Back in the early 90s, I took up kyokushin karate for about 2 years and now looking back, find myslef very confident of taking on any one with no problem. So far I have had no incident where I had to use it. The only time I remember was when I was attacked by a white man while returning from pub one night, last year in Newcastle, Uk. Thank god, I did not do any great damage other than slamming him on the ground in front of Grey's Monument.

Last Wednesday, I went to so call kick boxing class and some of the technique that they showed did not impressed me at all - the blocks, punches,kicks and so many others were not as destructive as what I learnt.I think I am a bit biased here.

Anyone here had the chance to learn various martial art ? What do you think about kyokushin karate ?

Oyama, was born Yong-I Choi, on July 27, 1923, in the tiny village of Wa-Ryongri Yong-chi Myonchul Na Do, in Southern Korea. His family, considered aristocrats, belonged to the Yangban-clan. His father, Sun Hyang, was the mayor of Kinje, a town near the village where Yong-I Choi was born. As a young child, nine years of age, Oyama began studying Southern Chinese Kempo under the instruction of Mr. Yi, an employee on the estate owned by Oyama's father. Oyama was also an avid reader and was deeply affected and moved after reading the biography of Otto von Bismark (1815-1898) the Prussian Chancellor (1871-1890) of the German empire. Bismark, Oyama read, was instrumental in unifying Germany in a span of only two to three years, making it a nation powerful enough to control most of Europe.



The philosophy of Bismark made such a strong impression on Oyama that he decided he wanted to be the Bismark of the Orient. With great aspirations Oyama somehow felt his destiny was in Japan and he left Korea at the age of fifteen. It was at this time in Japan the young Choi changed his name. He adopted the name Oyama from the family that befriended him and took him in, while in Japan.
In 1938, at the young age of fifteen, Oyama wanted to serve the country he now called home and therefore joined Japan's Yamanashi Youth Air Force Academy with the intentions of becoming a pilot. In September of this same year, Oyama became a student of Gichin Funakoshi, Shotokan Karate founder, at the Takushoku University. Funakoshi, a school teacher from Okinawa, was credited with introducing karate to Japan. It is this man that Oyama later would refer to as his true karate teacher. Throughout the years Oyama always spoke highly of Funakoshi, remarking in later recollections of his gentle yet overwhelming presence. Oyama went on to say that of the many things he learned from Funakoshi, kata (formal exercises) was the most important.

By the age of eighteen, Oyama had earned the rank of nidan in karate (second level black) rank. Oyama was still very much a patriot and was always volunteering for special military duty. On one assignment to an airfield near Tokyo, a confrontation provoked by an officer, resulted in Oyama striking the officer. Although found innocent, due to the provocation on the part of the officer, Oyama was ordered transferred to an area in the Pacific. However, the war was just ending and lucky for Oyama, the transfer was halted. But this luck had an ironic twist for Oyama because it also meant that his driving quest to serve his new country was now over. The announcement that Japan had surrendered WWII quickly ended Oyama’s military career. The stress of losing his career and the dishonor he felt for his adopted country losing the war created great - almost unbearable - stress in Oyama’s life.

Oyama found someone Korean like himself by the name of Nei-Chu So. Not only was So Korean but he was also from the same province. Nei-Chi So was a practitioner of the Gojo-Ryu style of karate. Gogen Yamaguchi, nicknamed "The Cat", was carrying on goju-ryu, founded by Chojun Miyagi in 1930 in Japan. Yamaguchi commonly acknowledged that Nei-Chu So was one of his best students. Oyama quickly resumed his martial arts training under So and a strong bond was formed between the two. So, a great philosopher and strong in character, possessed even stronger spiritual convictions. Oyama would not only learn Goju-ryu from So, but would also be sanctified by him into the Buddhist faith of the Nichiren sect. It was So who inspired Oyama to make karate his life long dedication, propelling him to face his own challenges and develop his own achievements and victories. At the same time he began his training with So, Oyama earnestly took-up the practice of Judo as well. After four years of training, he received his yondan (fourth level black) ranking in Judo.

Oyama liked to attend the local dance competitions in the area in order to socialize and relax after his martial arts training. It was at one such dance event that Oyama came to the aid of a female who was being accosted by a local troublemaker. When Oyama intervened, the troublemaker, a tall Japanese suspected of several homicides, became enraged and produced a knife. Taunting Oyama, the troublemaker made continuous slashing movements through the air in front of Oyama’s face with the knife then lunged towards Oyama. Oyama blocked the attack and delivered a forceful punch to the head of the assailant, killing him instantly. Because of eyewitness accounts of the incident, Oyama was ruled by the courts as justified in using self-defense. However, the impact of the tragedy devastated Oyama. To kill a man with a single blow was so overwhelming to Oyama that he decided to give up his martial arts training. Learning that the man he killed had a wife and children on a farm in the Kanto area near Tokyo, Oyama went to the farm and worked there for several months. He did not leave until the widow assured him that she was financially capable of maintaining the farm and that she did not hold Oyama responsible for the death of her husband.

