I have quite specific question. I'm a tall guy with long limbs and I struggle to defend against overhands that shorter people throw at my chest at close distance. These strikes are difficult to parry or cover from then and they build up quite quickly when they hit the spot right in the middle where there's no much muscle to cover the bone. Keeping the distance is not easy and I don't want to give up much space. Does anyone have advise or tips how you deal with that?

Hello,

After recently joining and training in Kyokushin, I’ve been trying to dig into the history of Kyokushin Karate in order to educate myself further in the martial art along with notable figures inside of the art (including social politics and culture).

Throughout my digging, I’ve seen some posts and online forums talking about organizations splitting and the problems that it has with that.

What is the true reason on why organizations are breaking apart and is it true that organization splitting is harming Kyokushin?

Again, this is a question that I’m asking, because I am uneducated on the matter and it would get rid of any misinformation that I’ve heard from inner circles and from online.

Thank you and have a good rest of your day!

Why in Kyokushin do we bow crossing our arms? Whereas other styles who bow hands by their side, typical to Japanese tradition.

I have done much research on the topic but am yet to find a solid answer.

My only theory is how the hand movements are comparable to Yoi Dachi, so the bow basically showing that you are ready to train/fight while showing respect.

What are your thoughts?

Hey everyone,

After many years of waiting, I will finally have my first lesson tonight. I'm a heavy guy and there's some performance anxiety building up.

I do have some experience in martial arts but those are boxing and grappling (jiu-jitsu and wrestling) and fear that some muscle memory might come back during sparring that would lead me to hit someone in the face or grapple them. On the bright side, my kicks are incredibly bad, so no danger there! :P

Any tips for newcomers that have experience in other arts?

I plan to post back later tonight on how the first class was.

Oss!

UPDATE:

Had the first lesson yesterday and it was really awkward but fun. This dojo only has one other student who's Shodan and they mostly speak another language that isn't English or the local language. It made the lesson quite difficult as the explanations took a long time... No kumite took place and it was mostly a Kihon and Kata class. Some weird comments made by the Sensei on how I should not practice weightlifting because of my heart (???) made me a bit skeptical. Have mixed feelings tbh, I think my search for a dojo will still go on.

(I know this question is a bit strange but bear with me)

I'm reading a book about bodyweight training (Overcoming gravity, by Steven Low), and he talks about resting period between sets. That resting period is to replenish ATP (Adenosine triphosphate, which powers the muscles), at the following rate:

• 50% in 30 seconds

• 75% in 60 seconds

• 88% in 90 seconds

• 95% in 120 seconds

• 99% in 180 seconds

If your goal is endurance, it is best to rest between 30 and 90 seconds between sets, but if your goal is strength, it is recommended to at least rest 3 minutes.

While we train, resting time between kumite and kihon/drills exercises are between 30 and 60 (normally just 30 seconds), which trains more the endurance.

So my questions are:

1. Is this done to focus on endurance, or just pre-scientific tradition?

2. For Kyokushin, It is better to focus on endurance or in strength? I'm just a newbie and I want to condition my body to take hits, but the training at the dojo and the mine at home, I was focused on small resting periods instead of long ones, training endurance more than strength.

I understand that Seido is an offshoot of Kyokushin, and I wondered if anyone here had any experience with it or with this dojo specifically? I'm a beginner with limited martial arts experience, looking to study a martial art with live sparring. Looking for something that is practically useful. Thanks for any advice.

https://www.seido-london.co.uk/info#accordion-5

While reading of the history of Kyokushin I came upon the word taikiken and discovered it to be a "hidden" art that was part of Kyokushin Oyama created. I don't believe in my dojo we train taikiken. Here is an interesting history I found online:

http://the-martial-way.com/history-of-taikiken-in-kyokushin-karate/

I am finding it difficult to motivate myself to keep up with my kyokushin training. I am now going on my 7th or 8th year. I am 2 Kyu away from the black belt. I train every week, I do what I can, 2-3 times a week. Most recently during sparring with Sensei I got a severe rib punch. I think it's only a bruise but it is painful and I have trouble sleeping and even turning in bed. Before this I have had a twisted ankle, I have had broken or badly sprained fingers. An elbow thing once. I am getting older and I am wondering, why do I do this? Most times I leave the dojo happy and cleansed but those times I leave limping or in pain doesn't make me what to continue. Are these normal thoughts for a karatéka following the way?

