Kyokushin
極真
Kyokushin (極真, "ultimate truth") is a full-contact karate style founded by Mas Oyama, known for its rigorous training and bare-knuckle knockdown kumite (組手, sparring). It is considered one of the hardest and most physically demanding karate styles.
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Kyokushin builds exceptional toughness, conditioning, and fighting spirit — osu no seishin (押忍の精神, spirit of perseverance). Its full-contact format produces karateka (空手家) who can truly fight under pressure.
At a Glance
Who It's For
What You'll Learn
Full-contact bare-knuckle striking techniques — sude (素手, bare hand)
Devastating gedan mawashi-geri (下段回し蹴り, low roundhouse kick) and body shots
Iron-body conditioning — tameshiwari (試し割り, board breaking) — through progressive contact training
Traditional kata (型) with practical fighting applications — bunkai (分解)
Mental toughness through hyakunin kumite (百人組手, 100-man kumite) tradition
The spirit of Osu (押忍) — perseverance under pressure
Your First Class
Wear a gi. Expect a demanding warm-up, basic techniques, pad work, and conditioning exercises. Prepare for an intense workout. Classes run 60-90 minutes.
Watch & Learn
Gallery
Legends of Kyokushin
Mas Oyama (大山倍達)
Mas Oyama founded Kyokushin Karate, one of the most demanding full-contact karate styles. Known for his extreme training regimens and legendary feats of strength, he built a worldwide organization that emphasizes physical and mental discipline above all.
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is widely considered the greatest welterweight in MMA history, dominating the UFC division for nearly a decade before retiring and returning to claim the middleweight title. His relentless game-planning, wrestling control, and jab made him the blueprint for the modern "complete" MMA fighter.
Andy Hug
Francisco Filho
Related Styles
Shinkyokushin
Shinkyokushin (New Kyokushin) is the largest Kyokushin offshoot, led by Kenji Midori after the death of Mas Oyama. It maintains the full-contact knockdown format with refined competition rules and a large international membership.
Seido
Seido Karate ("Sincere Way") was founded by Tadashi Nakamura, a former Kyokushin champion. It combines full-contact karate with Zen meditation and emphasizes the development of the whole person — body, mind, and spirit.
Karate
Karate is a Japanese striking art that uses punches, kicks, knee strikes, and open-hand techniques. Originating in Okinawa, it emphasizes kata (型, forms), kihon (基本, basics), and kumite (組手, sparring).
Kickboxing
Kickboxing is a stand-up combat sport that combines boxing punches with kicks. It encompasses several rulesets including full-contact, low-kick, and K-1 rules.
Popular With
Traditionalist
The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them.
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