What is Kyokushin?

Kyokushin (極真会館) is a style of full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達, Ōyama Masutatsu), who was born under the name Choi Yong-I (최영의).

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. Many other martial arts organizations have “spun-off” from Kyokushin over the years, with some adding additional techniques, such as grappling, but continuing with the same philosophy of realistic and practical training methods. The K-1 kickboxing tournament was founded by Kyokushin practitioners and, to the this day, Kyokushin fighters dominate.

For a complete overview of Kyokushin and the particular branch practised at Kokoro, please visit: www.kyokushinbudokai.org

KYOKUSHIN KIHON / Basic Kyokushin Techniques
* This list is by no means exhaustive.
But, it’s good indication of the “basics” (Kihon) of Kyokushin.

NUMBERS (1-10)

1: ichi (itch)
2: ni (knee)
3: san (san)
4: shi (she)
5: go (go)
6: roku (rook)
7: shichi (shitch)
8: hachi (hatch)
9: kyu/ku (coo)
10: ju (joo)

DACHI WAZA (stances / standing techniques)

* Heiko dachi (parallel open stance)
* Haisoku dachi (closed feet stance)
* Kakeashi dachi (hooked stance)
* Kamae dachi (fighting stance)
* Kiba dachi (riding stance)
* Kokutsu dachi (backward leaning stance)
* Moroashi dachi (two foot stance)
* Musubi dachi (open feet stance)
* Nekoashi dachi (cat stance)
* Shiko dachi (sumo stance)
* Shizen dachi (natural stance)
* Sanchin dachi (hourglass stance/three wars stance)
* Tsuruashi dachi (crane stance)
* Uchihachiji dachi (pigeon toe stance/inside eight character stance)
* Yoi dachi (ready stance)
* Zenkutsu dachi (front bent leg stance/forward leaning stance)

TE WAZA (Hand Techniques)

Tsuki Waza (punches)

Seiken (forefist)
* Jun tsuki (strike straight off shoulder)
* Morote tsuki (punch with both hands)
* Seiken ago uchi (chin strike)
* Seiken gyaku tsuki (reverse lunge punch)
* Seiken kagi tsuki (rip to pit of stomach)
* Seiken oi tsuki (lunge punch)
* Seiken shita tsuki (low strike)

Uchi Waza (Strikes)

Uraken (backfist)
* Uraken ganmen uchi (backfist strike to front)
* Uraken hizo uchi (backfist strike to spleen)
* Uraken mawashi uchi (backfist circular strike to the head)
* Uraken oroshi ganmen uchi (backfist downwards strike)
* Uraken sayu ganmen uchi (backfist strike to side)

Tettsui (bottom fist)
* Tettsui hizo uchi (bottom fist strike to spleen)
* Tettsui komekami (bottom fist strike to head)
* Tettsui oroshi ganmen uchi (bottom fist strike downwards to head)
* Tettsui yoko uchi (bottom fist strike to side)

Shuto (knife-hand)
* Shuto hizo uchi (knife-hand strike to spleen)
* Shuto jodan uchi uchi (inside knife-hand to neck)
* Shuto sakotsu uchi (knife-hand strike to clavicle)
* Shuto sakotsu uchikomi (driving knife-hand to clavicle)
* Shuto yoko ganmen uchi (knife-hand strike to head)

Nukite (spearhand)
* Ippon nukite (single finger spearhand strike)(Thumb reinforces index finger)
* Nihon nukite (two finger spearhand strike)
* Yohon nukite (four finger spearhand strike)

Hiji (Elbow)
* Age hiji ate (rising elbow strike)
* Hiji ate (elbow strike)
* Mae hiji ate (front elbow strike)
* Oroshi hiji ate (downwards elbow strike)
* Ushiro hiji ate (backwards elbow strike)

Uke Waza (blocking techniques)

* Chudan soto uke (middle outside block)
* Chudan uchi uke (middle inside block)
* Gedan barai (middle inside block - low sweep block)
* Haito uchi uke (inner block with reverse knife-hand)
* Jodan uke (upper block)
* Koken uke (block with wrist top)
* Mae gedan barai (low sweep block)
* Mawashi uke (roundhouse block with palm heel)
* Morote chudan uchi uke (middle inside block with both hands)
* Osae uke (press down block)
* Shuto mawashi uke (roundhouse block with knife-hand)
* Sune uke (roundhouse block with shin)

GERI WAZA (kicks)

* Age kakato ushiro geri (rising heel backwards kick)
* Ago jodan geri (high kick to chin)
* Hiza geri (knee kick)
* Jodan uchi haisoku geri
* Kakato geri (heel kick)
* Kake geri (hooking kick)
* Kansetsu geri (joint kick)
* Kin geri (groin kick)
* Mae geri (front kick)
* Mawashi geri (roundhouse kick)
* Oroshi soto kakato geri (downwards outside heel kick)
* Oroshi uchi kakato geri (downwards inside heel kick)
* Ushiro geri (backwards kick)
* Ushiro mawashi geri (reverse roundhouse kick)
* Yoko geri (side kick)

Tobi geri (jump kicks)
* Tobi mae geri (jumping front kick)
* Tobi mawashi geri (jumping roundhouse kick)
* Tobi nidan geri (jumping double kick)
* Tobi ushiro geri (jumping backwards kick)
* Tobi yoko geri (jumping side kick)

Keage (stretching/swinging kicks)
* Mae keage (front stretch kick)
* Uchi mawashi keage (inside roundhouse stretch kick)
* Soto mawashi keage (outside roundhouse stretch kick)
* Yoko keage (side stretch kick)