I have a limited martial arts background but am interested in learning Kyokushin. I'm in west London and this place is nearby: https://tesshinkyokushin.uk/

Does anyone have any experience of them, or know their reputation? I'm looking for a place to get started so just need to learn the basics, but want to check that I'm choosing a reputable club. Thanks for any help.

I've been looking all over for kyokushin in cincinnati but can't ever find it so can anyone help

Looking for a dojo in Singapore that does hard kyokushin training, especially tough body conditioning. Any recommendations?

Shaolin vs. Wudang? Which art is better?

Hi all
I wanted to share that I will be teaching Kyokushin in El Cajon at a basketball gym every Saturday from 4-6 pm, if you are interested please DM me for more detailes
little bit about me, I started Kyokushin at 1998 at 2005 switched to Shinkyokushin. I poses Ni-dan degree from the WKO.
Follow us on

https://www.instagram.com/bushido.karate.dojo?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Osu!

Is there any Sensei that are teaching in Cambodia? Currently I just quit from a Dojo that I have been training for almost 2 years, the reason I quit because the Sensei there only teach Basic Training, Moving Training and Basic Kata and the full contact training are non existent. And I would gladly train with anyone that would teach full contact

Osu everyone.

I'm an orange belt in kyokushin. Yesterday we had a sparring session. Problem is, my stomach and solar plexus were pounded so hard because my guard is face level. I think if I drop my hands, I'll get head kicked and I think it's a lot more lethal than getting punched in the gut. My question is, how do I block these punches while still being able to defend my face from high kicks?

Anyone here who practice Full Contact Kempo?

Kenji Midori is more deserving to lead the main IKO organization instead of Shokei Matsui after the passing of Mas Oyama.

hi there! I was sparring my partner (black belt) and I (orange belt) and I blocked a kick really funny and now I have a huge bruise/hematoma on my shin and it’s quite sore. He was also going really light on me but it was a strong kick (not hard though). As a female should I expect this sort of injury/bruise to myself while just starting out or is it a normal occurrence. As well as should I also expect more injury during a tournament fight? thanks!

Hello everyone,

Thank you for the tips and advice you gave me on the post I made on starting Kyokushin. I am going to start today and give my experiences of it after I finish with my trial classes.

Again, thank you all. You have been the most welcoming and most helpful bunch that I’ve encountered on Reddit!

I really want learn about martial arts , and kyokushin its always in my mind, i go to the gym already 3,5years and from 142kg i lose fat now i have 95kg and i wanna get strong in martial arts, but there is problem my parents, they don't let me train martial arts in fight clubs because they worry about me . So how i can train kyokushin at home , if someone can tell me training routine , and what kind of equipment i need. Please help me.

Hey i want to Change my Karate Style and Dojo after few Years of not Training. I got a higher Belt and my Question is can i change the Dojo and Style and still keep my Belt? I mean i do have the expierence it takes.

Shokei Matsui managed to earned a blackbelt within over a year. Does it mean it's that easy to achieve a blackbelt in Kyokushin?

So, as the title says, I've injured my big toe in a sparring match a few weeks ago, I think I sprained it. I was tryna kick my sparring partner and as he moved back, I accidentally kicked with my big toe, any way I can heal it quicker? It's been about a month...

When I did boxing/MT I noticed that most of the serious practitioners were the lean wiry type (not skinny, but built like a 400m sprinter). Whereas in Kyokushin I see a lot more heavy-set bulky people. Could this because of the need to take bare knuckle punches to the body which makes having more muscle advantageous?

I don't think it's due to having no weight classes as kyokushin tournaments in my country have weight classes.