This became the turning point in Oyama’s life. His Goju-ryu instructor, Nei-Chu So advised him to go away, to train his body and soul and to give karate a chance to control his life. Oyama, lacking direction and a goal wondered if karate was a realistic goal. Would karate training give him the much-needed control of his physical strength as well as mental discipline? If karate would provide these traits, then he would have to give himself completely to the training. He realized it would be a long, hard journey. He was determined to succeed on this quest.
In 1948 Mas Oyama, taking with him only his books and the basic necessities for cooking, began an arduous training regimen atop Mt. Minobu in Chiba Prefecture. Mt. Minobu is the same place where the famous seventeenth century samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, received inspiration for Nito Ryu, his celebrated double sword system. To Oyama, this was the ideal place to train and be inspired in the same tradition as his idol, Musashi. Of the books Oyama took with him on this journey, none were more important than the collection on Musashi, by Yoshikawa. For eighteen months, isolated in the mountains, Oyama tested himself against nature’s elements with such scenarios as training and meditating under icy waterfalls, performing countless jumps over bushes and boulders and using trees and rocks as makiwaras (striking aide, see photo below) to condition his hands, feet and legs.

He would begin training at five in the morning, running up the steep slopes. Using large rocks as weights, he would lift them hundreds of times to increase his strength. In addition, he performed kata a minimum of one hundred times each day as well as hundreds upon thousands of repetitions of kihons (basic techniques), continuously pushing himself to the limits of human endurance. At the conclusion of his daily training, he would read various Buddhist writings and sit in zazen and meditate. It was also at this time that Oyama began to contemplate the idea of the circle and point for his karate. He also began visualizing himself defeating a bull with his bare hands. If he could get strong enough and powerful enough that he was able to defeat a bull with his karate, he would become famous. But it wasn’t fame he was after. The fame, he thought, would be a tool. If he could attract interest from others, he could enlighten them on the strengths and virtues of karate and he would succeed not only in his goal of mastering karate, but of instructing others in the way of karate as well.


After eighteen months of solitude, Oyama returned from the mountains. Shortly after his return from the mountain training, the first karate tournament since the end of World War II, was held in Japan. Oyama competed in this All Japan Karate Tournament held at the Maruyama Kaikan in Kyoto and emerged victorious - the tournament’s first champion. But Oyama was an intense young man and still was not satisfied with his achievement. He still felt that something was lacking in his martial arts and that he had not truly reached his full potential. Oyama returned to the mountains for another year of gruelling fourteen-hour training days. To this day, there is no other person who has undertaken such a training regimen within the martial arts. After this final isolation and training period, Oyama returned to civilization ready to apply all that he had learned. It was at this time Oyama decided to apply his karate expertise in a life and death battle - a conflict that would set man against beast.
Mas Oyama, in order to show the strength of his karate, tested his strength by fighting raging bulls bare-handed. It was a mismatch from the get-go for the bulls, not for Oyama. In all, he fought 52 bulls, three of which were killed instantly, and 49 had their horns taken off with knife hand blows. That it is not to say that it was all that easy for him. Oyama was fond of remembering that his first attempt just resulted in an angry bull. In 1957, at the age of 34, he was nearly killed in Mexico when a bull got some of his own back and gored him. Oyama somehow managed to pull the bull off and break off his horn. He was bedridden for 6 months while he recovered from the usually fatal wound. Today of course, the animal rights groups would have something to say about these demonstrations, despite the fact that the animals were all destined for slaughter.
In 1952, he travelled the United States for a year, demonstrating his karate live and on national television. During subsequent years, he took on all challengers, resulting in fights with 270 different people. The vast majority of these were defeated with one punch! A fight never lasted more than three minutes, and most rarely lasted more than a few seconds. His fighting principle was simple — if he got through to you, that was it.
If he hit you, you broke. If you blocked a rib punch, you arm was broken or dislocated. If you didn't block, your rib was broken. He became known as the Godhand, a living manifestation of the Japanese warriors' maxim Ichi geki, Hissatsu or "One strike, certain death". To him, this was the true aim of technique in karate. The fancy footwork and intricate techniques were secondary (though he was also known for the power of his head kicks).


These life and death struggles brought notoriety to Oyama. Oyama used this notoriety to help establish his Kyokushin organization. Oyama's reputation grew with each bullfight and each challenge match, as he defeated wrestlers, boxers and judo stylists alike in no-holds-barred bouts. He was an equal-opportunity fighter, taking on any man from any combat system who wished to challenge him. For nearly fifty years, fifteen million plus members of Oyama's worldwide Kyokushin Karate organization witnessed this man's incredible feats. Whether from the power of his strikes, the strength of his handshake, his remarkable teachings or through the teachings of the instructors and branch chiefs that Oyama produced, everyone associated with him knew that this esoteric name was not inappropriate.

source: http://www.fightingmaster.com/masters/oyama/

Karate is both an art and a philosophy, because each person has a different personality, this reflects in interpretation and therefore karate masters have founded their own schools. The style of Japanese karate we practice is Kyokushinkai which translates as "Truth meets the reality" this was developed by the late Sosai (President - 10th Dan) Masutatsu Oyama renowned for his barehanded bullfighting triumphs, awesome breaking and fighting skills. Also termed as 'Oyama Karate' and filmed as "The Strongest Karate"



Born Yong-I Choi in Southern Korea on 27th July 1923, Mas Oyama first learnt Chinese Kempo at the age of 9, at age 12 he went to Japan where by the age of 20 he had attained a fourth dan under Gichin Funakoshi in the Shotokan style. He also in less than fours years gained a fourth dan in Judo. After training a few years in Goju karate with So Nei Chu, he spent 14 months in seclusion in the mountains, training every day. He emerged to win the Japan Karate Championships and in the following years fought 52 bulls bound for the slaughterhouse by chopping their horns off with an openhanded blow and killing three instantly with punches, he traveled extensively worldwide demonstrating the art of karate. Participating in 270 matches against, amongst others, professional boxers and wrestlers, Sosai Mas Oyama became known as invincible defeating all challengers, the majority with one technique, a bout never lasted longer than three minutes.

