Sunday, April 23rd 2017, Sosai Mas Oyama’s family spent the day at the old Honbu Dojo, built by Sosai (now – the headquarters of the International Kyokushin Organization – Oyama family), for the ceremony commemoration of the memory of the founder of Kyokushin.
The motto of this event were the words “Back to Basics – to Budo karate.” Relatives and friends gathered in the hall on the second floor, to honour teachers.
On April 26, 1994 Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of full contact karate and Kyokushin died from cancer at the age of 70.
This year, the relatives and friends of the master gathered to honour his memory with a special ceremony. Everyone present came to the altar and laid on it branches of an evergreen tree, Sakaki, which are ritual offerings to the gods and spirits of the Japanese national religion, Shinto.
Fujimaki Dzjun
At the end of the ceremony, on behalf of the deceased’s family, a word of thanksgiving was given to the gathering by well known Japanese actor Fujimaki Dzjun, who was accompanied by the younger brother of the late wife of Mas Oyama.
During the ceremonial Kenpai (lifting glasses for the souls of the dead) one of the invitees, Hatsuo Royama , who came as an apprentice to master Oyama from the original school “Oyama Dojo” – historical predecessor to Kyokushinkaikan – in 1963, and who is now president of the International Karate Organization – Kyokushin-kan, gave a speech.
He shared with the participants of the ceremony a number of interesting memories from the history of his time with Sosai, training under his leadership during the “Oyama dojo” and then he urged everyone to go back to the source of the teachings of Sosai Oyama, the correct balance between the disputed karate style, limited in their ability to strict rules, martial karate and karate as the spirit of education system.
Hatsuo Royama
“Sosai Oyama“, said Hatsuo Royama, “kept telling us that Karate Kyokushin – this is not a sport, it is Budo Karate.
Since the time Sosai Oyama passed away has been more than 20 years, and everything we see today, at our schools, has transformed Budo Karate into a kind of sport karate.
See how, under the influence of sports karate, our dojo – “the place where people come to improve and comprehend the Way” – have been converted into conventional gyms.
In this regard, I want to encourage all to go back to the origins of the teachings of Mas Oyama – to Budo karate, for karate as a martial art and system of education of the individual. I want to urge all to work for the sake of just such a karate, which commands us to our Teacher. ”
OSU!
Comments 8
Osu,
Thanks for the feedback. Always nice to know what is happening. Whilst I am not in Kyokushin, Mas Oyama served as great inspiration and motivation during my formative years.
This had been a big push as in the past 10 years and to include full contact Karate into the Olympic Games. There has been a loss of Sosai’s vision. Kancho H. Royama is correct in his statement. Thank you Scott for publishing this article.
Author
Thank you for reading Christopher and taking the time to comment. OSU!
Osu Christopher,
Reading you response it brought to mind the formation of the Kyokushin World Union of which Royama Kancho is part. They too have had meetings with the WKF and Sport Combat officials to try to get recognition to become part of the global sports fraternity and possible Olympic inclusion.
Prior to the start of the All Japan, the 100 Man Kumite was possibly the test, but with tournaments came a different emphasis. I think Yamazaki Terutomo Shihan, winner of the 1st All Japan championships lamented the fact how the Jissen aspect was lost in the more recent tournaments.
Regards
Osu Hoosain Narker,
What do you mean by the Jissen aspect?
Author
I can’t speak for Hoosain, but Jisen (実戦) literally means ‘actual fighting’ and refers to real combat.
OSU! Thank you, Scot.
This site is really good because of your in-depth articles and interviews. Please keep going!
For Hoosain, what do you mean that the recent matches lost its Jisen aspect?
I asked you this because I see differences between old en nieuw matches. I will call the new ones as “tic tac kumite’s” because a lot of punches and kicks are given and taken rapidly, but it seems that they have very little impact to the opponent. I see monotonous and boring matches now. It seems to me that they are not aiming to knock the opponent down, but maybe I’m wrong…
OSU!!!