Table of Contents
- What is the history of Karate?
- What is the Kyokushin Gauthier Organization?
- What is the Kyokushin style?
- What is the International Federation of Karate Kyokushin?
- What is Kyokushin Karate?
- What are our competitions?
- What are the Kyokushin Katas?
- What are the Basic Notions to Understand?
Karate History
KARA (empty), TE (hand). The word Karate signifies the art of the empty hand. Empty of all weapons and bad intensions. The word, empty, in the oriental sense signifies (not literally) energy and the "Whole". Karate is a fighting art which uses the empty hand and bare foot. Karate, as we know it today, comes from Okinawa, an archipel of Japan. It all started in the 16th century, when the Chinese occupied Okinawa and passed a law that no one was aloud any weapons of some sort. This interdiction will be repeated later by the occupation of the Japanese. Certain villagers that had traveled in China imported Kempo styles (Chinese box). The villagers modified these techniques and taut them in secret, late in the night. This way, they could defend themselves against brigands and armed troupes. Gichin Funakoshi (1869-1957), the founder of Shotokan, originating from Okinawa, transformed the Karate calligraphic characters of Tode (Chinese hand). It's another way of saying Chinese hand because the word, Kara, means "Chinese". It was best to change the word Chinese to empty, which has the same meaning, because of the nationalism of that era. From that point on, Funakoshi gave a spiritual signification to "empty hand". Many masters from Okinawa immigrated to Japan to create their own Karate styles and increase the martial arts population with styles like kendo, judo, jiu-jitsu and Aikido.
Mas Oyama comes along
Masutatsu Oyama (1923-1994) is the founder of our style: Kyokushin. He studied Kempo at 9, then judo and jiu-jitsu. At the same time, he studied Shotokan Karate with Gichin Funakoshi and Goju ryu with So Nei Chu. He was 2nd Dan at 17 and 4th Dan at 21. He practiced all forms of martial arts, from Chinese, Korean, Indian to Japanese. He also did wrestling, boxing, Aikido, Kendo and weight lifting. He was considered as one of the strongest men of Japan. In the fifties, he secluded himself, in the mountains, for about three years. He spent 14 hours per day on physical, mental and spiritual Karate training. He has fought over 300 duels and has never lost a fight. He established many breaking records and faced and knocked out bulls with his bare hands, exploit which has never been accomplished by no one else. With all his martial arts experience, he founded his very own unique technique which distinguishes itself from all other traditional styles.
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Quebec Kyokushin Gauthier Organization
This organization was founded by Shihan Daniel Gauthier in 1990. Shihan Daniel has 32 years of experience in Kyokushin Karate. Student of the master S. Oyama, he has won and classified himself in numerous international competitions. Extremely fast and accurate, he overpowered his adversaries and would win his duels by KO, almost every occasion. He managed to regroup a lot of teachers of high level and founded a strong international organization. He created full contact competition circuits and devoted himself, with the help of his collaborators, to establish a very high caliber of competition. Very skillful in teaching, he formed many international fighters. He travels across North America and in Europe to represent Canada, with specific students, in prestigious competitions. The KG organization is composed of a lot of schools across the province of Quebec.
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Kyokushin Style
Mas Oyama founded in 1964, the Kyokushin style, "the path to the ultimate truth". He style quickly became the most popular, with over 10 million of adepts across the world. He style was quickly known as: "the strongest Karate", not only because of incredible performances and powerful demonstrations, but also for its high level training and its famous knockdown competitions.
When Mas Oyama died, he left a very confused organization. It was said that Mas Oyama, in his bed of death, chose Akiyoshi Matsui as his successor, but many high graded Japanese and Branch chiefs refused this decision by not giving their vote of confidence. They decided to start their own organization instead. Mas Oyama's wife and daughter, who is the Branch chief of Mas Oyama's old Dojo declined that Matsui should be the successor of Mas Oyama. They founded their own Kyokushin organization. The Japanese schisms propagated all across the world and certain schools followed one organization and some followed the other. Other schools preferred to disassociate or join other powerful organizations, who preferred teaching Mas Oyama's karate instead of doing politics. One of these organization which passes Mas Oyama's pure teachings is The International Federation of Karate, who Hanshi Steve Arneil 9th Dan is the founder.
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The International Federation of Karate Kyokushin
Hanshi Steve Arneil, the founder of The International Federation of Karate, his British National Kyokushinkai Karate exists since 1965, started over ten years ago. Over 35 countries are members and many more join our ranks since Mas Oyama's death. Mas Oyama's adoptive son, he practices martial arts for over 50 years now and teaches Kyokushin for over 38 years. He was the first to accomplish the 100 Kumite. This tough task consists of 100 full contact combats, without any protection, in a row, one after the other. Each fight is for 2 minutes, unless his adversary is unable to continue. Only around ten men accomplished this task, in the last 35 years, over a possibility of 10 millions adepts. This man is a walking legend, his was one of the Karate pioneers in Europe and received many distinctions from Mas Oyama and other organizations. His general headquarters is located in London, Great Britain. We invite him every year to Quebec to learn from his clinics. Don't miss his next visit.