His students continued the tradition by defeating in response to their challenge, the top Muay Thai boxers in Thailand and then totally dominating the International Karate Organizations "Open World Knockdown Karate Tournaments" as sponsored by the Japanese Government. Mas Oyama created a more realistic approach to physical confrontation, power based but encompassing in the modern version mobility and lateral movement. This provides the student with an effective and practical self defense system in the budo tradition of the empty hand which in many respects is degenerating into complex, ritualized and highly specialized sport with minimal practical use.

Sosai Masutatsu Oyama passed away in March 1994, his 'International Karate Organization' has split into many IKO factions continually embroiled in legal actions, numerous other derivative styles or groups are currently also practicing Kyokushin methods and/or ideals to some degree.

100 man Kumite


Mas Oyama's Three Hundred Man Kumite
It was with these examples in mind that Oyama decided to test his own abilities. And he would go one day better! He chose the strongest students in his dojo, who were to fight him one at a time until they'd all had a turn, and then they'd start from the beginning again, until the three hundred rounds were up. He defeated them all, never wavering in his resolve, despite the fact that he himself suffered severe physical injury in the process.
Each student had to face him about four times over the three days, though some never made it past the first day due to Oyama's powerful blows. Legend even has it that Oyama was willing to go for a FOURTH day, but no one else was willing or able! This took place not long after he had completed his mountain training.

The One hundred man Kumite
Having set the example, Mas Oyama started to institute the 100-man kumite as a requirement for attaining 4th or 5th dan. He soon found however, that not everyone had the spirit to do it, though the physical skill could "easily" be taught. The indomitable will, courage, and determination the "Spirit of Osu" in it's extreme just wasn't to be found in everyone. Thus it became a voluntary exercise for those few who had the right stuff.

At first, the fights could be completed over two days if so desired by the person doing it, but after 1967, Mas Oyama decided that they should all be fought on the same day. In addition to the basic requirement of 100 fights, other requirements are that the competitor must clearly win at least 50% of the fights, and if knocked down, should not stay down for longer than 5 seconds.

In Australia, and possibly elsewhere, the 50 man kumite is a lesser (but still no mean achievement) feat that can be attempted.

In Great Britain, and anywhere else under the aegis of Hanshi Steve Arneil, anyone can choose to do any number of fights e.g. 10, 20, 30 , 40, 50 etc.... and he or she will get a certificate for this achievement. This in recognition that, while not everyone may be able to meet the ultimate Kyokushin benchmark of 100 fights, personal bench-marks are just as important an attainment. After all, even 10 knockdown fights in swift succession can come to as much as half an hour of solid fighting.

Who's done what?
One Hundred
Apart from Oyama's spectacular 3 days in a row, a number of other people have tried and completed the 100 man kumite but not many. The list below gives the names of these incredible men, and it is notable that most of them are still very active in karate, having achieved a high rank. Some are even heads of their own styles which, of course, are heavily derivative of Kyokushin.
Initially, people had the choice do it over two days, with 50 fights per day, but later it became compulsory to do it all in one day.

Steve Arneil (1965)
Steve Arneil of Great Britain (now 8th Dan) was the very first, and he did them all in one day . He is now the head of the International Federation of Karate (IFK) based in the UK, and which is not affiliated with the Honbu in Japan.
Tadashi Nakamura (1965)
Now known as Kaicho Nakamura, he is the founder of World Seido Karate, based in New York
Shigeru Oyama (1966)
No relationship to Sosai, he is now head of his own style, World Oyama Karate based in New York.
Loek Hollander (1967)
John Jarvis (1967)
A New Zealander.
Howard Collins
He was the first to do it compulsorily in one day.
Miyuki Miura (Friday the 13th, April 1972)
The first Japanese to do it in one day, he now heads the Midwest Headquarters of the World Oyama Karate offshoot.
Akiyoshi Matsui (1986)
Akiyoshi Matsui is the successor to Mas Oyama as kancho or head of the International Karate Organization (IKO) (listed as IKO(1). He was the winner of the 1985 and 1986 Japanese Open Championships, and the 1987 4th World Open Karate Tournament.
Ademir de Costa (1987)
This Brazilian was 4th in the 1983 World Championships.
Keiji Sanpei (March, 1990)
Akira Masuda (March, 1991)
Kenji Yamaki (March, 1995)
He was the winner of the 1995 World Championships. He did his 100 at the same time as Francisco Filho below.

Francisco Filho (Feb and March,1995)

It has been confirmed, by Sensei Ademir da Costa via Helder Sampaio from Brazil, that Francisco Filho practiced 50 man kumite EVERY Friday! While it was not full-contact sparring, (probably similar to what I know as jiyu kumite), and Sensei Filho pulled his punches, the 50 opponents however were not required to do so. It should however be noted that this was STANDARD training for any of the 1995 World Championship fighters in the dojo. It was not just Francisco who did it.

