Kudos Martial Arts
More than martial arts - we develop confidence, discipline and
character for life through karate
What is Kyokushin Karate?
What is Kyokushin Karate?
Kyokushin karate is a full contact, bare knuckle style of karate founded in Japan in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama — widely regarded as one of the greatest martial artists who ever lived. The name Kyokushin (極真) means 'Ultimate Truth' — and that name reflects everything about the art: an honest, uncompromising approach to martial arts training that demands genuine effort, produces genuine results, and develops genuine human beings.
At Kudos Martial Arts, Kyokushin is the foundation of everything we teach — for children, teenagers, adults, and families across our four Kent locations in Canterbury, Folkestone, Sandwich, and Aylesham. Understanding what Kyokushin is — and why it's different — is the first step to understanding why training with us is unlike anything else you'll find.
Why Kyokushin is Different
Let's be honest about karate.
Karate has a reputation problem. Decades of watered-down commercial programmes, colourful belts awarded for attendance, and choreographed techniques that would never work in reality have led many people to dismiss karate as a soft option — something for children's parties, not serious martial artists.
Kyokushin is the antidote to all of that.
Created by a man who fought bulls with his bare hands, trained alone in the mountains for years, and defeated over 300 fighters in consecutive bare-knuckle matches, Kyokushin was built on a single, uncompromising principle: real martial arts require real training. No pads on the hands. No points for controlled taps. No belts for participation. Only genuine full contact fighting — and the extraordinary development that comes from it.
What makes Kyokushin genuinely different from other martial arts:
- Full contact knockdown rules — fights are won by knocking the opponent down, not by scoring points
- Bare knuckle — no gloves, no hand padding, developing genuine striking conditioning
- No face punching — all the toughness, without the repeated head punches of boxing or MMA
- Complete striking system — punches, kicks, knee strikes, sweeps — the full arsenal of standing combat
- Tameshiwari — breaking practice that develops genuine power and mental focus
- Kata — traditional forms that develop technique, balance, and understanding of movement
- Extraordinary physical conditioning — Kyokushin fighters are globally renowned for their fitness
- Genuine belt progression — grades are earned through demonstrated ability, not time served
The Man Who Built the Ultimate Truth — Mas Oyama
Masutatsu Oyama was born in Korea in 1923 and moved to Japan at the age of fifteen. He studied Shotokan karate under the legendary Gichin Funakoshi, achieving 4th Dan by the age of twenty — a remarkable progression even by the standards of a generation of dedicated martial artists.
But Oyama was not satisfied with what karate had become. He believed that the true spirit of martial arts — tested against genuine resistance, in conditions of real pressure — had been lost. He withdrew from society entirely and trained alone in the mountains of Japan for fourteen months, emerging with a philosophy and a physical capability that would reshape the martial arts world.
In 1950, Oyama began what became one of the most extraordinary demonstrations of martial arts capability in history: fighting bulls. Over the course of several years he fought 52 bulls — killing 3 outright with single strikes, snapping the horns off 49 others. These were not staged performances. They were demonstrations of the devastating striking power that Oyama had developed through years of dedicated, uncompromising training.
In 1953 he opened his first dojo in Tokyo — teaching what he now called Kyokushin karate. In April 1964, the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan (IKO) was formally established, with its headquarters in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. From there, Kyokushin spread to over 120 countries, accumulating more than 12 million registered members and becoming one of the largest martial arts organisations in the world.
The 100-Man Kumite — The Ultimate Test
Perhaps the most famous — and most extraordinary — achievement in Kyokushin history is the 100-man kumite: fighting 100 consecutive opponents in full contact bare knuckle bouts, with a maximum of 2 minutes rest between fights. Mas Oyama completed this three times in three days.
Several other Kyokushin practitioners have subsequently completed the 100-man kumite — each time cementing Kyokushin's reputation as the most demanding test of martial arts ability in existence. It is not a record designed to be broken. It is a statement of what the human body and mind are capable of when they are trained without compromise.
Famous Kyokushin Practitioners
Kyokushin's influence extends far beyond the dojo. Its alumni include some of the most recognisable names in martial arts, sport, and culture:
- Georges St-Pierre — widely considered the greatest MMA champion of all time, built his striking foundation on Kyokushin
- Andy Hug — legendary K-1 World Champion, known as 'The Swiss Hurricane', a lifelong Kyokushin practitioner
- Dolph Lundgren — actor and martial artist, Sandan (3rd Dan) in Kyokushin and former Australian heavyweight champion
- Sean Connery — awarded an honorary Shodan (1st Dan) by Mas Oyama
- Francisco Filho — multiple Kyokushin World Champion
- Nelson Mandela — honorary black belt recipient, recognising the values Kyokushin represents
The fact that some of the world's greatest MMA fighters chose Kyokushin as their striking foundation is not a coincidence. It is the most effective, most complete, and most physically demanding striking art in the world
Kyokushin Competition — The Knockdown Tournament
Kyokushin competition is unlike any other martial arts tournament. The knockdown format — in which fights are won by knocking the opponent to the floor and keeping them there for a count of eight — produces some of the most intense, spectacular, and genuine fighting in the martial arts world.
