Origins & Early Life

Masutatsu Ōyama (born Choi Yeong-eui; 27 July 1923 – 26 April 1994), commonly known outside Japan as Mas Oyama, was a Korean-Japanese karateka. He was the founder of Kyokushin Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate. Mas Oyama was born as Choi Yeong-eui (Korean: 최영의; Hanja: 崔永宜) in Gimje, Korea. At a young age, he was sent to Manchukuo to live on his sister's farm.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Oyama began studying Chinese martial arts at age 9 from a Chinese farmer who was working on the farm. His family name was Lee and Oyama said he was his very first teacher. The story of the young Oyama's life is written in his earlier books. His family was of the landed-gentry class, and his father, Choi Seung-hyun, writing under the pen name of "Hakheon," was a noted composer of classical Chinese poetry. In March 1938, Oyama left for Japan following his brother who enrolled in the Imperial Japanese Army’s Yamanashi Aviation School.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Sometime during his time in Japan, Choi Yeong-eui chose his Japanese name, Masutatsu Oyama (大山 倍達), which is a transliteration of Baedal (倍達). Baedal was an ancient Korean kingdom known in Japan during Oyama's time as "Ancient Joseon". One...

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