Oyama Karate Juku-USA

All about...

Oyama Karate Juku

In Our Dojo

Kyokushin karate is the foundation of our dojo.

Kyokushin Karate was founded by the great Karate Master, Masutatsu Oyama. Kyokushin Karate is known through out the world as "The strongest karate. it is Budo Karate".

Although we teach Full-Contact Karate, safety is observed first and foremost... As in all Oyama style karate, our classes are designed to bring out the best in all of our members.

Besides self-defense, Competition styles of fighting, such as Kickboxing and Submission Karate are also taught in our dojo and of coarse, preperation for "Full & Semi-Contact knock-down Karate tournaments that the Kyokushinkai are known for.

Oyama Karate Juku-USA wants to offer anyone who is interested in learning our style of self-defense, the opportunity to explore this practical fighting art. We are a school of Karate that is devoted to researching, teaching, and promoting the study of "Budo karate" as an effective method of physical and mental development. We aim to give anyone the chance to experience our style of karate no matter what their goals in life or their impaiments, we can formulate a program around your life.

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What is Oyama Karate Juku-USA?

We are a dojo that researches and practises the art of "Budo Karate". Techniques from dirivitive styles of Kyokushin Karate are taught at OKJ-USA, techniques that have been tested and mastered by the students of Mas Oyama, whom have taken the teachings of Sosai Oyama to the next step of training. Our Karate is a modern Karate with traditional values, what we concider as a neo-traditional martial art. Teaching the traditional kata (forms) of yesterday and learning the modern & practical applications for today. At Oyama Karate Juku, our brand of Karate utilizes punching, kicking, knees, elbows, and throwing, as well as submission & fight control techniques.

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What is a Juku?

Juku: A place of specialized learning. A Juku is the term used to describe a type of school or dojo that specializes in a particular coarse. In our Juku, the student will receive specialized training that he/she will need to prepare for self-preservation (self-defense), that next level of expertise such as full-contact matches or becoming the next Sempai or Sensei of the Ohio Karate Union: Kyokushinkai.

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What's the difference at Oyama Juku & other schools?

The idea of Oyama Karate Juku is to give the correct tools to work with no matter what the task is at hand. A student of our school are taught Sho-Shin (beginners mind) and has the freedom to explore other methods of fighting. We feel that Mas Oyama's karate has evolved well beyond the ways of competition and has a deeper relationship to Bushido (warriors way). All styles have techniques that are similar, we just have to bewilling to research these theories and find the missing links.

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Is Karate good for self-defense?

It is excellent for self-defense. The wide variety of techniques in both areas, hard and soft, enables the student to apply techniques accordingly when faced with various situations. Self-confidence, self-control, and a no-defeat attitude greatly enhances your ability to defend yourself. At Oyama Karate Juku we teach children, women, and men to be more aware of their surroundings and the dangers of preditors. Self-awereness and self-preservation is the main focus of the self-defense method taught at Oyama Karate Juku.

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Is Kyokushin Karate for Children?

Yes! Kyokushin Karate offers young people the opportunity to reach a higher level of physical and mental ability. Karate has all the essential psycho and motor elements. Our childrens technical programs includes tumbling, individual exercises and exercising with partners. This training allows children to gain self-confidence by continuously overcoming their limits. Kata (forms) teaches children how to reach the maximum potential of their own bodies. Sparring teaches children to learn to manage interpersonal relations, to recognize the partner as an equal. Solidarity and friendship gives an atmosphere of respect for all others. Values emphasized in the practice of this discipline can be used in each moment of life, to face and view obstacles in daily life with confidence.

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How long must I practice before I can defend myself?

It depends on the physical and mental ability of the student. The situations and the people involved could be an obsticle. However, the more you learn about Karate, the better chance you have of being able to defend yourself.

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Is there an age limit to learn Karate?

No age limits, but we typically except children at the age of 4 and adults to the age of 75 can learn Karate under proper instruction. Realistic goals are set based on the needs and ability of each student.

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What kind of philosophy is taught?

a.) Overall development: Honesty, moral character, self-discipline, respect for self and others, humility, and patience.

b.) How to judge a situation: when to fight and when not to fight, how and where to fight, with what to hit, with what kind of weapons to defend, what to do against multiple assailants.