Competitors fight bare knuckle, with no gloves or hand protection. Body strikes and leg kicks are fully permitted and fully powered. Face punching is prohibited — not because Kyokushin is soft, but because bare knuckle strikes to the face carry unnecessary risk in a sporting context. The result is a fighting format that develops extraordinary body conditioning, powerful kicking technique, and the mental fortitude to continue fighting through physical discomfort.
In addition to knockdown competition, Kyokushin also offers:
- Clicker tournaments — points-based non-contact competition, ideal for newer competitors and younger students
- Kata competitions — individual performances of traditional forms, judged on technique, power, and precision
- Interclub events — club-versus-club competition providing valuable experience in a supported environment
At Kudos Martial Arts, our students compete across all three formats — from their first nervous interclub appearance through to national championships, European competitions, and World Championship level. This year alone, our team competed at the KWF World Tournament in Spain (with two students representing Great Britain as part of Team GB), the Irish Open in Dublin, the BKK English Open, and multiple national and regional events.
After Mas Oyama — The Kyokushin Family Tree
Transparency about Kyokushin's organisational history — because you deserve the full picture.
Mas Oyama died of lung cancer in April 1994 — leaving behind a global organisation of 12 million members and no clear succession plan. What followed was a period of significant political turbulence within the Kyokushin world that continues to shape the landscape of the art today.
Shortly after Oyama's death, the International Karate Organization (IKO) fractured. Shokei Matsui was appointed to lead the organisation, but not all senior practitioners accepted this. The IKO split into multiple factions, each claiming legitimacy as the authentic successor to Mas Oyama's organisation. Today there are numerous Kyokushin organisations worldwide — each with their own leadership, their own competition structures, and their own interpretation of the art's future.
The Major Kyokushin Organisations Today
- IKO Matsui (IKO-1) — led by Shokei Matsui, generally considered the largest single organisation by membership
- IKO-2 / Shinkyokushinkai — led by Kenji Midori, strong competition programme
- Kyokushin-kan — established by Hatsuo Royama, known for technical excellence
- KWF (Kyokushin World Federation) — international federation running World Championship tournaments
- BKK (British Karate Kyokushinkai) — the primary Kyokushin governing body in the UK
- IFK (International Federation of Karate) — another significant international organisation
- And numerous other national and regional organisations worldwide
What this means for you as a student — and why it matters:
The existence of multiple Kyokushin organisations can be confusing, but it does not diminish the art itself. Kyokushin karate — the training methods, the philosophy, the belt system, the competition format — remains consistent across all legitimate organisations. What varies is the political structure above the clubs.
What matters most when choosing a Kyokushin club is not which organisation it affiliates to, but the quality of its instruction, the authenticity of its training, and the calibre of its instructor team. At Kudos Martial Arts, our clubs operate under the IKK (International Karate Kyokushinkaikan) — established by Shihan Paul Sarginson in 1996 as a UK-based governing body committed to authentic Kyokushin instruction, genuine competition opportunities, and the highest standards of student development.
Our students hold licences with the IKK, compete at events run by the BKK and KWF, and train under an instructor team whose black belt grades are genuine, earned, and recognised. The politics of the wider Kyokushin world do not affect the quality of what we do — and we believe it's important to be honest and transparent about the landscape so you can make an informed choice.
The Kyokushin Philosophy — Osu
No explanation of Kyokushin is complete without addressing its most fundamental concept: Osu (押忍).
Osu is a word — and a philosophy — that has no direct English translation. It is derived from two kanji characters: 'Oshi' (to push) and 'Shinobu' (to endure). Together they express the spirit of Kyokushin training: to push forward, to endure hardship, to never give up — regardless of the circumstances.
In the dojo, Osu is used as a greeting, a sign of respect, and an acknowledgement. It is said when entering and leaving the dojo, when receiving instruction, when bowing to a partner, when completing a difficult technique. But more than a word, it is an attitude — the Kyokushin practitioner's commitment to persevering through difficulty, maintaining humility in success, and showing respect to all they encounter.
This philosophy is one of the reasons Kyokushin training produces such remarkable transformations in students of all ages. The discipline, resilience, and character that training develops are not side effects — they are the point. 'Osu' is not what you say at the dojo. It is how you live.
Start Your Kyokushin Journey
Kyokushin karate is available for children from age 5, teenagers, adults of all ages and fitness levels, and families who want to train together across our four Kent locations.
Whether you're looking for your child's first martial arts class, a genuine fitness challenge for yourself, practical self-defence skills, or the opportunity to compete at the highest levels — Kyokushin at Kudos Martial Arts offers a pathway for everyone.
- Children's karate classes — ages 5-11 in Canterbury, Folkestone, Sandwich, and Aylesham
- Teenage karate classes — ages 12-17, training alongside adults
- Adult karate classes — ages 18+, all fitness levels, no upper age limit
- Family karate classes — training together at Canterbury and Folkestone
No experience necessary. No fitness level required. Just a willingness to try.