The IFK goals
- Standardize Kyokushin Karate across the world to unify to Mas Oyama's philosophy.
- Rise the standards in Knock-Down, clicker and kata competitions across the world.
- Train and concentrate on KARATE-DO, without any politics.
- Establish an international and world competition circuit.
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The Kyokushin Karate
The Kyokushin Karate is a tough physical art and extremely effective, based on the power of the shadow Zen. All positions all natural and the techniques are executed in fast success movements to reduce your adversaries resistance. Mas Oyama's Kyokushin emphasizes breathing exercises called "ibuki" and on movements which are forbidden in other Karate styles, but have proven to be effective in true combats situations. The style of Kyokushin is axed on real life auto-defense situations, physical fitness and fighting techniques. Kyokushin is a way of living excellence. Kyokushin Karate's objective is to raise the adepts full potential, physically, mentally and spiritually. If the spiritual side of Karate is ignored, it's physical aspect is useless. "The ultimate mission of Karate is to improve the human character instead of pushing the human race to fight it's physical enemies". citation of Mas Oyama
Kyokushin Karate insists on the spiritual aspect and is greatly influenced by the Zen force. It's not simply an ordinary sport, it's an art. It's the only Karate, from all styles, that brings forth the Budo-warrior notions.
The Belts
WhiteBlueYellowGreenBrownBlack
The Obis, belts, help distinguish the different grades in martial arts. For the Kyus, before the black belt, there are many colors to overcome, which indicates the technical abilities reached by the "beginner". The Kyokushin system is a belt colored system and it distinguishes itself from other forms of Karate, which have copied the Judo belts. Long time before, there was only one belt before the ultimate goal, white. Strangely, it was used to strap their Dogi. After much hard work, this belt became a black belt, it is forbidden to wash a belt, because this belt represents your laborious work and sweat. That is how we distinguished high level practice. Grades were installed to help motivate et reward students of their assiduousness and efforts. We also have a degree called bar or technique, which is added to each colored belt: white blue bar, blue yellow technique, etc. Kyus are descendant, from the 10th Kyu to the first Kyu, and Dans are ascending, from the first Dan up. When you have reached black belt, the next grades are called Dan. An amateur student can reach 3rd Dan. If he chooses to become an instructor, he can go up to 6th Dan, as for 7th Dan and up, these are given only to special individuals. It usually takes from 5 to 7 years to reach Shodan, 1st Dan. Then you need to add another 3 to 5 years to reach 2nd Dan, and another 4 to 7 for Sandan. 4th Dan and 5th Dan are given only on rare occasions. Here are the titles given to Yudansha, black belt holders: Sempaï, 1st and 2nd Dan; Senseï, 3rd and 4th Dan; Shihan, 5th Dan and up.
Exams: Change of grade
The change of grade until the 1st Kyu, brown black bar, are passed at the dojo of the student. The Dans are done at the Honbu, head office dojo, of the organization. We usually have a grade exam done every three months. We have a Syllabus, where all the techniques for each degree, even until the 4th Dan, are written. A passage is composed of Base Techniques: Ki-Hon; Kyu Ki-Hon, codified movements; Renraku, combination movements; Katas, different forms; Physical exercises, sit-ups, squats and push-ups; Fights, for those passing a color belt, no bars.
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Kyokushin Training
Training is different depending of your rank. Each grade has its own objectives, criteria and specific values which are transmitted at each level. It is virtually impossible to transmit all the training objectives in this web page, but I will reveal a few aspects for beginners.
When you begin Karate, you start with a white belt, note that in England, Hanshi Arneil, gives the white belt only to those who past an exam, beginners are not allowed to wear a Dogi until they have past their white belts. You will do all the reheating with the group, then you will be put apart with your trainer, who will teach you the basic Ki-Hons and the Kyus. After about 4 to 6 weeks, when you will master the basic movements, you will pass your 9th Kyu, blue bar. Then and only then will you be permitted to join the rest of the group. Beginners courses are for students with bleu bar until yellow bar. At this stage you will learn to control your body, physically, emotionally and mentally. This will be done with the help of many conditioning, breathing and coordinating techniques, which will develop your nervous sensibilities, concentration and development of instinctive and nervous reflexes. You will learn the basic defensive and offensive technical concepts, so you can avoid and dodge the blows, the basic rules of bare and weapon handed auto-defense, and the combat techniques used by our style. In the auto-defense techniques, you will learn multiple techniques: immovability; articulating control; imbalance; throttling and pressure point techniques. You will learn where the Kyusho, vital points, are located and how to apply Atemis, divers techniques, on these vital points. You will remain in these classes for a duration of approximately 9 to 12 months. After this stage, you enter the advance training, which is designed for the yellow till brown belt holders.
