Mas Oyama

In the later part of the Japanese occupation of Korea, many Koreans went to Japan to further their education and to learn martial arts. One of them was Choi Yong-I (who, due Japanese immigration laws, later changed his name to the Japanese name Masutatsu Oyama), who was born in July 27th, 1923 in a village in Southern Korea.

At the age of 9, while staying on his sister's farm in Manchuria, he began studying the southern Chinese Kempo form known as "eighteen hands." In 1938, at the age or 12, Oyama traveled to Japan with the desire to enter an aviation school and become a fighter pilot. In 1941, he entered Tokyo Takushoku University to study aviation but he put more of his energies into the study of karate. He continued practicing Judo and boxing and his interest in martial arts led him to the dojo of Gishin Funakoshi and thus, he started practicing Okinawa karate.

With his dedication, Oyama progressed quickly and by the time he was 20 years old he had obtained his fourth Dan. It was at this time that Mas Oyama entered the Japanese Imperial Army and began studying Judo in the hope of mastering its holding and grappling techniques. When he stopped training in Judo, after about 4 years, he gained a fourth Dan. He also trained in Goju-ryu for two years under Neichu.

Following the defeat of Japan after the Second World War, Oyama like all other young Japanese, was thrown into a personal crisis. He found a way out of his despair by training with So Nei Chu, a Korean master of Goju-ryu karate. This great teacher, renowned for the power of his body and deep spiritual inclination, had a profound influence on young Mas Oyama. Master So taught him the inseparability of Budo and the spiritual fundamentals of Buddhism. After a few years of training, master So advised Oyama to make a firm commitment to dedicate his life to the martial way and retreat to a mountain hideout and train his mind and body.

In 1946, Mas Oyama went into training at a remote spot on the Mt. Kiyosumi in Chiba prefecture. He was accompanied by one of his students named Yashiro. A friend, Mr. Kayama brought them food supplies every month. Through vigorous training, Oyama learned to overcome the mental strain caused by solitude but Yashiro could not bear it and fled after 6 months. About fourteen months later ,Mr. Kayama told Oyama that due to unforeseen circumstances he could no longer sponsor Mas Oyama's retreat in the mountains and so Mas Oyama's original plan of remaining in solitude for three years was brought to an end.  He came out of seclusion and began teaching his own style of Karate, Kyokushin-kai, around the world including the United States. Oyama Karate become known throughout the world for its tremendous power. In 1950, Mas Oyama began his famous battles with bulls; partly to test his strength and also to make the world sit up and notice the power of his karate. All together, Oyama fought 52 bulls, killing 3 instantly and taking the horns of 49 with knife-hand blows.

Mas Oyama opened his first "dojo" the Kyokusin Kaikan in 1953 in Mejiro, Tokyo. This was the time that Mas Oyama's karate strength was at its peak so the training was severe. Many students were members of other styles and Mas Oyama would compare styles and build on his karate. He would take what he felt were the best techniques and concepts from any martial art and gradually fit them into his training; therefore, laying the foundations of Kyokushin "ultimate truth" karate.

Hwang Kee

Hwang, Kee was born November 9, 1914 in Jang Dan- Kyong Ki province, where the DMZ is now. Hwang held true to his original name, Taenam, which meant “starboy”, as he rose to being a famous martial arts instructor. Hwang’s first exposure to martial arts took place in May 1921 at age seven during the Dan-O festival, which is the national May festival, where he saw a fight between a man and eight opponents. The man defeated the opponents using various kicks. Some in the crowd said the man used "Taekkyon", while others said he used "ship pal ki.” Hwang was so impressed by the fight that he followed the man from a distance and discovered where he lived. Hwang often visited the man's house and, from a distance, watched him train. Hwang asked the man for formal lessons but he refused due to Hwang’s young age. Hwang continued to watch the man train from a distance and imitated what he saw.

In May 1935, Hwang traveled to China where he worked for the Manchurian railroad. During the previous 20 years, Hwang had practiced and trained himself in the martial arts but he never had any formal training. In 1936, Hwang had his first formal martial arts lesson from a local well renowned martial artist, master Yang, Kuk Jin. Yang trained Hwang in the arts of Seh-bop (method of postures, Bo-bop (method of steps), and Ryun-bop (method of conditioning). He also trained him in “Dham-toi-dip-e-ro” and “Tae-kuk-kwon,” which were disciplines of form and its combat applications. Hwang trained with Yang until August 1937 when he had to return to Korea for personal reasons. He returned to China in 1941 to visit and practice with Yang, but, as China became a communist country, all communications between Yang and Hwang ceased.

In 1939, Hwang began working for the Choson Railway Bureau. During this time he visited the library and read books on Okinawan karate. Through this study, he developed the forms for Soo-bahk-do Moo-duk-kwan. Pyung Ahn hyungs, Bassai hyungs, and Kong Sang Kun hyungs may be practiced a little differently from the original Okinawan Pinan forms, but their origins stem from the influence of Okinawin karate.

On November 9, 1945 , Hwang combined his training in Taekkyon with the Chuan’fa he learned from Yang and added the Okinawan forms he learned from books and founded the Moo-duk-kwan. Moo meaning martial, military, and prevent inner/outer conflict. Duk meaning virtue, ethics, and discipline. Kwan meaning style or school. Thus Moo-duk-kwan means “Style to teach Moo and Duk through training in the martial arts.”

In 1957, Hwang discovered a book called the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji, a historical document of Korean martial arts that was published 300 years ago and is the only known Korean martial art book from that era. From the book, Hwang discovered the traditional Soo-bahk-ki (Hand Striking Technique) and Soo-bahk-hee (Hand Striking Dance). Hwang created the name Soo-bahk-do from both Soo-bahk-ki and Soo-bahk-hee. He combined both names through his belief that Soo-bahk should teach Moo-doo (Martial Way) Philosophy of stopping inner and outer conflict. Soo-bahk-do Moo-duk-kwan developed independently of Taekwondo and has spread around the world.