Hajime Kazumi (Sat, 13th March,1999)
Hajime Kazumi completed his 100 man kumite at the new IKO(1) Honbu. Results were obtained from the official IKO(1) site and are as follows:
Time per Kumite 1 minute 30 seconds
Time Started 11:38
Time Finished 15:42
Total Fighting Time 3 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds
Total Spending Time 4 hours 4 minutes
Results 58 wins, 42 draws, no losses
Ippons: 16 (Ippon: 2, Awase-Ippon: 14)
Wins by decision: 42 (Waza-ari: 15)

source :http://www.geocities.com/irek65/100man.html

Source :

http://www.australiankyokushin.com/kumite.shtml
100 Man Kumite




The hundred-man kumite might well be seen as the ultimate test of physical and mental perseverance in Martial Arts, or for that matter, many other sports today. In essence, the exercise consists of 1.5-2 minute rounds of kumite with 100 opponents, preferably a different one for each round.
Table of contents
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Yamaoka Tesshu's Hundred Man Duel (hyakunin tachi)
Masahiko Kimura's Two Hundred Man Throwing (hyakunin nage)
Mas Oyama's Three Hundred Man Kumite
The One Hundred Man Kumite
Who's done what?
Hundred
Fifty
Some statistics about the 100 man kumite
Yamoaka Tesshu's Hundred Man Duel
During the mid-nineteenth century (Gregorian, of course) there lived a great sword master in Japan by the name of Yamaoka Tesshu, who was the founder of the Hokushin Itto-Ryo. This man is reputed to have completed a 100 man duel, in which he fought (and defeated) one hundred consecutive opponents with the shinai (the bamboo sword used to practice kendo.
Masahiko Kimura's Two Hundred Man Throwing
Masahiko Kimura, arguably the most famous judoka in the history of the sport, was a close friend of Mas Oyama. Oyama said of him that Kimura was the only person he knew who trained as hard or harder than Oyama did himself! Kimura's record in All-Japan Judo title (12 years, including WW-II when no championships were held) was bettered only by Yasuhiro Yamashita, who held the title for 9 consecutive years. In the Japanese Judo world, there is a saying that goes "Before Kimura, no Kimura. After Kimura, no Kimura".
Though the author (Shihan Cameron Quinn) of my major reference could not confirm it, it is said that that Kimura completed the 100 man throwing against two hundred black belts for two consecutive days, and was not defeated once.

Mas Oyama's Three Hundred Man Kumite
It was with these examples in mind that Oyama decided to test his own abilities. And he would go one day better! He chose the strongest students in his dojo, who were to fight him one at a time until they'd all had a turn, and then they'd start from the beginning again, until the three hundred rounds were up. He defeated them all, never wavering in his resolve, despite the fact that he himself suffered severe physical injury in the process.
Each student had to face him about four times over the three days, though some never made it past the first day due to Oyama's powerful blows. Legend even has it that Oyama was willing to go for a FOURTH day, but no one else was willing or able! This took place not long after he had completed his mountain training.

The One hundred man Kumite
Having set the example, Mas Oyama started to institute the 100-man kumite as a requirement for attaining 4th or 5th dan. He soon found however, that not everyone had the spirit to do it, though the physical skill could "easily" be taught. The indomitable will, courage, and determination — the "Spirit of Osu" in it's extreme — just wasn't to be found in everyone. Thus it became a voluntary exercise for those few who had the right stuff.
At first, the fights could be completed over two days if so desired by the person doing it, but after 1967, Mas Oyama decided that they should all be fought on the same day. In addition to the basic requirement of 100 fights, other requirements are that the competitor must clearly win at least 50% of the fights, and if knocked down, should not stay down for longer than 5 seconds.

In Australia, and possibly elsewhere, the 50 man kumite is a lesser (but still no mean achievement) feat that can be attempted, and many who have done it have been listed below.

When someone tells Hanshi Steve Arneil that he or she did 40 fights (or even just 20) for their shodan grading (such as was, and still is, common in some organisations, particularly in Australia) he is rather scornful about it and says it's a great waste of time, since the shodan grading should be more a test of one's knowledge of karate, rather than one's kumite abilities, which should be tested in a tournament instead.

HOWEVER, he says, if you think you can do it, come to one of his summer camps, and anyone can choose to do any number of fights e.g. 10, 20, 30 , 40, 50 etc.... and he or she will get a certificate for this achievement. This recognises that, while not everyone maybe able to meet the ultimate Kyokushin benchmark of 100 fights, personal bench-marks are just as important an attainment. After all, even 10 knockdown fights in swift succession can come to as much as half an hour of solid fighting (if you use the 3 minute limit used in tournaments).

So who's done what?
One Hundred
Apart from Oyama's spectacular 3 days in a row, a number of other people have tried and completed the 100 man kumite — but not many. The list below gives the names of these incredible men, and it is notable that most of them are still very active in karate, having achieved a high rank. Some are even heads of their own styles which, of course, are heavily derivative of Kyokushin. Initially, people had the choice do it over two days, with 50 fights per day, but later it became compulsory to do it all in one day.

Steve Arneil (1965)
Steve Arneil of Great Britain (now 8th Dan) was the very first, and he did them all in one day (pers.comm). He is now the head of the International Federation of Karate (IFK) based in the UK, and which is not affiliated with the Honbu in Japan.

Tadashi Nakamura (1965)
Now known as Kaicho Nakamura, he is the founder of World Seido Karate, based in New York

Shigeru Oyama (1966)
No relationship to Sosai, he is now head of his own style, World Oyama Karate based in New York.

Loek Hollander (1967)

John Jarvis (1967)
A New Zealander.

