The great Masutatsu Oyama passed away twenty years ago on 26th April 1994.
The world came to know him as an outstanding karate fighter and organizer, but also as a thinker and philosopher.
Thanks to his exceptional intellectual aura he was able to gather around him many excellent personalities of world politics, royal families and business. They came together as the International Karate Kyokushin Organisation (IKO) in the years 1960-1980.
Implementing his own philosophical principals in life, he earned the title of "The Last Samurai".
In the years 1970-1990 IKO was the largest karate organization in the world with branches in 120 countries. Sosai Mas. Oyama's last great international journey was made to Poland in November 1993. He did not conceal his satisfaction from participating in the "Oyama Cup" International Karate Tournament in the Katowice "Spodek" Arena where an audience of almost 10 thousand spectators welcomed him with a standing ovation.
Sosai Mas. Oyama changed the lives of millions of people all over the world
His original philosophy of Kyokushin, i.e. the pursuit for the Ultimate Truth, captured the hearts of young people especially. They considered the search for perfection in their own lives to be the ultimate truth. Mas. Oyama's ideals were reflected in the every-day lives of these people, in their striving for perfection in every aspect of training, study and work as well as their devotion for their parents and their country. Thanks to his philosophy their lives became more vibrant - their courage necessary for fulfilling the most ambitious dreams increased. The requirement for systematic work, perfection in action, self-control, ethic and moral purity but above all humility improved the psyche and life of millions of Kyokushin adepts. This was particularly emphasised by those who were starting their lives "from scratch" as emigrants in countries where at the beginning they had nothing but their strong will which came from practicing Kyokushin.
A group of Sosai Mas. Oyama's personal students are still with us. They pass on their experiences and the Kyokushin philosophy to the next generations.
As one of these students, we would like to ask you to dedicate the next training to the memory of Master Masutatsu Oyama.
Osu.
Shihan Andre Drewniak Shihan Antonio Pinero