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can I recognize a good instructor from a bad one?

A good instructor is someone who:

a.) loves to teach and help others

b.) is sincere, considerate, mature, and confident

c.) has understanding, patience, is caring and protective of his or her students.

d.) can motivate the students and has a good attitude

e.) teaches martial arts to help the students to improve themselves, develop themselves physically,

perfect their personalities, and use these attributes to achieve higher meanings in daily life and to

serve society.

Note: Always observe a class before committing to join. Watch how a class is conducted; see if the students and instructors treat each other with respect and care; observe the safety measures employed to keep the students safe in their training. Try a few classes on a trial basis.

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Does Kyokushin Karate Practice with weapons?

Yes. we practice some traditional weapons. In our organization, the training and study of weapons is in the advanced levels of our karate. Weapons are secondary in our school and we want our practitioners to learn all of their basic technique of hand to hand combat before introducing weapons.

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What does ranking at Kenka Karate Juku represent?

Oyama Karate Juku uses 6 colored belts (not including white) and the black belt. Colored belts are given the classification of Kyu. The black belt is classified by the term Dan, meaning degree.

Click here for; belt system of OKJ

Is it safe to practice Kyokushin Karate?

Even though our karate is concidered a full-contact style, safety is of the utmost importance in Kyokushin. Instructors are always present to supervise all sparring, safety is enhanced with the use of soft, padded gloves and feet protectors. Non-contact rules for below black belt rank is strictly enforced. Most Karate instructors have completed CPR/First Aid training.

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Is it mandatory to fight in tournaments for advancement?

No. Members of our Dojo participate in tournaments from time to time, but we do not specialize in tournament preparation. Participation in tournaments allows us to expose ourselves to other styles aswell as learn about them. Tournaments give us a testing ground on which to evaluate our techniques. Tournaments also provide opportunities to make friends and share in the martial arts experience. You cannot grow if you isolate yourself. A student of Oyama Juku is encouraged to participate in all types of competitions such as point karate, kickboxing, jujutsu/grappling, and of course, knock-down competitions. Tournament participation is completely voluntary. However, sparring in the dojo is required for rank testing.

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Why do you meditate before and after each class?

Meditation is done before and after each class and in special sessions. Meditation gives you knowledge about yourself, thus eliminating troubled thoughts from your mind. Meditation is a way of flowing toward spiritual growth. It is a search for perfection (beauty, truth, and goodness), a need for a meaningful existence (the art of appreciation). Meditation also helps cultivate the awareness of our internal strength, thus allowing the perfect coordination of mind, body, and spirit.

Ossu!!

"Osu!" – The Most Important Word In Kyokushin Karate.
When you come to our dojo, you will hear the Japanese word "Osu" (pronounced "os" as in "toast") many times. It is used as a greeting, to express thanks, to indicate that you understand or agree with something you are told, etc. We use "Osu" in many ways, but the real meaning of "Osu" is explained below.
Osu means patience, respect and appreciation. In order to develop a strong body and strong spirit, it is necessary to undergo rigorous training. This is demanding and difficult because you push yourself to what you believe to be your limit and very often you want to stop or to give up. When you reach this point, you must fight yourself and your weaknesses, and you must win. To do this, you must learn to persevere, but above all, you must learn to be patient. This is Osu.
The reason you subject yourself to hard training is because you care about yourself, and to care about yourself is to respect yourself. This self-respect evolves and expands to develop respect for your instructor and fellow students. When you enter the dojo, you bow and say "Osu!" This means you respect your dojo and the time you spend training there. This feeling of respect is Osu.
During your training, you push yourself as hard as possible because you respect yourself. When you finish your practice, you bow to your instructor and fellow students and say "Osu!" Then, as you leave the dojo, you stop at the door, bow and say "Osu" once more. You do this out of appreciation. This feeling of appreciation is Osu. Thus, Osu is a very important word in Oyama's Kyokushin and the derivative styles because it signifies patience, respect, and appreciation. That is why we always use the word Osu to remind ourselves of these indispensable qualities.