Howard Collins
He was the first to do it compulsorily in one day.

Miyuki Miura (Friday the 13th, April 1972)
The first Japanese to do it in one day, he now heads the Midwest Headquarters of the World Oyama Karate offshoot.

Akiyoshi Matsui (1986)
Akiyoshi Matsui is the (vigourously disputed) successor to Mas Oyama as kancho or head of the International Karate Organisation (IKO) (listed as IKO(1) in the this website - Shah). He was the winner of the 1985 and 1986 Japanese Open Championships, and the 1987 4th World Open Karate Tournament.

Ademir de Costa (1987)
This Brazilian was 4th in the 1983 World Championships.

Keiji Sanpei (March, 1990)

Akira Masuda (March, 1991)
Kenji Yamaki (March, 1995)
He was the winner of the 1995 World Championships. He did his 100 at the same time as Francisco Filho below. His results were:

ippon gachi (full point) 22
waza ari/yusei gachi (combined) 61
hiki wake (draw) 12
make (losses) 5


Francisco Filho (Feb and March,1995)
Thanks to Jake Calvo's (calvedo@usfca.edu) Japanese magazine and neighbour (who translated for him) we know that this incredible Brazilian did it twice, within the short period of two months. The first time it was in Brazil, and the second time in Japan, on the same day as Kenji Yamaki. He then went on, in the same year, to also place 3rd in the November 1995 World Championships. Jake also kindly provided the results of Filho's two sessions. The Brazilian bouts were 1 minute and 30 seconds each. and the event took 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. The Japanese bouts were probably the regulation 2 minutes each, with no total time provided. Brazil Japan

ippon gachi (full point 41 26
waza ari (half point) 18 38
yusei gachi (decision) 9 12
hiki wake (draw) 32 24
make (losses) 0 0

It has been confirmed, by Sensei Ademir da Costa via Helder Sampaio from Brazil, that Francisco Filho practiced 50 man kumite EVERY Friday! While it was not full-contact sparring, (probably similar to what I know as jiyu kumite), and Sensei Filho pulled his punches, the 50 opponents however were not required to do so. It should however be noted that this was STANDARD training for any of the 1995 World Championship fighters in the dojo. It was not just Francisco who did it. All I can say is "OSU!"

Hajime Kazumi (Sat, 13th March,1999)
Hajime Kazumi completed his 100 man kumite at the new IKO(1) Honbu. Results were obtained from the official IKO(1) site and are as follows:
Time per Kumite 1 minute 30 seconds
Time Started 11:38
Time Finished 15:42
Total Fighting Time 3 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds
Total Spent Time 4 hours 4 minutes
Results 58 wins, 42 draws, no losses
Ippons: 16 (Ippon: 2, Awase-Ippon: 14)
Wins by decision: 42 (Waza-ari: 15)


Klaus Rex (15th Decermber, 2002)

Naomi Ali née Woods (4th July, 2004)
This is the first woman to ever perform the 100-man kumite. Not only that, she was also the first woman to do the 50-man kumite! Here are the details in the words of Shihan Gary Viccars, as reported in the August 2004 edition of the AKKA Newsletter SHIN:

The big day arrived (July 4th, Castellozorian Club, Anzac Parade, Kingsford, Sydney) and from the moment you walked in the air was just electric. Consider the quality of the fighters present: Shihan John Taylor, 8th Dan, Sensei Ritchie Saunders, 4th Dan, Sensei Glenn Gibbons, 4th Dan, Sensei Jim Sklavos 3rd Dan and Sensei Robert Lauretti, 3rd Dan as well as 15 other black belts. Naomi weighs just 60kg and 17 of the 20 fighters weighed much more than that. After I arrived I was honored to be asked to be the official adjudicator and my job description was to

ensure that all fighters were conducted under I.K.O. rules
that the rounds were 1 and ½ minutes each
that the fighting was spirited
that there were no undue or excessive breaks from fighting
that the next fighter was ready and waiting and
that Naomi had adequate opportunity for hydration.

1.02 pm and the fighting commenced. From the outset it was obvious that this was going to be a very hard day at the office for Naomi. Initially the crowd was not vocal and for about the first 30 fights things were fairly quiet. Naomi was giving a good account of her and was continually pushed to the edge by her opponents.

The crowd started to come to life from 30 fights in and the shouts and screams of encouragement were becoming more frequent and higher on the decibel scale. Naomi reached the 50 marks and I gave her 2 minutes to change her gi. She had previously completed the 50 man kumite so this position was not new to her. However, as I announced to the crowd, whatever happened from this point forward was a new frontier where no woman had gone before.

For the next 10 fights Naomi seemed a bit flat and was pushed very hard and some of us had doubts about whether she could go the distance. However, all of a sudden she seemed to get her second wind and she went into the “zone”. Those of us who have been in the zone will no what I am talking about. It is that place where you are on your own and you know in your heart you can do it because everything bad has already happened to you and you can take it and get through it. You become unaware of your surrounding, even of the people supporting you and your opponent. You just know all you want to do is keep fighting.

All of a sudden we were at fight number 80 and it seemed that there came upon the crown and everyone present a realization that she was going to get there. The emotion started to come out, the noise level went up considerably and all the black belts were there urging her on. It reminded me of Kieren Perkins famous swim in Mexico where everyone knew they were witnessing something special and even the supporters of the other swimmers were cheering for Perkins.

