ozaki, two famous
writers, to study more about the old Samurai way.Went to Mt. Minobu for
training.
1947.9 Entered First All Japan Tournament since the war, in
Maruyama Gymnasium, Kyoto, and became Champion.
1948.4 Decided to devote his
life to Karate and did 18 month training alone in Mt. Kiyosumi of Chiba
Prefecture to perfect his techniques and form his Karate way.
1950.11 Fought
against a bull in Chiba. Acquired a room in an abattoir and trained by killing
bulls. Altogether he killed 47 bulls, 4 dying instantly.
1951.5 Started
teaching Karate to the US Army stationed in Japan at Camp Zama, Fucyu,
Tachikawa, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Yokota, and Tokorozawa.
1952.3 A Karate
Organization in Chicago invited Mas. Oyama to the USA, and over an eleven months
period he did 32 demonstrations, taught in various states, and participated in 7
fights.
1953.4 Revisited America. Fought with bull in Chicago. Broke the
bull's horn by “syuto” (hand sword) and defeated it with a single blow. His
impressive performance won a high reputation for the power of Karate.
1953.12 Returned to New York to instruct Karate.
1954.4 Returned to
Japan from America. As requested by the media, began training in Boso for film
“Karate Versus Bull”.
1954.5 Opened his first dojo in a burned our area in
Mejiro, Tokyo.
1955.2 A promoter invited Ms. Oyama to the USA. He also
traveled to South America and Europe fighting against many people. The whisky
bottle cut was highly popular. Fought against a bull in Chicago in
September.
1955.9 Fought with bull again in Chicago.
1956.4 Starting in
Okinawa, Mas. Oyama traveled South East Asia studying many different fighting
styles.
1956.6 The Oyama dojo was started in a small studio behind Rikkyo
University. That dojo was the beginning of the Kyokushinkaikan, the beginning of
a Karate based on the principle of 1,000 days training as a beginner, 10,000
days of training on top of that, and then a glimpse of the mysteries.
1957.3
Visited Europe.
1957.6 Visited America.
1957.7 Fought with bull in
Mexico City. Number of students passed 700.
1958.1 The book «What is Karate»
was published becoming the first best seller of a book on Japanese Karate. Mas.
Oyama traveled to New York.
1958.9 The F.B.I. in Washington invited Mas.
Oyama to teach and demonstrate.
1958.10 The Westpoint Army School invited
Mas. Oyama to teach.
1960.3 Traveled throughout Europe and America.
72 branch dojos were established in 16 countries in both regions.
1962.2
Set off on journey to disseminate Karate and develop new techniques. Visited
North and Latin America and Europe to face off against various national martial
arts. Set off on journey to disseminate Karate and develop new techniques.
Visited North and Latin America and Europe to face off against various national
martial arts.
1963.4 Traveled around America, Europe and South Africa.
Traveled around America, Europe and South Africa.
1963.10 Construction
started on the building to become the Kyokushinkaikan Honbu in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
USA held its 2nd Open Tournament in Hartford City, Conn.
1964.1 Muai Thai
Kick Boxing challenged Japanese Karate, but this challenge was not accepted. The
Oyama dojo then sent three students to Thailand, won 2 out of 3 fights, redeemed
the name of Japanese Karate and in fact helped to give it a better
name.
1964.4 Eisaku Sato, former Prime Minister of Japan, who was recently
won a Nobel Prize, became the Kaicho (President) of the Kyokushinkaikan. Mas.
Oyama became Kancho (Director).
1964.6 Tokyo Honbu was officially opened, and
the I.K.O. was established. The Georgia State Public University invited Kancho
for a one month teaching and demonstrating stay.
1965.3 “This is Karate” was
published and sold 170,000 copies. “This is Karate” was published and sold
170,000 copies.
1968.6 Visited Hawaii, America, England, Netherlands, Italy
and Jordan
1969.9 The 1st Japan Open Karate Tournament was held in Tokyo
which attracted kick boxers, Judo-ka, other stylists and a large audience. There
were 48 competitions.
1971.1 Comic series, “Karate Baka Ichidai” (man who
devoted all his life to Karate), launched in popular magazine (Shonen Magazine).
1972.8 Japanese team lost at world championship hosted by Japan Karate
Federation in Paris. Masutatsu issued statement to express his regret at their
defeat. Japanese team lost at world championship hosted by Japan Karate
Federation in Paris. Masutatsu issued statement to express his regret at their
defeat.
1975.11 The First World Open Karate Tournament was held in Tokyo.
128 competitors attended from 36 countries.
1976.5 Documentary film of
the 1st World Open Karate Tournament, “World's Strongest Karate”, premiered. It
was broadcasted in 30 countries and became a big hit with an audience of 7 to 8
million.
1976.12 “World's Strongest Karate 2” premiered.
1979.11 The
King of Jordan conferred the Order on Mas. Oyama. The Second World Open Karate
Championships took place in the Nippon Budokan Hall.
1980.1 Documentary film
of the 2nd World Open Karate Tournament, “Strongest and Last Karate”, premiered.
1984.1 The 3rd World Open Karate Tournament was held at Nippon Budokan.
1985.1 The film, “World's Strongest Karate ? Kyokushin”, premiered.
1987.11 The 4th World Open Karate Tournament was held at Nippon Budokan. 207
Karate athletes from 76 countries participated in the competition.
1991.11
At the 5th World Open Karate Championships held, demonstrated the 'entenken no
kata (form of smoothest movement sequence at will)' as the 'final martial art
performance' as he called.
1994.4.26 Breathed his last at the age of 70.
10.11.2008 Volkov Alexey