Different training aspects
Kihon: The basic techniques. You will learn the fist, feet, knee, and elbow techniques and different ways to use your hands: Saber of the hand; Fingers; Back of the fist; Wrists; Joints; Back of the hand; And the rest, in combat. We also have what we call the reheating Kihons, which are composed of 17 different fist techniques and 17 feet techniques. This technique is taught at the white belt level. Kyu Kihons are a series of movements which are taught from the 10th Kyu to the third Dan. Each Kihon is composed of over a dozen hand, feet and blocking techniques. Kihons permits to develop physically your body and to muscle it naturally. Kihons must be repeated vigorously until perfect and instinctive control of the movements. These movements need to be repeated throughout an individuals life for they are the foundation of our effectiveness.
Mas Oyama affirms that we must repeat a movement 100 000 times to master it. You must not mistake the Kihon movements with those of combat, which differ very much from each other. The goal of the Kihon is to prepare the body, physically, mentally for fighting techniques. As an example, when you do a "seiken chudan tsuki", a punch to the body, you must bring your opposite fist to your ribs at chest level and keep your body and shoulders straight. It is what we call action-reaction. When you do the same punch in Kumite-waza, fighting stand, you learn to turn your shoulders and chest so you can protect your vital points and at the same time increase your force of impact. Also you will bring your opposite fist to your jaw instead of your chest, so that you can protect your face or your body from an eventual attack.
Renraku: Its objective is to practice your movements, your mobility, muscular coordination and precision through a combinations of movements and strategies of combat. The movements must be executed strongly, fastidiously and without thinking.
Kata (also called "form" or "sequences"): Katas are imaginary combats against opponents. They are made of basic technical sequences, intermediate and expert, which must be executed with precision, speed and strength. They are studied so that its nature, reason to be and implicit teachings are understood. There are many forms of Katas: Body formation; Auto-defense; Concentration and respiration; Combat; Coordination; Tactical and strategic combat on different grounds; Strategic against many opponents; Etc. Katas have positive aspects, which are evidently shown, and negative aspects, which are hidden, occult and taught in secret to advanced students.
Bunkai-Kata is the learning of secret techniques and their applications in auto-defense situation. The Katas are composed of positive and negative movements. A positive movement is the one that seems apparent to the eye, for example, a down cross block: Gedan-juji-uke. The negative movement is the hidden interpretation of the last block, which in reality, is a shoulder projection technique. Masters hide these movements from outside students.
Many people hate Katas and believe they are useless. Nothing is more false than to believe such a theory. Hanshi Arneil stated that Mas Oyama told him, many times, that Katas are the grammar to Karate and that we cannot declare ourselves true students if we pass Katas. There are many Karate instructors who have no idea of the hidden significations of Katas. Now our students learn the exact signification and the technical applications of Katas, both in auto-defense or in combat. This way it is much easier to appreciate and understand Katas for what they really are: the living grammar of Karate.
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Competitions
The Kyokushin style differs from all other styles of sport Karate. Sport Karate, as well as others like: Judo; Tae-kwon-do; Kempo; Certain styles of Kung-Fu, insist and oblige the students to participate in competitions to move on to a higher belt. Our style forces no one to participate to any competitions, a Karate-Ka can reach and earn his black belt, without entering any competition, but, if a Kyokushin Karate-Ka desires to experiment the Shiai, competition, we have a circuit of competitions which are open to any style of martial arts. However, the Kyokushin competitions differ from other styles of Karate. We have what we call the KNOCK-DOWN, semi-contact, for the juniors under 13 years, and a new, created by Hanshi Steve Arneil, CLICKERS system.
KNOCK-DOWN is a type of competition strictly reserved to brown and black belts. These Karate-Kas must follow a vigorous training between 6 months and 1 year before competing. Mas Oyama founded a Karate based on strength, efficiency and the Budo spirit; near the end of the 60's, he invented the Knock Down. The rules are quite simple: -all feet and knee attacks are permitted to the legs, body and face; -punches and elbows are permitted to the body, ribs and kidneys; -projections to the floor are accepted; -no protective equipment, except for a jack-strap, are accepted; -all fights must be done bare footed and handed; -attacks must be done in full power, no holding back allowed; -fights are won either by Knock-out, superiority or abandon of the opponent. No need to specify that these combats are very spectacular, strong, heart pounding and reserved to a minority of individuals. Contradictorily to what most people think; "All Kyokushin Karate-Kas" have a sporty spirit, perfect control and must respect their opponents, or they will be disqualified or even suspended from the organization. The Knock-Down circuit has National, North-American, International and World levels. Take note that the Kyokushin Gauthier organization is highly considered across the world in this circuit. We have the best Knock-Down trainers in North-America. Since a couple of years, we have won all the Canadian, North-American and International championships. Our fighters have gained respect in Europe.