Naomi was off in a World of her own and everytime she hit someone (yes she was still hitting hard) the crowd screamed for more. And then we were at 90 fights and everything lifted. The tempo of the fights, Naomi’s attacks, the noise level of the crowd.

She was injured and hurting severely (later it was confirmed she had broken fingers and toes) but she was not going to be denied. And then all of a sudden Shihan Taylor was standing in front of her for the 100 fight. He gave her the rounds of the dojo but she continued to attack and actually hit him with a couple of good shots.

At 4.10pm it was over and pandemonium broke lose. The noise level was just indescribable. I looked around and here were all the big, tough black belts with tears in their eyes. Naomi was almost unconscious on her feet; she could hardly talk and was severely disoriented. Apart from the broken bones, she was passing blood (however, it was later confirmed that everything was OK).

Everyone I spoke to that day (after the event) was just so proud to have seen it and been a part of it. July 4, 2004 the day Naomi Ali became immortal (everlasting, not able to fall into oblivion). It is doubtful we will ever see anyone else attempt this in our lifetimes and anyone who does will be following the path that Naomi blazed.

What a day, what an event and what a fighter. We truly saw the best at her best and we were privileged to be there.

Fifty
The following have completed the 50 man kumite:
Gary Bufton, Great Britain (March,1976)
This was done under the then Sensei Howard Collins. In 1978 he also did the forty-man knockdown kumite under Steve Arneil.
Bernard Creaton, Great Britain (1977)
David Cook, Great Britain (1977)
Jeff Whybrow, Great Britain (1978)
Cyril Andrews, Great Britain (1978)
Jim Phillips, Australia (Feb, 1986)
Luke Grgurevic, Australia (Feb, 1986)
Tony Bowden, Australia (Feb, 1986)
Gary Viccars, Australia (Feb, 1986)
Tom Levar, Australia (Mar, 1990)
When I as a 4th kyu, I fought him in the semi-finals of the Open Division of the 1993 NSW Challenge Trophy Tournament. He was a nidan and defending champion. I lost. I ended up with huge bruises on my chest and around my calves, and with a split eyelid from his knee, and something loose inside my eye (that's better now!). But I was awarded an extra round of applause for fighting spirit (but no trophy)!
Sapan K. Chakraborty, India ( Sep. 92 and Dec. 94)
He first did it in India, and the second time in front of Steve Arneil in England.
Michael Thompson, Great Britain (1992)
Trevor Marriot, Great Britain (1993)
Peter Angerer, Germany (20th Sep. 1997)
Sensei Angerer, of Shidokan Germany, completed the 50-man kumite unbeaten, with 42 wins, 8 wins by KO, 0 losses and 8 draws. Two others, Heiko Elholm and Tobias Wallisch, both also from Shidokan, completed the 30-man at the same time. All three underwent the test in preparation for the 7th US Shidokan Open in November of the same year. The ordeal was officially witnessed by :
Dai Shihan Joachim Dieter Eisheuer, 7th Dan Kyokushin Budo Kai, 5th Dan Kyokushinkai
Shihan B. Mirza Bangsajayah, 4th Dan Enshin and Branch Chief of Enshin in Germany
Sensei Changdana Mutunayake, 3th Dan Enshin, 5th Dan Shotokan
Sensei Elena Ziegler, 3th Dan Jiu Jitsu
Raoul Strikker, Belgium (13th Dec. 1997)
Here's a paraphrase of what Koen de Backker, one of his opponents, had to say about it :
Today Sempai Raoul Strikker (Shodan) did his 50 man kumite. His coach was Sensei Marc Van Walleghem. He fought 50 rounds of 2 minutes each without any breaks on knockdown rules. There were 41 fighters of whom more then 50% were black and brown belts, among them one sandan and two nidan, and they included the likes of Richard von Mantfeld (Holland), Koen Spitaels, and Gabriel Lothar, all of them world class fighters. It was hard, a real test of stamina, but he did it, although the last 5 rounds seemed to be impossible to overcome. Yet he did it! I had the 35th round, but at that moment his blows and kicks were still hurting very hard. Congratulations Raoul!
Sjaak van de Velde (Dutch) (English), The Netherlands (24th Oct. 1998)
Sensei Sjaak van de Velde (founder of the Musashi offshoot) chose to do the 50 man kumite as the fighting component of his Sandan grading. Shihan Jock Middelman (6th dan) and Sensei Marius Goedegebuur (3rd dan) watched as he completed it admirably with 41 wins and 9 draws! The following is a quote from correspondence with him:
I had to fight for my second kyu 25 man kumite, Shodan 30 man kumite, Nidan 40 man kumite, Sandan 50 man kumite. Always on knock down rules. I think it is coming from Shihan Bluming who introduced Kyokushin in the Netherlands. He was (still is) always a very tough and very hard fighter and a lover of real combat.. On the end you MUST stand in fighting position. If you are not you failed.... ...I am at the age of 41 and I have been always a good fighter, therefore it was my choose to do the 50 kumite because its probably the last time in my life that I can do this (I think). I have no regret of it, it was one of the things you do once in a lifetime.
Jim Sklavos, Australia (12th Jun. 1999)
I must be getting old. I remember seeing a relatively young Jim Sklavos getting his Shodan while I was grading for 2nd or 3rd kyu! Now he'd no doubt beat me to a pulp, were I to give him a reason. Here's what he had to say :
Last Saturday I completed the 50 men kumite at our National Camp on the Gold Coast. Shihan John Taylor and Shihan Gary Viccars judged the fights. People that I fought included Tony Bowden, Mark Tyson, John Hallford, Michael Maizey and others."
Shihan Pedro Beltran, Spain (17th Jun. 2001)
Sensei Robert Lauretti, Australia
Sensei Naomi Ali née Woods, Australia

Some thoughts about the One Hundred Man Kumite
It is worth making some comparisons in order to put the 100 man kumite in perspective. Most of the readers here might already have an inkling, but some figures will help in appreciating Mas Oyama's unparalleled 300 fights. A World Championship tournament might consist of 7 or 8 rounds of tough kumite, and with allowances for 4 extensions and no byes, this would come to just over half an hour of fighting. I expect however, there would however be reasonably lengthy rest breaks between rounds, with time to tend to injuries, in the case of a tournament.

