Karate is both an art and a philosophy, because each person has a different personality, this reflects in interpretation and therefore karate masters have founded their own schools. The style of Japanese karate we practice is Kyokushinkai which translates as "Truth meets the reality" this was developed by the late Sosai (President - 10th Dan) Masutatsu Oyama renowned for his barehanded bullfighting triumphs, awesome breaking and fighting skills. Also termed as 'Oyama Karate' and filmed as "The Strongest Karate" Born Yong-I Choi in Southern Korea on 27th July 1923, Mas Oyama first learnt Chinese Kempo at the age of 9, at age 12 he went to Japan where by the age of 20 he had attained a fourth dan under Gichin Funakoshi in the Shotokan style. He also in less than fours years gained a fourth dan in Judo. After training a few years in Goju karate with So Nei Chu, he spent 14 months in seclusion in the mountains, training every day. He emerged to win the Japan Karate Championships and in the following years fought 52 bulls bound for the slaughterhouse by chopping their horns off with an openhanded blow and killing three instantly with punches, he traveled extensively worldwide demonstrating the art of karate. Participating in 270 matches against, amongst others, professional boxers and wrestlers, Sosai Mas Oyama became known as invincible defeating all challengers, the majority with one technique, a bout never lasted longer than three minutes. His students continued the tradition by defeating in response to their challenge, the top Muay Thai boxers in Thailand and then totally dominating the International Karate Organizations "Open World Knockdown Karate Tournaments" as sponsored by the Japanese Government. Mas Oyama created a more realistic approach to physical confrontation, power based but encompassing in the modern version mobility and lateral movement. This provides the student with an effective and practical self defense system in the budo tradition of the empty hand which in many respects is degenerating into complex, ritualized and highly specialized sport with minimal practical use. Sosai Masutatsu Oyama passed away in March 1994, his 'International Karate Organization' has split into many IKO factions continually embroiled in legal actions, numerous other derivative styles or groups are currently also practicing Kyokushin methods and/or ideals to some degree.