"Studying karate is like climbing a big mountain. Life is similar to. It is important to persistently try to get to the top. When you reach it you can see and understand a lot. Standing under the mountain lets only admire it's top."
Grand Master Shigeru Oyama 10th Dan
Creator of our style is Grand Master Shigeru OYAMA 10th Dan - legend of world karate, who after decades of practicing and studying eastern martial arts created neoclassic discipline, based on Japanese karate tradition and most effective and successful martial arts forms. Soshu Shigeru Oyama, 10th Dan, is with out a doubt the greatest full contact karate master alive. During his 60 years of career he become famous after test of 100 successful fights with black belts in a row, shows with breaking wood and
blocks of ice with his hand and also catching the blade of the samurai sword bear handed while being attacked. Soshu Oyama thought many distinguished world karate experts as well as world and continent karate champions including current leaders of international karate organizations. Hanshi Jan Dyduch emphasizes : First of all Soshu Shigeru Oyama is a great master and teacher. He is modest, diligent, patent and big-hearted man. He can not only judge but also carefully listen. As he says, he is learning a lot from his students and coworkers. He is not looking for power or cheap popularity. He avoids politics but in the matters of great concern to contact karate worldwide, his opinion, as deceased Masutatsu Oyama's best student, has a great importance. He is an author of many schooling books and movies, including excellent book "Perfect Karate".
OYAMA style is developed as a martial art and self defense as well as in a contact formula (full contact- with attack on the head with gloves as well as knockdown and semi-knockdown - without attacking the head with the punches). Shigeru Oyama rejected the fighting doctrine from Goyu-ryu and Kyokushin and included fast changing of positions, foreseeing opponents movements, moving away form opponents line of attack with instant counter attacking. He devoted the whole schooling program to this philosophy. He changed some blocks, punches and forms. He improved footwork and putted a big pressure for body rotation.
Soshu's new kihon kata created a link between learning the basics and real fight. Combining with other advanced over style forms, known as the classic karate like for example Seienchin or Kanku-dai, kihon kata created a representative image of birth of a new karate on the verge of XX and XXI century. They are being studied, practiced and they are one of the most important factors leading to understanding of OYAMA style as a martial art as well.
Advanced students and masters practice kata with weapons (Bo,Tonfa,Sai). Kata just like weapon forms are additionally included in sport competition. In OYAMA IKF we have our own system for teaching children, youth and adults adopted to psycho-physical abilities of the student.
The training with children is focused on the practical advantages of karate training- good health, feeling of safety and systematic shaping of the character of the student.