Consider a boxer going 100 rounds non-stop with no more than 1 minute breaks betweenrounds and with a new opponent each round, and with the requirement of winning at least 50 of these rounds. Imagine up to 4 hours of non-stop full-contact kumite, bearing in mind that in Kyokushin tournaments we are only allowed mouth and groin guards! To be fair, if the candidate is good and knocks his opponent down fast enough, the round can be over in less than full time.

It seems unlikely that anyone will ever again achieve the same as Mas Oyama did with his 300 rounds!

Source :
http://palousedojo.tripod.com/sosaihistory.html




1923. Yong I-Choi, who later took the name of Matsutatsu Oyama, and became the Sosai of the International Karate Organisation Kyokushin, was born on the 27th July.




1925 Matsutatsu Oyama was sent to his sisters home in Manchuia.




1936 Matsutatsu Oyama entered primary school in Seoul Korea, where he started the study of Chinese Kempo under Mr. Yi. He gained proficiency in the eighteen hands technique and in the second year he gained the equivalent to shodan.




1938 Matsutatsu Oyama entered Yamanashi Airway school in Japan.




He studied karate under Gishin Funakoshi, one of the first three to being karate to Japan and under Mr So Nei Chu, who was also Korean and from the same district as Matsutatsu Oyama. So Nei Chu was the foremost expert in Goju Karate at the time and is credited with introducing Goju to Japan.




1940 Matsutatsu Oyama entered Takushoku University. Gained Nidan.




1945 Matsutatsu Oyama started the Eiwa karate-do Research Institute in Sinami-ku Tokyo, but six months later it closed.




1946 Matsutatsu Oyama entered the physical Education Department of Waseda university.




Matsutatsu Oyama visited Eiji Yoshikawa and Shiro Ozaki, two famous Japanese writers , to study more about the old Samurai way. Eiji Yoshikawa "Musashi" a book that Matsutatsu Oyama took with him when he went into the mountains to give him inspiration.




Matsutatsu Oyama went to mount Minobi for training. Matsutatsu Oyama picked this mountain as it is the place where Musashi developed his Nito-Ryu style of fencing.




1947 Matsutatsu Oyama entered the First All Japan Championships since the war, in Maruyama Gymnasium Kyoto and became Champion.




1948 Matsutatsu Oyama decided to devote his life to karate and trained alone for 18 months on Mount Kiyosumi in Chiba, to perfect his techniques and to form his karate way. After 18 months his sponsor wrote to him and told him that he could no longer support him and Matsutatsu Oyama had no choice than to return to civilisation. However by this time he had developed his path of karate and his philosophy of "Ichi geki hissatsu" one strike certain death.




1950 Fought against a bull in Chiba. He acquired a room in a butchers establishment and trained to kill bull with his bare hands. Usually by striking them between the eyes. Altogether he killed 47 bulls 4 dying instantly.




1951 Matsutatsu Oyama started teaching karate to the US. army in Japan, at camp Zama, Fuchu, Tachikawa, Yokohama , Yokosuka, Yokota and Takorozawa.




Matsutatsu Oyama started training in Judo at the Sone dojo in Chiba. He was eventually to gain the grade of yondan in judo.




1952 A karate organisation in America invited Matsutatsu Oyama to the USA. and over the next he did 32 demonstrations, taught in various states and participated in 7 fights.




1953 Matsutatsu Oyama travelled to the US again, where he fought a bull in Chicago and became popular by chopping of the bulls horns.




1954 Matsutatsu Oyama returned to Japan to under-go training for a movie in Boso Chiba.




Matsutatsu Oyama opened his first dojo in a burnt out area in Meijiro Tokyo, which consisted of a grass lot. The instructors were K. Mizushima and E. Yasuda.




1955 Matsutatsu Oyama was invited by a USA promoter to the USA. He also travelled to South America and Europe fighting against many people. Chopping the neck of whisky bottles was a very popular demonstration.




Matsutatsu Oyama fought another bull in Chicago and was highly criticised by the Animals friend Club.




1956 Starting in Okinawa, Matsutatsu Oyama travelled through South East Asia studying many different fighting styles.




The "Oyama Dojo" was opened behind the Rikko University . The instructors were K. Mizushima, E Yasudo, M. Ishibashi and T. Minamomoto. Sosai Oyama said this was the very beginning of Kyokushin, which at that time was called "Oyama Dojo". The beginning of a karate based on the principle of a 1,000 days training a beginner, 10,000 days training, a glimpse of the mysteries.




Matsutatsu Oyama returned from South East Asia




1957 Matsutatsu Oyama travelled to Europe.




Matsutatsu Oyama travelled to USA.




