----------- Kyokushin KNOCKDOWN Karate -----------

Kyokushin kaikan is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama who was born under the name Choi Yong-I. Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth." Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Its full contact style has had international appeal (practitioners have over the last 40+ years numbered more than 12 million).

Kyokushin has influenced many of the "full-contact" schools of karate, emphasizing realistic combat, physical toughness, and practicality in its training curriculum. The Knockdown karate competition system pioneered by kyokushin has been adopted by many different karate styles and organizations. Other martial arts organizations have "spun-off" from Kyokushin over the years, with some adding additions, such as grappling techniques, but continuing with the same philosophy of realistic and practical training methods. Kyokushin is presently known as the strongest form of karate.

Kyokushin has had a big influence on many other styles, and the knockdown karate competition format is now used by a large number of styles. AS a group these styles are called knockdown styles, or knockdown karate styles. Most other karate styles that originated in Kyokushin, such as Ashihara Karate, Budokaido, godokai, Enshin Karate, Seidō juku, Shidōkan and Seidokaikan (the style that originated the K-1 kickboxing tournament) are also knockdown styles and use slight variations of the competition rules.

A few other styles such as Kansuiryu Karate and Byakuren are also knockdown karate styles, but originated independently of Kyokushin, having simply adopted the competition format. Some styles originating in Kyokushin such as Daido Juku and its derivative, Japanese Zendokai, has also been strongly influenced by Kyokushin technique and traditions, but has chosen to abandon traditional Knockdown karate sparring for more Mixed Martial Arts influenced competition rules.

Famous Kyokushin Practitioners:
Andy Hug, Bas Rutten, Georges St. Pierre, Dolph Lundgren, Glaube Feitosa, Francisco Filho, Bobby Lowe , Hajime Kazumi, Sean Connery, Flemming Jensen, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Tiger Schulmann