Mas Oyama Collection

About

Mas Oyama ( 大山 倍達) (1923–1994) was a legendary martial artist and the founder of Kyokushin Karate, one of the most well-known and influential styles of full-contact karate. Born in Korea as Choi Yeong-eui, he later moved to Japan and adopted the name Masutatsu Oyama. Oyama gained a reputation for his incredible strength, discipline, and fighting skills. He became famous for his rigorous training methods, which included striking trees and rocks, performing thousands of push-ups, and breaking stones with his bare hands. He also engaged in "kumite" (sparring matches) against multiple opponents and fought bulls to demonstrate the power of Kyokushin Karate. His approach to karate emphasized the development of both physical and mental strength. Kyokushin Karate, under his guidance, focused on realistic, full-contact sparring, aiming to cultivate a strong spirit and indomitable will in practitioners. Oyama's legacy lives on through the global Kyokushin community, which continues to practice and promote his teachings.