Full Contact offer another type of competitive circuit for all levels of belts from white to black. The rules here are slightly different from those of Knock-Down, gloves, feet and tibia and head protection is obligatory. The combats are also full-contact. For juniors younger than 13 years, plastrons are obligatory and blows to the head with the foot is strictly forbidden; that is why we call this semi-contact.
Clickers system is an innovative style of competition from Hanshi Steve Arneil. It is for those who wish to live the competitive experience of fighting but cannot afford the roughness in full-contact. All blows are controlled, no contact is permitted. The fight has a duration of two minutes with two officials with "clickers" in their hands to count the number of successful hits. The fighter who has the most hits during the two minutes is declared winner.
Kata competitions are open to all levels of belts. We have empty and weapon handed competitions. These competitions are closed to the other style, contrarily to combat competitions. The reason is very easy to understand, we believe that it is impossible to judge fairly an unknown Kata from another style. The critics from one style to another may differ greatly. A position could be higher or lower in certain style, so how can a score be given when the judges have no idea what the correct position should be? Katas are judged on a scoring system of one to ten. We follow the international rules of the IFK. There exists a National and North-American circuit and a world championship regrouping over 35 countries.
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The Kyokushin Katas practiced
- Kihon Ichi Kata or the Star Kata
- Kihon Ni Kata
- Dachi Kata or Positions Kata
- Taikyoku and Pinan in Ura
Kata of the SouthKata of the North
- Sanchin (Ibuki and Kiai)
- Gekusai Dai
- Gekusai Sho
- Tensho
- Saiha
- Seinchin
- Garyu
- Seipai
Weapons Kata
- Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, and San
- Pinan (Heian) Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, and Go
- Yantsu
- Tsuki-no
- Sushiho
- Kanku
- Kihon Bo Kata: 1st stick kata
- Soki Bo Kata: 2nd stick kata
- Kihon Tonfa Kata: 1st Tonfa Kata
- Soki Tonfa Kata: 2nd Tonfa Kata
- Kihon Nunchaku Kata: Nunchaku Kata
Basic notions to understand
Kumite-waza: divers techniques, strategies and tactics used during the learning of free combats. We learn the ways to protect ourselves and attack: -to move; -connect our movements; -trick, control physically and psychologically and predict the movements of our opponents; -combine our movements; -establish a protective field; -discover the different styles of combat; -master the three distances of combat, ma-ai, far distance, middle and short distance, and its connected techniques; -etc.
- (stand): a particular emphasis is applied to a stand in martial arts, because they are so important to deliver offensive and defensive techniques. It is important to learn to lower your stand and to endure the pain so you can discipline your body and spirit. The first step in Karate is to master your positions. In the ancient time of Okinawa Karate, students were taught only the positions during the first year of training. We had to be able to hold a low position, Kiba-dachi, for 30 minutes before we could start a technique.
- : signifies "the reunion of the spirit and the energy". It's the art of perfectly concentrating all your energy, physically and mentally, towards a specific object, with a determination without limits, as a duty of reaching your goal. It's the scream done at the time of the attack that permits to increase the force of impact. When the Kiai is performed by the Karate-Ka, the vibration of the sound can, momentarily, paralyze his opponent, rendering this one vulnerable to an attack. You must of been through the following experience: You're walking on the street and suddenly you hear a noise, horn, siren, etc. and you feel your adrenalin go up slightly paralyzing you. This fraction of a second in combat is enough to let you throw a fatal blow. The strength of the Kiai is determined by the diversified respiratory techniques. The Kiai permits to free the mental and physical force quite rapidly.
- : means "uniform for the way". A "KIMONO" is an oriental pajamas. We call it a Dogi or a Karategi and not a kimono. The Kyokushin Dogi is White. No colored, black, bleu or pink, uniform is accepted in the traditional style of Kyokushin. The non traditional Karate styles may wear uniforms of different colors: -bleu; -green; -pink; -satin; -two or three colors; -etc. However, it is an normal thing for certain styles of Karate martial arts to wear different sets, as an example: -black or another color for the Chinese style like Kempo or Kung Fu.
- "the way to combat". A name which was adopted in the 20th century for the martial arts in general, with emphasis on its pacific aspects. Beyond its physical discipline and technical movements, it has a spiritual attitude and a code of ethics. Budo is distinct of Bugei, art of combat, and Bu-jutsu, technique of combat. The last approach concerns only the true combat techniques and auto-defense aspects. As for Budo concentrates on the physical aspect and its spiritual training offered through the study and practice of martial arts.