Matsutatsu Oyama travelled to Mexico a fought against a bull, he was injured and required 6 months in hospital.




1958 The book "What is karate" was published, becoming the first best selling book on Japanese karate.




The first overseas branch was opened under Shihan Bobby Lowe.




The FBI. in Washington invited Matsutatsu Oyama to teach and demonstrate.




The West point army school invited Matsutatsu Oyama to teach.




Matsutatsu Oyama went to Hokkaido to fight a bear but was unsuccessful.




1959 The first Hawaiian Tournament was held and Matsutatsu Oyama attended at the Supreme Judge. He also demonstrated at this tournament.




The Oyama dojo held its first Summer Training School at Ichinoniya in Chiba.




1960 Matsutatsu Oyama started 72 Branches in 16 countries




1961 The first North American Open Tournament was held in Madison Square Gardens, at which Matsutatsu Oyama attended as the Chief Judge.




1963 Construction started on the building in Ikebukuro which was to become the Kyokushin Karate Honbu.




1964 Muai Thai kickboxing challenged Japanese karate. Matsutatsu Oyama accepted the challenge as no other style to it up. he sent three students to Thailand, who won 2 out of the three fights. redeeming the name of Japanese karate.




E. Sato (former Prime Minister and Nobel Prize winner) became the Kaicho (President) of Kyokushin Kaikan. Matsutatsu Oyama became Kancho (director).




Tokyo Honbu was officially opened and IKO was established.




1965 The first winter training was held at Mount Mitsumine.




This is karate was published and became the "Bible " of karate. 3,000 pages of preparatory notes and 20,000 photographs were used for this publication.




1966 K. Kurossaki was sent to Europe to teach




"Dynamic Karate" (Japanese edition) was completed and the Japanese magazine "Modern Karate" was started. This magazine became very popular.




The USA. IKO. was founded




The South American IKO was founded




1967 Shigero Kato was sent to Australia to teach.




Vital karate was published.




Loek Hollander achieved the 100 man kumite.




1968 Kancho Oyama began a long overseas trip to promote Kyokushin Karate. the trip covered Hawaii, USA., Britain, Europe and Jordan.




The European IKO was established




Loek Hollander was appointed Chairman




The Middle East IKO was established




The South Pacific IKO was established




Ivan Zavetchanos was appointed Chairman




Kancho Oyama gave private lessons to His Majesty the King of Jordan




1969 Matsutatsu Oyama organised the First Open Kyokushin Full-Contact Karate Tournament in Tokyo. The event attracted Kickboxers, Judo-ka and other karate styles. A very large audience attended and it had 48 competitors. The results were:




1st place Terutomo Yamazaki




2nd place Yoshijim Soena




3rd place Ikko Hasagowa.




The South Africa IKO was established




The South East Asian IKO was established




Yoshikazu Matsushima went to South East Asia to teach




1970 Advanced Karate and Karate Class (Japanese edition) was published




1971 The "Karate Baka Ichidai" was published. the comic book story of Sosai's life, and become am instant success.




The Area Chairman was appointed.




1972 Fighting Spirit (Japanese edition was published.




The Nippon Karate-Do Fajko Team lost in the Non-Contact World Championships in Paris. Kancho was most upset and published a long speech on his views. Causing a major rift between the two groups.




1974 Matsutatsu Oyama gave a demonstration for Prince Sham of Iran




Matsutatsu Oyama (then Kancho) was made 9th dan by all the Branches.




1975 The First World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament was held on the 1st November, with 128 competitors from 32 countries participating.




1976 The First World Tournament Movie "The Strongest Karate" was released




The second edition "Strongest Karate" movie was released.




1977 Matsutatsu Oyama attended the 1st Australian Open Full-Contact Tournament




The English Quarterly Magazine "Kyokushin Karate" began.




The Japanese Monthly magazine "Strongest Karate" began.




1978 The comic strip "The Godhand" started




1979 The second World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament was held on the 23 - 24 & 25th November, with 187 competitors from 62 countries.




1980 Shigeru Oyama, Hideyuki Shihara and Yoshiji Soeno were all suspended from Kyokushin Kai.




1981 H. R. H. Prince Faizel os Saudi Arabia went to Honbu for a private meeting with Sosai Matsutatsu Oyama.




1982 Matsutatsu Oyama lectured at the Kyoto Citizen's University.




1983 3000 people attended a party to celebrate 20 years of kyokushin Karate.




1984 The Third World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament was held on 20th - 21st & 23rd January.




"My Karate Budo Education" and "shawa Gorin-no Sho" was published




Crown Prince of Nepal came to see Sosai Matsutatsu Oyama and a demonstration was held.




1985 The movie "Kyokushin Way" was released by Shochiku Fuji Company.




The President of Kyokushin Kaikan, Mr. Matsuhie Mori died on the 12th May.




1987 The Forth World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament was held on the 6th - 7th & 8th November with 207 competitors.




1988 The first British Commonwealth Kyokushin Championships was held in Sydney. The event was attended by Sosai Oyama




1991 The Fifth World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament was held on the 2nd - 3rd & 4th November with 250 competitors.




1994 Sosai Matsutatsu Oyama passed away thereby ending an area that was unsurpassed in history.




With the death of Matsutatsu Oyama died a united Kyokushin karate. So to ended many dreams of even greater things for Kyokushin. The smaller men with smaller minds tore Kyokushin apart. History will not look upon these men with kindness